Michala Banas

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Michala Banas
Born
Michala Elizabeth Laurinda Banas

(1978-11-14) 14 November 1978 (age 45)
Wellington, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealander
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1985–present
SpouseToby Truslove (m. 2019)

Michala Elizabeth Laurinda Banas[1] (born 14 November 1978) is a New Zealand television actress and singer.

Life and career[edit]

Born in Wellington, New Zealand into a family of German descent, Michala starred in her first advert at only 18 months of age.

Her debut film performance was when she was five years old, in the New Zealand film Dangerous Orphans. Her Australian debut television performance was as Louisa in the miniseries Mirror, Mirror in 1995.

From 2001 to 2003, Banas played main character Marissa Taylor in the Seven Network drama Always Greener.

In 2002, she had a small role in the film adaptation Scooby-Doo.

Banas is an accomplished singer, and in 2003 released a single, "Kissin' The Wind", which made the top 30 on the Australian Recording Industry Association singles chart.

In 2004, Banas joined the cast of McLeod's Daughters as the character Kate Manfredi, the best friend of Jodi Fountain McLeod. She played Kate from episodes 88 to 170, when she took a short break to later return in episode 177. It was announced in 2007 that she would leave McLeod's Daughters in its final season. Banas' last episode was aired in early December 2008.

From 11 November 2008, Banas appeared in the role of Libby Kennedy on the Australian soap opera Neighbours for a five-week period after Kym Valentine was forced to take a temporary break due to illness.[2]

In 2009, Banas filled in for Fox FM's Jo Stanley on The Matt and Jo Show while Stanley was on maternity leave. That same year saw her star in the Australian national tour of the Broadway musical, Avenue Q, playing the roles of "Kate Monster" and "Lucy the Slut". Banas was one of three celebrity faces for Proactiv Solution in Australia and New Zealand.

Banas had a guest role as Tiffany Turner on the drama series Winners & Losers,[1] and a supporting role on ABC3 teen drama Nowhere Boys as Phoebe. In 2013, Banas starred in the ABC comedy series Upper Middle Bogan as Amber Wheeler. The series had run for three seasons.

Banas joined the filming for Halifax Retribution[3] in 2020 and several other projects including ABC's Turn Up The Volume, Gold Diggers and more.

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Dangerous Orphans Anna Hanna
2002 Scooby-Doo Carol
2003 Ned Muffy
2010 The Colours of Home Karen Short film
2016 Nowhere Boys: The Book of Shadows Phoebe Hartley
2018 That's Not My Dog! Michala

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Mirror, Mirror Louisa Iredale 20 episodes
1998 State Coroner Zoe Martin 2 episodes
1999 Murder Call Kylie McDonald Episode: "Cut & Dried"
Flipper Karen Episode: "Spring Break"
Blue Heelers Tara Bruckner Episode: "Winning at All Costs"
2000 Blue Heelers Michaela Brady Episode: "Leg Work"
The Lost World Renata Episode: "Unnatural Selection"
2000–2001 Round the Twist Ariel 11 episodes
Something in the Air Angela O'Connor
2001 BeastMaster Loriel Episode: "Mydoro"
The Saddle Club Shoshonna Green Episode: "Star Quality"
2001–2003 Always Greener Marissa Taylor 50 episodes
2004–2008 McLeod's Daughters Kate Manfredi Main role (seasons 48)
2008 The Mansion Megan McKean 1 episode
Neighbours Libby Kennedy 18 episodes
2011–2016 Winners & Losers Tiffany Turner 16 episodes
2012 Beaconsfield Caroline Russell 2 episodes
2013–2016 Upper Middle Bogan Amber Wheeler Main role
Nowhere Boys Phoebe Hartley Recurring role (seasons 1–2)
2014–2015 Have You Been Paying Attention? Herself 6 episodes
2015 Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Enid 1 episode
2018 Hughesy, We Have a Problem Herself Celebrity Problem
Show Me the Movie! 1 episode
2019 Get Krack!n Rose Bailey
Bad Mothers Jesse 4 episodes
2020 Halifax: Retribution[4] Erin
Larry The Wonderpup Pearl 8 episodes
2021 Spicks and Specks Herself 1 episode
[5]
2022 Would I Lie to You? Australia Herself
Joe vs. Carole Dr. Hernandez 1 episode
2023 Turn Up the Volume[6] Mish 5 episodes
Gold Diggers [7] Tippy 6 episodes

Discography[edit]

Singles[edit]

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions
AUS[8]
"Kissin' the Wind" 2003 28

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Lowie (20 September 2010). "Michala Banas confirms role on new drama". Media Spy. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  2. ^ Byrne, Fiona (10 August 2008). "Kym Valentine: I had no idea I was so ill". Herald Sun. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  3. ^ "Michala Banas on finally playing a detective on TV in Halifax: Retribution". www.nine.com.au. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Australian Television: Halifax Retribution: cast". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  5. ^ https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2021/05/14/eddie-perfect-michala-banas-and-nazeem-hussain-special-guests-this-weekend-on-spicks-and-specks/
  6. ^ "Airdate: Turn Up The Volume | TV Tonight". 27 February 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  7. ^ says, Chuck128 (8 March 2023). "Cameras roll on Gold Diggers for ABC | TV Tonight". Retrieved 9 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Michala Banas - Australian chart history". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved September 23, 2008.

External links[edit]