Michala Banas

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

Michala Banas
Born
Michala Elizabeth Laurinda Banas

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

Life and career

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 2001-03, 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

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

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1995 Mirror, Mirror Louisa Iredale 20 episodes
1998 State Coroner Zoe Martin Episode: "Days of Reckoning"
Episode: "Days of Reckoning II"
1999 Murder Call Kylie McDonald Season 3, Episode 11: "Cut & Dried"
1999 Flipper Karen Episode: "Spring Break"
1999 Blue Heelers Tara Bruckner Episode: "Winning at All Costs"
2000 Blue Heelers Michaela Brady Episode: "Leg Work"
2000 The Lost World Renata Episode: "Unnatural Selection"
2000–01 Round the Twist Ariel 11 episodes
2000–01 Something in the Air Angela O'Connor 11 episodes
2001 BeastMaster Loriel Episode: "Mydoro"
2001 The Saddle Club Shoshonna Green Episode: "Star Quality"
2001–03 Always Greener Marissa Taylor 50 episodes
2004–08 McLeod's Daughters Kate Manfredi 119 episodes
2008 The Mansion Megan McKean Episode: "1.12"
2008 Neighbours Libby Kennedy 18 episodes
2011–16 Winners & Losers Tiffany Turner 16 episodes
2012 Beaconsfield Caroline Russell Miniseries, episodes 1 & 2
2013–16 Upper Middle Bogan Amber Wheeler Main role
2013–16 Nowhere Boys Phoebe Hartley Supporting role
2014–15 Have You Been Paying Attention? Herself 6 episodes
2015 Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Enid Season 3, Episode 6
2018 Hughesy, We Have a Problem Herself Celebrity Problem
2018 Show Me the Movie! Herself 1 episode
2019 Get Krack!n Rose Bailey 1 episode
2019 Bad Mothers Jesse 4 episodes
2020 Halifax: Retribution[4] Erin 4 episodes
2020 Larry The Wonderpup Pearl 8 episodes
2021 Spicks and Specks Herself 1 episode
[5]
2022 Would I Lie to You? Australia Herself
2022 Joe vs. Carole Dr Hernandez Miniseries, 1 episode
2023 Turn Up the Volume[6] Mish 5 episodes
2023 Gold Diggers [7] Tippy 6 episodes

Discography

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

References
  1. 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". Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  7. says, Chuck128 (8 March 2023). "Cameras roll on Gold Diggers for ABC | TV Tonight". Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  8. "Michala Banas - Australian chart history". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
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