Essie Davis

In the early 1990s, Australian actress Essie Davis began appearing in large stage productions after finishing her training at Sydney's National Institute of Dramatic Art. In 1993, she landed a supporting role in the big-screen crime drama "The Custodian," and two years later, she received a sizable part in the period comedy "Dad and Dave: On Our Selection." Following her work in these features, Davis began acting in Australian film and television regularly.

Then, in 2003, Davis was introduced to audiences worldwide when she appeared in the sci-fi blockbuster sequels "The Matrix Reloaded" and "Matrix Revolutions." The same year, the actress was also featured in the acclaimed historical drama "Girl with a Pearl Earring," which found her sharing the screen with Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson and future Oscar-winner Colin Firth. Three years later, she was cast in the film adaptation of the children's classic "Charlotte's Web," and in 2008, she had a supporting part in stylish director Baz Luhrmann's epic adventure "Australia." Davis then returned to family films in 2010, lending her voice to American filmmaker Zack Snyder's animated adventure "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole." In 2011, she worked heavily in television, acting in the dramatic mini-series "Cloudstreet" and "The Slap."