| General |
Sigrid Thornton AO (born 12 February 1959) is an Australian actress. Her television work includes Prisoner (1979–80) as Ros Coulson, All the Rivers Run (1983), SeaChange (1998–2000, 2019) and Wentworth (2016–2018) as Sonia Stevens.
She acted in TV series Homicide and Division 4 in 1975. She also appeared on The Sullivans, as Elizabeth "Buffy" Turnbull.
In 1977, Thornton made her film debut as Wendy in The FJ Holden directed by Michael Thornhill, and in the same year as Maria in the film adaptation of Henry Handel Richardson's colonial Australian novel, The Getting of Wisdom (1977) directed by Bruce Beresford. In 1978, Thornton appeared in the Australian television sequel of the British comedy series Father, Dear Father in Australia and Cop Shop,. The same year she played Angela in the film Snapshot (aka The Day After Halloween) directed by Simon Wincer, for which role she was nominated for Australian Film Awards Best Actress in a Feature Film in 1979.
A 1980 she appeared as Roslyn Coulson in the Australian television drama Prisoner (known overseas as Prisoner: Cell Block H).[3] Thornton starred in 1981 in Duet for Four. 1982 saw her take on the roles of Jessica Harrison in the films The Man from Snowy River and its sequel in 1988 The Man from Snowy River II. 1983 marked an appearance in Street Hero. She starred in 1983's miniseries All the Rivers Run.[4] 1986 saw her in The Lighthorsemen, the TV adaptation of Nevil Shute's novel The Far Country,[5] Great Expectations: The Untold Story and Slate, Wyn & Me.
Back in Brisbane she attended Twelfth Night Theatre Junior Workshop and In 1970, during the Captain Cook Bicentenary Celebrations, Thornton appeared before Queen Elizabeth II as Rosa Campbell-Praed in Looking Glass on Yesterday. Thornton was a student of noted theatre director, Joan Whalley.
She is known for her work with World Vision, the Royal Children's Hospital, Vision Australia, Reach Foundation and other charitable causes.
Sigrid in the movie 'Slant'
Thornton in 2021 filmed the feature film Slant for a 2023 release. Thornton also appeared in The Seagull at the Sydney Theatre Co.
Sigrid for MTC's Mother Play
Thornton was named as part of the 2025 Melbourne Theatre Co season in Mother Play. In 2024-25, Thornton appeared in series 2 of Darby and Joan. Thornton appeared in the 2025 season of I'm A Celeb Australia.
Personal Life[]
Thornton was born in Canberra, the daughter of Merle Thornton, an academic and writer, and Neil Thornton, an academic. She was raised in Brisbane, attending St. Peter's Lutheran College. For two years she lived in London, where she was a member of the Unicorn Theatre.
Thornton is married to actor Tom Burstall and has two children.
Trivia[]
- Thornton is one of thirteen actors who appeared in both Prisoner and Wentworth. The other twelve are Alex Menglet, Andrea Swifte, Anne Charleston, Debra Lawrence, Gloria Ajenstat, Maria Mercedes, Neil Melville, Peter O'Brien, Shane Connors, Stefan Dennis, Steve Bastoni and Tina Bursill.