Ningali Lawford-Wolf in The Secret River (2019). Photo by Ryan Buchanan via Sydney Theatre Company, obtained with permission from Ningali Lawford-Wolf’s family.

Warning: This article contains images and words about someone from our community that has passed.

Ningali Lawford-Wolf Remembered

Wangkatjungka woman Ningali Lawford-Wolf has passed away aged 52 in Edinburgh, Scotland on Sunday, 11 August 2019 while on tour with the Sydney Theatre Company to perform in the play, The Secret River.

Ms Lawford-Wolf was one of Western Australia’s greatest stage and screen artists, a past member of the Screenwest board, a theatre legend, dancer, actor, performer and beloved arts icon.

A Wangkatjungka woman born under a tree at Christmas Creek Station in the far north Kimberley region of Western Australia, Ms Lawford-Wolf trained as a dancer at the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre, then continued to perform professionally with Bangarra Dance Theatre in Sydney to build an impressive stage and screen career. She is well known for her outstanding performances in films as RABBIT-PROOF FENCE (2002), BRAN NUE DAE (2009) and LAST CAB TO DARWIN (2015) and television shows THE CIRCUIT (2007 – 2010), 3 ACTS OF MURDER (2009), LITTLE J & BIG CUZ (2017) and MYSTERY ROAD – THE SERIES (2018).

Ms Lawford-Wolf’s theatre roles included her one-woman show Ningali (1994-1996), which toured nationally and internationally and earned her a Green Room Award for Best Actress and a Fringe First Award for Best New Production, Aliwa for Company B Belvoir (2001), Uncle Vanya (2005) and Jandamarra (2008) both for Black Swan Theatre Company.

Ms Lawford-Wolf was involved in the development of The Secret River at Sydney Theatre Company, narrating its return Sydney season and national tour in 2016, Adelaide Festival performances in 2018 and Edinburgh Festival performances in 2019. Ningali gave a solo performance in the reading of Windmill Baby in 2014, the winner of the 2003 Patrick White Playwright’s Award, which she co-wrote with David Milroy, and performed in The Long Forgotten Dream at Sydney Opera House in 2018.

“Ningali was an incredibly talented performer as well as a wonderfully caring and thoughtful person. We’ve lost one of Australian theatre’s greatest treasures,” the joint statement on behalf of Ms Lawford-Wolf’s family and Sydney Theatre Company.

“I had the honour of working with Ms Lawford-Wolf where she was a valued member of the Screenwest Board,” said Screenwest CEO Willie Rowe.

“She is a role model for indigenous people in the arts and will be remembered by us for her contribution to Screenwest, Western Australia’s screen industry and as a leader in Australia’s and the global artistic community.”

“We have lost not only an enormous talent of the stage and screen, but an inspirational leader and mentor in the community,” said Screenwest Indigenous Manager Devina McPherson.

“She broke down barriers and paved the way for future artists, and always with a strong spirit and unwavering strength. Condolences and thoughts to her family and friends.”

Filmmaker and Industry Advisory Group member Dot West said, “She gave so much to all of us and while we will miss her dearly, her legacy will live on.”

“Ningali Lawford-Wolf had a creative and burning brilliance and was a great cultural mediator,” said Producer Robyn Kershaw.

“I will always remember her force dancing up a storm onstage at Belvoir for AIDT, in Ningali her one person show about her experiences in Alaska and her heart-breaking, award-winning and moving screen performances in RABBIT-PROOF FENCE and BRAN NUE DAE.”

Western Australian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ben Wyatt offered his condolences, stating that Ningali epitomised the “wonderful, good-natured spirit and resilience of so many Aboriginal people.”

“She was also a community leader and advocate for the rights and interests of her own mob, as well as Aboriginal people through­out Australia,” he continued.

RABBIT-PROOF FENCE Producer Phillip Noyce said, “Ningali will be remembered as an extraordinarily loving artist who gave her all to everything and everyone. Without Ningali, RABBIT-PROOF FENCE would have been half the movie that we managed to create.

“Ningali was a cultural advisor, actor, drama coach and inspiration to all who worked on the film. She was the grand dame of Indigenous female performers, through her family linking pre-contact days with the 21st Century.”

In a statement Blackfella Films said, “Her talent was immense and world-class, her generosity was second to none and her star shone so bright in the Australian cultural landscape. We will miss you terribly our dear sister.”

“Ningali tapped into deep traditional culture with family, language and her connections all throughout the Kimberley, at the same time she was a bright spark in the entertainment world as well,” MYSTERY ROAD Series Producer David Jowsey said.

He said Ms Lawford-Wolf will be remembered for her ability to “span the divide”.

“[Filmmakers] look for people who can … translate what it is to hold culture in your heart.”

Ningali was a wonderful mother to Jaden, Rosie, Alexander, William, and Florence, and loving grandmother to Zavia and Mia.

All of us at Screenwest offer our condolences to Ningali’s family, extended family and friends.

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