Leah Vandenberg
Leah Vandenberg | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Occupations | Actress (theatre, television and film) |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Known for | |
Leah Vandenberg is a New Zealand-born Australian theatre, television, and film actress. She has appeared in many well-known Australian productions, including the award-winning Netflix series The Letdown and SBS drama The Hunting. She received an ASTRA nomination for "Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor-Female" in the comedy series Stupid, Stupid Man. She is a presenter on the long-running ABC television program Play School, a role she maintains today.[1]
Early life and education
Vandenberg was born in New Zealand to a Sri Lankan father, who had grown up in Fiji, and an Australian mother of Irish and Scottish heritage.[2] She studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, graduating in 1993.[3]
Career
Vandenberg has been a long serving host of Australian Children's television series Play School, in 2021 Vandenberg performed and wrote an episode of the series featuring Punjabi music.[4][5]
On stage, Vandenberg has performed in Grace (Melbourne Theatre Company), Criminology (Arena Theatre Company), The Country (B Sharp @ Belvoir Street), The Perfumed Garden, The Taming of the Shrew, A Clockwork Orange, and Love and Understanding.[3]
She received a 2007 ASTRA nomination of "Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Female" for her role as Anne in Stupid Stupid Man (series 1 and 2).[3]
Vandenberg joined the filming of Netflix series Wellmania in the role of Dr Singh,[6] appeared in ABC drama Savage River (TV series)[7] and was later announced as part of the cast in Foxtel/Binge drama High Country.[8]
In September 2025, Vandenberg was announced in the cast for the 2025 season of Queensland Theatre's Back To Bilo.[9]
Other activities
In 2021, Vandenberg was involved in a special project with the Biloela family where she would teach them in an online playgroup called Tree House Cubby.[10]
Filmography
Vandenberg has appeared in a wide range of genres in TV series as well as a few feature films, including:[11]
Television appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995– 1999 |
Blue Heelers | Helene Lee | TV series; 2 episodes |
| 1996 | G.P. | Dr. Yasmin Richards | TV series; 12 episodes |
| 1998 | Never Tell Me Never | Physiotherapist | TV movie |
| 1998– 1999 |
Wildside | Samira Nassar | TV series; 7 episodes |
| 2000– | Play School | Herself | TV series; 250+ episodes |
| 2000 | The Games | Leah | TV series; 1 episode |
| 2000– 2003 |
Grass Roots | Meera | TV series; 4 episodes |
| 2002 | Short Cuts | Psychologist | TV series; 1 episode |
| BootLeg | Wendy | TV mini-series; 4 episodes | |
| 2002– 2003 |
MDA | Dr. Jane Bowen | TV series; 2 episodes |
| 2003 | Kath & Kim | Shop girl | TV series; 1 episode |
| 2004 | The Brush-Off | Claire Sutton | TV movie |
| 2006– 2008 |
Stupid, Stupid Man | Anne Cassidy | TV series; 16 episodes |
| 2008 | East of Everything | Lara | TV series; 3 episodes |
| Family Footsteps | Narrator | TV series; 4 episodes | |
| 2009 | Snake Tales | Miranda Sailendra | TV series; 13 episodes |
| 2010 | Sleuth 101 | Annie/Jessica | TV series; 2 episodes |
| Tangle | Elle Rosenthal | TV series; 2 episodes | |
| 2016 | The Wrong Girl | Meredith | TV series; 8 episodes |
| 2017, 2019 | The Letdown | Martha | TV series; 13 episodes |
| 2019 | The Hunting | Ravneet | TV mini-series; 4 episodes |
| 2022 | Savage River | Deborah Cochrane | TV mini-series; 6 episodes |
| 2023 | Wellmania | Dr. Singh | TV mini-series; 7 episodes |
| 2024 | High Country | Tammy Samson | TV Series; 7 episodes |
| 2025 | Good Cop / Bad Cop | Skye | 1 episode |
Film appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Inside | Jenny | Film | |
| 2022 | Here Out West | Ashmita | ||
| 2005 | JewBoy | Sarita | ||
| 1999 | Strange Planet | Sarah | ||
| Erskineville Kings | Lanny |
References
- ^ "Play School secrets safe with Leah". South Western Times. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ^ Hassall, Greg (10 March 2008). "She'll be white, mate". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ^ a b c "Agony Aunts: The aunts: Leah Vandenberg". ABC TV. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ daizymaan (9 September 2021). "The longest-running children's show in Australia Play School will feature Indian Episode with Punjabi song written by Leah Vandenberg - Australian South Asian Centre". Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ^ "Leah Vandenberg Talks Representation on Screen, Tree House Cubby, Play School, and The Hunting - The Curb | Film and Culture". the Curb. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ^ "Australian Television: Wellmania: Cast".
- ^ Knox, David (8 February 2022). "Cameras roll on Savage River | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Knox, David (4 May 2023). "More cast added to High Country | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Digital, Carter. "BACK TO BILO". Queensland Theatre. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
- ^ "'Every child has the right to play': Biloela girls loving online playgroup". ABC News. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ^ *Leah Vandenberg at IMDb
External links
- Leah Vandenberg on Instagram
- Leah Vandenberg at IMDb
- Leah Vandenberg at LMCM