Deborah Mailman’s tearful dedication as she makes Logies Hall of Fame history: ‘This is for them’
Deborah Mailman, 54, has made history as the first Indigenous inductee into the Logies Hall of Fame.
Mailman was described as a trailblazer and industry leader by her cohort in an emotional tribute video.
Deborah Mailman, 54, has made history as the first Indigenous inductee into the Logies Hall of Fame. James Gourley
When Mailman took the stage for her acceptance speech, the audience erupted into cheers.
“It’s wonderful to be here on Gadigal Country. This is for my mum and dad,” she started her acceptance speech.
“I was born in Mount Isa; we grew up near the old rodeo grounds. When I had a dream to be an actor, my parents met my dream with nothing but love and encouragement.”
“Whenever I made that 24-hour bus ride from Brissy back to Mount Isa, my mum and dad were always there waiting for me. This is for them.”
Through tears, Mailman expressed how honoured she felt to be the first Indigenous actor to be inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame.
“I am overwhelmed with pride to be the first Aboriginal person to receive this honour, as I look around the room I’m so thrilled to see so many of our mob being celebrated tonight.”
She also became the sixth woman to receive the honour since the Hall of Fame was established more than 40 years ago.
In her induction video, Mailman described herself as an “incredibly shy kid.”
Mailman teared up ahead of taking to the stage to accept the award. Network Seven
“That was half the reason for wanting to do drama ... just lift myself up a little bit from that shy awkward kid,” she said.
“It was my favourite subject, there was a lot of love and support around me.”
She went on to thank her drama teacher, saying her support “meant everything” to her.
“The work I’ve been doing that celebrates our [Indigenous] communities- that’s the work that I gravitate towards... It means everything to be a part of it,” she continued in the highlight reel.
Her Sapphires co-star Miranda Tapsell had kind words for Mailman.
“She brings such depth and intelligence to australian work. It’s more than just meat pies and vegemite... there’s more to Australian stories than that. She brings that nuance to it all,” she said.
Cate Blanchett congratulated her friend on the achievement in the induction reel. Seven
Hollywood actress Cate Blanchet even made an appearance in the video.
“Congratulations, no one deserves this more than you,” she said.
Her old drama teacher, Mrs Murphy, had nothing but kind words for the actress, finishing with “congratulations, and I told you so.”
Mailman has spent decades breaking ground on Australian screens; her first film role in 1998’s Radiance saw her become the first Indigenous woman to win an Australian Film Institute Award for best actress in a leading role.
Her television success continued with The Secret Life of Us, where her portrayal of Kelly Lewis earned her Logies in 2002 and 2004.
Since then, she has appeared in some of Australia’s best-known productions, including Rabbit-Proof Fence, The Sapphires, Offspring, Redfern Now, Mystery Road and Total Control.
Mailman has spent decades breaking ground on Australian screens. Seven
She has six Logies to her name, most recently winning best lead actress in a drama for Total Control in 2024.
Mailman will now join only five other women in the Hall of Fame: Magda Szubanski, Rebecca Gibney, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Noni Hazlehurst and Ruth Cracknell.
The actor said the small number was difficult to ignore, telling the outlet: “I don’t know if there’s any sort of sugarcoating that.”
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