Actor Andrea Solonge (Time Bandits, Prosper) has been named as the 12th recipient of the Heath Ledger Scholarship.
Established in 2012 by Australians in Film in memory of actor Heath Ledger, the scholarship carries a prize package valued at USD $60,000, for career development in Hollywood in addition to year long mentorship by former recipient Bella Heathcote (Pieces of Her, Relic).
Judge Sarah Snook said: “I loved getting to watch fresh faces showcase their talents and passion for acting. It was a tough decision, as all the finalists were brilliant, but one stood out with a captivating depth and strength. I’m very excited for Andrea to be this year’s 2024 Heath Ledger Scholarship recipient”.
Andrea Solonge is an Australian actress of Congolese, Nigerian heritage who received strong reviews for her work in the recurring role of Juno Adebayo in the Stan/ Roku megachurch drama series Prosper. Growing up influenced and inspired by the funk, soul and jazz era of the 60s, she also had a recurring role in Taika Waititi’s Apple TV+ series Time Bandits.
“This acknowledgement is truly special. Heath was one of the most transformative and prolific actors of his generation. To set foot on the path that he trail-blazed is an immeasurable honour. This means the world to me, my family and my community,” said Andrea Solonge.
The HLS recipient was chosen by an esteemed panel including award-winning actors, Sarah Snook, Melanie Lynskey, Gabrielle Union and Charlie Hunnam along with renowned actors Simone Kessell and Cleopatra Coleman, and award winning casting director Terri Taylor.
2022 recipient Rahel Romahn can be seen in 2024’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and the Nicolas Cage feature The Surfer, while 2019 recipient Charmaine Bingwa appeared alongside Will Smith in Emancipation and starred in hit series The Good Fight. 2017 recipient Mojean Aria featured in Reminiscence with Hugh Jackman and The Enforcer alongside Antonio Banderas. 2016 recipient Ashleigh Cummings can be seen in the Amazon Prime series Citadel while 2014 recipient Cody Fern starred in American Horror Story: Apocalypse, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, and House of Cards.
In attendance at the ceremony were all six HLS 2024 finalists: Andrea Solonge (Time Bandits, Prosper); Charles Wu (Doctor Doctor, Harrow); Taj Aldeeb (Four Years Later, The Fall); Kartanya Maynard (Heartbreak High, Deadloch); Will McDonald (Home and Away, Heartbreak High); and Ezekiel Simat (The Artful Dodger, Beneath the Storm).
They were joined by notable industry names such as: actors Melanie Lynskey, Simone Kessell, Sean Keenan, Danielle Macdonald, Jonathan LaPaglia and Natasha Bassett; directors Phillip Noyce (Rabbit Proof Fence), Jeremy Podeswa (Game of Thrones) and Unjoo Moon (I Am Woman); and The Bear co-Showrunner, Executive Producer and Director Joanna Calo, all celebrating the success of the rising stars.
Patrons of the Heath Ledger Scholarship are Kim Ledger, Gregor Jordan, Susie Dobson and Ann Fay.
A special thanks to Heath Ledger Scholarship Partners for 2024: Delta Air Lines, The London Hotel West Hollywood at Beverly Hills, Vogue, CST, Bluestone Lane, Lance East Office, Penfolds, Golden Globe Foundation, Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) and Venroy for helping shine a light on Australia’s best acting talent.
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