Jacquie Brennan is an Australian stage, television and film actress [2] Brennan has appeared in television, film, theatre and voice-over roles. Brennan is known for her roles in Bullpitt!,[3] The Hollowmen,[4] and her most known role in Australian award-winning TV Drama Wentworth as Officer Linda 'Smiles' Miles.

Jacquie Brennan
Alma materUniversity of Southern Queensland
OccupationActress
Years active1986–present (Television, Theatre, Voice Acting)
Known for
Spouse
(m. 2001)
[1]
Children2

Education

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Brennan graduated from the University of Southern Queensland with a Diploma of Performing Arts.[5]

Theatre career

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Brennan has also worked extensively in both the Queensland and Sydney theatre companies respectively, these credits include a self-written one woman show called 'Dangerous When Wet' as well and in the 60s spoof group The Harlettes during their Australian Tour. Jacquie's other theatre works include Are You Being Served? on the Australian Tour during its run in 2001, Room To Move, Camille, Rosy Apples Too Darn Hot, Macquarie, Beach Blanket Tempest, Silhouette and many more.[6][7]

Television career

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Brennan is a well-known and sought-after voice over artist,[8][9] who has lent her voice to multiple voice over productions including working on SheZow, Kuu Kuu Harajuku,[10] Get Ace, Monster Beach's Television Movie, Australian-Canadian co-production Big Words, Small Stories,[11] and many more often voicing multiple characters in each series often over 5 voices during production.

In 2018, Brennan was rewarded for her efforts with a Voice Over Award or 'VoVo' for 'Most Emotionally Powerful Delivery' for the Peter MacCullum Cancer Centre ad 'Prevent, Detect, Act'.[12]

Brennan provided the voice audio narration for the book 'Blood River' in 2019 and in 2022 Brennan provided the narration for the audiobook 'Wake'. and in 2023 Brennan also provided narration for the audiobooks Ripper and Murder Town written by Shelley Burr.[13][14]

Brennan was announced in 2008 as part of the cast for ABC political comedy series The Hollowmen in the role of press secretary Mel.[15] Brennan appeared in both seasons of the show. Brennan said in an interview in 2023 "I remember making Rob Sitch laugh and I was thrilled.".[16]

In 2020, Brennan appeared in the Underbelly adaptation Informer 3838 [17] where she played the real life Christine Hodson who was a victim of the Melbourne gangland killings, Christine's death during the height of the gangland war 'broke the code' because during a gang war it was an unwritten rule to always exclude the partners as you never went for them, Christine had no links to any underworld figures nor was she involved in any of Terence's dealings. Task Force Petra was introduced to investigate the murders, but was disbanded in 2011, the case however still remains open and unsolved and the $1 million reward for information still stands to this day. While filming for one scene was so intense Brennan's body 'went into shock' after the take was completed.[18]

Wentworth

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Brennan joined the cast of Wentworth in 2012 when the series had first went into production and was originally only contracted to the show for 8 days,[19] she came into set reading alongside other cast for roles but was told to read for a 'small role' by the series set up director Kevin Carlin who explained it was only set to be a small role but he knew that Jacquie wanted to be involved in the series, that 'small role' ended up being the role of Officer Linda Miles. Brennan has since then revealed she originally auditioned for Liz Birdsworth.[20]

 
Brennan in attendance at Wentworth Con 2023

Brennan played prison officer Linda 'Smiles' Miles,[21] her first appearance was in season 1 episode 2 and had been part of the supporting cast for the shows entire run.[22] In season 7 Linda was promoted to acting deputy governor and Jacquie would reprise the role of Linda Miles during the filming for the final 20 episodes of the series, where Linda would be riddled with PTSD after the events of the siege. Brennan was in every season of Wentworth appearing in a total of 99 episodes of the series. Brennan did an extensive interview for her time on Wentworth in 2021 with LadyPartsTV.[20]

Brennan has since revealed in an interview with David Knox of TV Tonight that following season one of Wentworth a running-gag developed as Linda was given so little to do in the first season Linda just mostly 'opened doors' and gave 'excellent reactions' during certain scenes as the head writer for the series Timothy Hobart had taken notice and just "kept writing" for the character of Linda Miles, developing her character along the way. Brennan had said she came up with Linda's backstory and how the character of Linda became an officer. Linda's backstory was that she had lost everything gambling including her house, her former job and her marriage, Linda became an officer to be 'well paid'.[19]

Brennan would appear alongside several Wentworth cast members at a Screen Star Event in London and Birmingham in mid-2022 [23] and she would also appear alongside several cast members at Wentworth Con Melbourne in 2022, after withdrawing from the con's New Jersey event due to illness.[24] Brennan would appear for a second event this time in the US [25] and the UK in 2023 for Screen Star Events 15th Year alongside co-star Tammy MacIntosh and Colette Mann.[26][27]

Post Wentworth

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On 9 November 2022, it was announced that Brennan had been cast in a two-part telemovie to air on the Nine Network in 2023 about the late Australian cricketer Shane Warne, which Shane would be played by Alex Williams.[28] Entitled Warnie, Brennan was cast to play Shane's mother Brigitte Warne. The decision to produce the miniseries about Warne after his death was heavily criticised by Warne's daughter Brooke who described it as "beyond disrespectful".[29] The trailer for the telemovie also attracted negative commentary across social media when it was first shown on 31 May 2023 during the NRL State of Origin halftime break.[29] The telemovie aired in two parts airing on June 25-26 2023. The telemovie garnered mostly scathing negative reviews from the public, press and the Warne family alike. Shane's ex-wife Simone had slammed the telemovie calling it 'unkind' and 'mean spirited'.[30][28][31][32][33]

Brennan also provided the voice over work for Channel 7 Police Operations series Police Strike Force.

In 2023 Brennan appeared in SBS drama Safe Home in the role of Nicole, and in season 4 of Paramount+ series Five Bedrooms reprising the role of Denise Schaap from season 1.

Personal life

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Brennan is married to actor Ian Bliss, the two met in 1999 on the set of theatre play Silhouette.[34] Brennan in 2021 spoke with 9Honey's 'How We Met' video series and explained in detail how she met Ian and how he would drive Jacquie to rehearsal and bring her coffee, and how the two began a close bond during that time. Brennan and Bliss married in 2001 and have two children together.[35]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
1986 Jackson's Crew Gaye TV movie
1987 Walter Dixon's Wombat Harriet TV movie
Contagion Trish Film [36]
1995 Babe (film) Various voices Feature film [37][38]
2003 Temptation Cathy TV movie [39]
2008 Playing for Charlie Vicky Film
2010 Animal Kingdom Sandra Leckie Feature film
2012 Dangerous Remedy Hon TV movie
2014 Monster Beach Amphibia (voice) TV movie [40]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
1987–88 Wombat Harriet TV series, 2 episodes
1992, 1993 A Country Practice Amanda Morton / Ms. Janice Bamford TV series, 2 episodes
1996 After the Beep Trish TV series, 1 episode
1997 Murder Call Leonie TV series, 1 episode
1998 Home and Away Nurse June Wrench TV series, 1 episode (ep 2299)
1997–98 Bullpitt! Samantha MacDonald TV series, 26 episodes
1999 Wildside Karen Thompson TV series, 1 episode [41]
2001 Sit Down, Shut Up Helen Peters TV series, 13 episodes [42]
BackBerner Various characters TV series, 1 episode
2002 All Saints Phillipa McAlpine TV series, 1 episode
White Collar Blue Ava Syme TV series, 1 episode
2000, 2003 Stingers Gail Lynch / Hannah Hausman TV series, 2 episodes
2007 Dangerous Dean's mother TV series, 2 episodes [43]
2008 Canal Road Nina TV series, 1 episode [44]
Bed of Roses Anna Mayhew TV series, 2 episodes [45]
City Homicide Bonnie Roper TV series, 1 episode
The Hollowmen Mel TV series, 12 episodes [46][47]
2008–09 Neighbours Det. Sgt. Michaela Morris TV series, 12 episodes [48]
2010 Offspring Nurse Metcalf TV series, 1 episode
Lil Larrakins Maddie (voice) TV series
2011 Winners & Losers Gayleen Longbrook TV series, 1 episode
2010–12 Wakkaville Aunt Agnes (voices) TV series, 26 episodes [49]
2013 Zuzu & the Supernuffs Various voices TV series, 2 episodes
Upper Middle Bogan Celia TV series, 1 episode
2012–13 SheZow Sheila, Tara, Grilla, Null, Madame Curiador (voice) TV series, 26 episodes [50]
2013–21 Wentworth Officer Linda Miles TV series, season 1–8 (b), 99 episodes [51]
2014 Get Ace Mom / Reporter / Various (voices) Animated TV series [52]
2015 House Husbands Kerry the Tutor TV series, 1 episode
Exchange Student Zero Queen Blackyard / Various TV series, 7 episodes [53][54]
2016 Molly 'Dot' Canteen Lady TV miniseries, part 1
2017 Operation Thailand Narrator TV documentary, 10 episodes [55]
True Story with Hamish & Andy Laura's Mum TV series, season 1, episode 9
2018 Picnic at Hanging Rock Mrs. McCready TV miniseries, season 1, episode 4
2015–18 Kuu Kuu Harajuku Colonel Spyke / Mauve Madison / Various (voices) TV series, 156 episodes [56][57]
2019 Secret Bridesmaids's Business Kerri Lane TV miniseries, 4 episodes [58]
2019, 2023 Five Bedrooms Denise Schaap TV series, 2 episodes [59]
2020 Informer 3838 Christine Hodson TV miniseries, parts 1 & 2 [60]
2021 Big Words, Small Stories Sally Mander / Aunt Ria / Various (voices) TV series, 65 episodes [61]
2022 Police Strike Force Narrator TV series, 6 episodes [62]
2023 Safe Home Nicole TV series, 1 episode [63]
Warnie Brigitte Warne TV miniseries, 2 episodes
TBA Untitled Netflix Animation Series TBA In production

Self appearances / podcast

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2016 Wentworth Live Q and A with Bernard Curry Self Q and A Video [64]
2017 Thinkergirls Pod Self Podcast, 1 episode [65]
Interrogation Room with Sal Upton Self Q and A Video [66]
2019 Wentworth: Behind the Bars Self TV Special
2020 Wentworth: Behind the Bars 2 Self TV Special [67]
2021 LadyParts TV Self Podcast interview, 1 episode
Teal Talk Self Podcast interview, 1 episode [68]
Wentworth Unlocked Self / Linda Miles TV special [69]
2021-22 Hot of the Press Self Podcast Interview, 2 episodes [70][71]
2022 Broad Radio Self Podcast Interview, 1 episode [72]
2023 The Sounds of Bayside Self Podcast series, 1 episode [73]

Audio books

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2019 Blood River Narrator Author: Tony Cavanaugh
2022 Wake Narrator Author: Shelley Burr
2023 Ripper [74]
Murder Town [75]

Theatre

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Year Title Character Notes Ref
1986 Room to Move Ellie La Boite Theatre [76]
Camille Understudy
1987 Away Understudy Cremorne Theatre
1987 Merry Wives of Windsor Ann Page
1988 Bullshot Crummond Rosemary
Alligator Jones Various characters
Crazies Comedy Club Character Stand Up
1988 Beach Blanket Tempest Annette
1989 Popular Mechanicals Tom Stout
Dinkum Assorted Glad Queensland Theatre Company [77]
Gerry Connolly Show Various characters
1990 Rosy Apples Karen TN! Theatre Co
Too Darn Hot Priscilla Tivoli Theatre
1991 Who Shrunk Santa Narrator Writer/Director
Dangerous When Wet Lolita La Touché Sit Down Comedy Club
Ménage A Twah! Singing Comedy Trio Harold Park Hotel
1994 Sex The Musical Claudia Harold Park Hotel
Milo Peg Sydney Theatre Company
1995 The Harlettes Coco Australian tour
Big Girls Don't Cry Coco Writer/Actor
1998 Macquarie Narrator Government House
1999 Silhouette WPC Leach Marian Street Theatre
2001 Are You Being Served? Miss Brahms Twelfth Night Theatre

References

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