Jimi Bani
Jimi Bani is an Indigenous Australian television actor. A Torres Strait Islander of the Wadagadum people, where his father was a tribal chief, he attended the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Career
Bani's first role was in the 2006 mini-series, , that aired on SBS One.In 2012, he appeared on ABC1's series, The Straits and on the tele-movie Mabo both of which were nominated for awards. Bani appeared in Redfern Now, a six-part series produced by Blackfella Films that went to air on ABC1 in late 2012.
From late 2013 through 2014 Bani performed in The Shadow King for which he received a Helpmann Awards nomination. The play was produced by the Malthouse Theatre in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals – Adelaide Festival, Brisbane Festival, Melbourne Festival, Perth International Arts Festival and Sydney Festival.
Bani is a member of Queensland Theatre's National Artistic Team to assist Artistic Director Sam Strong with its 2017 season.
In 2017 he appeared in a Queensland Theatre production entitled My Name is Jimi which he co-created with Jason Klarwein who also directed the production. The performers included members of his family in a performance which "... whisks you away to his island for an evening of music, dance, stand-up and storytelling. Four generations of one family take the stage, as Jimi’s grandmother, mother, son and brothers help him spin yarns of totems, traditions and childhood memories.:"
Awards
- 2009 nominated Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play, for Yibiyung
- 2012 Winner Deadly Awards Male Actor of the Year Mabo
- 2012 Winner Deadly Awards Film of the Year Mabo
- 2012 Winner Deadly Awards Television Show of the Year The Straits
- 2013 nominated Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama Mabo
- 2013 nominated Silver Logie Most Outstanding Actor Mabo
- 2013 nominated Equity Ensemble Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Telemovie or Mini-series Mabo
- 2014 nominated Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play, for The Shadow King
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Year | Title | Role |
| 2006 | RAN: Remote Area Nurse | Solomon Gaibui | 2007 | Beautiful Music | |
| 2012 | THe Straits | Marou Montebello | 2012 | Mabo | Koiki Eddie Mabo |
| 2012 | Redfern Now. | Peter Gibson | 2012 | The People Speak Australia | Priscilla Conway |
| 2015 | Ready for This | Nat Brockman | 2016 | Black Comedy | Guest Cast |
Theatre - Actor
Selected performances| Year | Title | Venue | Year | Title | Venue |
| 2008 | Jandamarra | Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre | 2008 | Romeo and Juliet | Wharf 2 |
| 2008 | Yibiyung | 2010 | The Sapphires | Playhouse Theatre, Perth; Scott Theatre, Adelaide | |
| 2010 | The Sapphires | Belvoir Street Theatre, Surry Hills, | 2011 | Krakouer! | Clocktower Centre, Moonee Ponds |
| 2013 | Peter Pan | Belvoir Street Theatre, Surry Hills | 2013 | The Dragon | Merlyn Theatre, Southbank |
| 2013 | The Shadow King | Merlyn Theatre, Southbank | 2014 | The Shadow King | Bay 17 at Carriageworks, Eveleigh, NSW |
| 2014 | The Shadow King | Heath Ledger Theatre, Northbridge, WA | 2014 | The Shadow King | Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide |
| 2014 | The Shadow King | Darwin Amphitheatre, | 2014 | The Shadow King | Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture, Katherine East, NT |
| 2014 | The Shadow King | Powerhouse Theatre, New Farm, QLD | 2016 | Title and Deed | Belvoir Street Downstairs Theatre, Surry Hills, NSW |
| 2017 | My Name is Jimi | Centre Of Contemporary Arts, Cairns | 2017 | My Name is Jimi | Bille Brown Studio, Brisbane |