Jillian O’Dowd
Drums
Aotearoa-born and an Australian citizen, Jillian O’Dowd is a NIDA acting graduate with over 30 years of professional experience across stage and screen. A classically trained and highly versatile artist, her work spans acting, voice performance, singing, drumming, directing, vocal music direction, producing, writing, and arts education across Australia, NZ, the UK, Europe, and Asia.
Career highlights include playing Theresa in Arena Media’s web series The Five Minute Call, The Housewife in Menopause the Musical at the State Theatre Sydney, Marya (on drums) in the Tony Award-winning electro-pop opera Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, and Dorothy in Ghosting the Party for Griffin Theatre Company. She also co-created and performed Safety Nets for ARTSLAB with Sarah Butler, writing the soundscape and songs; the production received a five-star review at the Adelaide Fringe Festival.
Jillian’s voice work includes roles in the award-winning second series of Guess How Much I Love You (ABC iView) as the Narrator and Bluebird of Happiness, and character work in Nate Is Late (Channel 9), showcasing her range of Australian, UK, and US accents.
Her extensive theatre credits include performances with Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir St Theatre, Griffin Theatre Company, The ARTSLAB (in association with Shark Island Institute), The Comedy Co. UK, and TNT London, touring musicals throughout Europe, Malta, and Asia. In London’s West End, she produced a season of Beautiful Bodies at Leicester Square Theatre, and worked as a director, educator, and training consultant at the London School of Dramatic Art.
Since returning to Australia in 2012, Jillian has been deeply engaged in developing, directing, producing, and performing in South Coast productions, while continuing her work as a coach and facilitator within the community.
Her screen credits include Rake, Home and Away, Cold Feet, Water Rats, and All Saints, with film appearances in Dead Letter Office, The Flood, The Three Stooges, Walking on Water, and Diana Clone. She performed alongside Hugh Jackman in The Boy from Oz (as Valerie) and was selected for the national arena tour, covering Chrissy Amphlett’s role as Judy Garland. She also covered Marina Prior in The Witches of Eastwick in Melbourne.
A passionate musician, Jillian is drummer, singer, co-producer, and director for Baxter Stone’s original music duo Chocolate Dogs. Together they have co-produced Sweet Beats and Blues, a South Coast music event celebrating original Australian artists. Clips can be viewed on Baxter StoneTV and Chocolate Dogs You Tube Channels. Their recent gig at ‘The Drummer’ in Glebe rocked!
Jillian was awarded a CREATE NSW CASP grant for the short film Coevolution, co-storyboarded with artist/poet Greer Taylor and filmmaker Harry Kielly. She also co-created the live multimedia performance Veiling; grief and delight, a sold-out event reconnecting humanity to nature and the heart of ourselves, now viewed on WithinBeyond You tube.
Her recent voice work includes commercials for NZ Seniors Insurance for Eardrum. Jilly looks forward to Audio books in her near future….check out more on jillianodowd.com.
Her earliest inspirations? Animal, Ralph, and Miss Piggy from The Muppets—a fitting origin for a performer of such bold spirit and range.
On Dharawal Country, Jillian brings her signature energy, humour, and musicality to the stage in Middle Raged and is thrilled to be “hot flushing on the drums” with the band as part of this exciting debut tour.
