William McKenna (actor)

William McKenna is an Australian actor.

William McKenna
NationalityAustralian
OccupationActor
Years active2016–present
Notable workHarry Potter and the Cursed Child (2018–2020)

Career

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On stage, he starred as Draco Malfoy's son Scorpius in the Melbourne staging of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child from 2018 to 2020,[1][2] a role for which he was nominated for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play at the 19th Helpmann Awards and won Best Performance in a Theatre Production at the 37th Green Room Awards.[3][4]

On television, he played Ben Ripley in Nowhere Boys[5] and Ed Kennedy in The Messenger, an adaptation of Markus Zusak's novel of the same name.[6][7]

 
William McKenna (far right) in a behind the scenes photo while filming Queen of Oz with Rachel Gordon, Niky Wardley, Catherine Tate, Jeff Gutheim, and Jenna Owen

In 2023, he starred as Matthew, a nervous personal assistant to the fictitious Australian monarch, in the BBC sitcom Queen of Oz,[8] created by English comedian Catherine Tate.[9]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2016 You're Skitting Me Various 26 episodes [10]
2016–2018 Nowhere Boys Ben Ripley Main role (seasons 3–4) [10]
2023 The Messenger Ed Kennedy Main role [7]
Queen of Oz Matthew[10] [11]

Short films

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Year Title Role
2018 Skates Boy
Welcome Home Jessica's Friend
2021 Breathe Toby
2022 Go with Grace Gem

Theatre

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Year Title Role Venue / Company Ref.
2018–2020 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Scorpius Malfoy Princess Theatre [1]
2022 Admissions Charlie Luther Mason Melbourne Theatre Company [12]
2023 Bernhardt/Hamlet Maurice Bernhardt [13]

References

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  1. ^ a b Lallo, Michael (4 May 2019), "On the very stage where his great-grandparents met, a star is born", The Sydney Morning Herald
  2. ^ Lambert, Catherine (27 January 2020), "Teen's incredible rise from schoolboy to Harry Potter star", Herald Sun
  3. ^ Miller, Nick (6 April 2020). "Camp Dogs run away with Melbourne's annual theatre awards". The Age. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  4. ^ "2020 Nominations & Recipients – The Green Room Awards". Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  5. ^ Quinn, Karl (7 November 2016), "Nowhere Boys: Two Moons Rising review: New cast adds extra dimension to teen hit", The Sydney Morning Herald
  6. ^ The IF Team (28 November 2022), "'The Messenger' (Trailer)", if
  7. ^ a b Lallo, Michael (9 May 2023). "Will McKenna takes magic from the stage to the screen with The Messenger". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  8. ^ Reporters, Telegraph (7 February 2020). "What's on TV tonight: Best Interests, Sarah Beeny vs Cancer and more". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  9. ^ "BBC One – Queen of Oz, Series 1, Episode 1". BBC. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  10. ^ a b c "William McKenna". Creative Representation. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Queen of Oz". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  12. ^ Byrne, Tim (11 February 2022). "Kat Stewart and William McKenna star in MTC's satire on privilege". Time Out Melbourne. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  13. ^ Byrne, Tim (9 March 2023). "Bernhardt/Hamlet review – Kate Mulvany is astonishingly good". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
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