Acting
Mar 7, 1976
Derby, Western Australia, Australia
Heath Bergersen
Acting
Biography
Heath Bergersen is an Australian Indigenous actor who has worked in various Australian television series and movies. Bergersen was born in the remote township of Derby, near Broome in Western Australia, but was adopted and moved to the city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia, at a young age. At 16, Bergersen moved to Perth to pursue music and acting. He initially taught primary school children about Aboriginal art, culture, history and the technique of the didgeridoo. Bergersen followed his passions for music and performance by completing the Aboriginal Musical Theatre Training Course under Michael Leslie, the original choreographer of the acclaimed theatre musical Bran Nue Dae. Bergersen has appeared in the musical Bran Nu Dae, performed with the Warda Dance Group, and acted in various plays, including Wicked, No Prejudice and Runumuk. He has appeared in various television shows including Kids Co. and The Great Outdoors, performed didgeridoo for the Channel 7 Christmas Pageant, and appeared in the SBS TV documentaries Images of Us and Destination Dole. Bergersen has appeared in feature films including Rabbit Proof Fence, Mabo, Japanese Story, Secret River, and in the lead role of Jarli Cooper in ReFraction.
Feature Films (5)
The remarkable life story of Eddie 'Koiki' Mabo; a Torres Strait Islander who left school at the age of 15, yet spearheaded the High Court challenge that overthrew the fiction of terra nullius.
Mabo
In 1842 the Crown prosecuted Weewar, a Binjareb Nyungar warrior, for carrying out tribal payback by spearing Dyung of the Mooro Group. When Weewar heard that Dyung, a member of the tribe responsible for the death of his son, was moving through Binjareb Territory he was governed by one law – Traditional Aboriginal Law. Weewar’s trial became the test case in Western Australia which determined that British Law took precedence over traditional law. Dedicated to Theo Kearing a Binjareb Warrior.
Weewar
In 1931, three Aboriginal girls escape after being plucked from their homes to be trained as domestic staff, and set off on a trek across the Outback.
Rabbit-Proof Fence
Sandy, a geologist, finds herself stuck on a field trip to the Pilbara desert with a Japanese man she finds inscrutable, annoying and decidedly arrogant. Hiromitsu's view of her is not much better. Things go from bad to worse when they become stranded in one of the most remote regions on Earth.
Japanese Story
City based Eddie sets off to reconnect with his blackfella roots by taking a sacred stone back to his hometown. But when wild-boy Charlie forces himself along for the ride, Eddie's spiritual journey goes off track and becomes a riotous trip through outback Australia as the boys are forced to contend with a self-obsessed Italian rock-god, a cross dressing cousin, and a demonic dog!
Stone Bros.
Television & Series (5)
Enter the dramatic and dangerous world of Australia's oldest and riskiest pursuit – mining. A mismatched team strive to save a struggling but proud Australian mining company, and in doing so, must overcome their own prejudice and fears while facing life-threatening situations – not only for themselves but also for the workers they employ.
Dirt Game
Sweat is an Australian drama series created by John Rapsey and produced by Barron Entertainment in Perth. The show aired on Network Ten in 1996 and centred around students at an Australian school for the athletically gifted. Sweat was Heath Ledger's first regular role on a television series; he played Snowy Bowles, a gay cyclist. Scenes shot in & around Perth included at locations such as Challenge Stadium & the now defunct Perry Lakes Stadium, scene of the 1962 Commonwealth Games.
Sweat
In 1806, William Thornhill is sentenced to New South Wales for life where he is drawn into a terrifying conflict that will leave a bloody and indelible stain.
The Secret River
A sketch comedy show by Blackfellas... for everyone! Featuring a fantastic ensemble cast of Indigenous writers and performers and includes many special guest cameo appearances. Meet some of the lively characters including, the Tiddas - two of the most competitive, over the top gay Blackfellas; Mavis the mean-mouthed cleaning woman; the Housewives of Narromine and Deadly Dave who can fix anything. Black Comedy is irreverent, politically incorrect and goes where no other series can go.
