The many faces of Toni Collette

Michael Sheather
VIEW GALLERY: Toni in pics
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Getty Images
Photograph by Getty Images
Toni Collette's smile is practically incandescent.
Michael Sheather
VIEW GALLERY: Toni in pics
Toni Collette has come a long way from her difficult 20s. Today, she is a successful actress with a loving husband and beautiful daughter, who has found her true path, as she tells Michael Sheather.

To see more of beautiful Toni throughout her career, click here.

Toni Collette's smile is practically incandescent. In the grey and shadowy confines of a rooftop office, not far from Sydney’s CBD, Toni, the 36-year-old actress and star of such international hits as Muriel’s Wedding, The Sixth Sense and Little Miss Sunshine, radiates a welcome warmth and brightness on a cold winter’s morning.

No star turns here. She is happy and clearly at ease, full of joie de vivre. And there is no reason why she shouldn’t be. The past few years, she says, are among the happiest and most content – both personally and professionally – of her life.

Since marrying the man she says is the love of her life, former Gelbison drummer Dave Galafassi, in 2003, Toni has not only found a level of personal contentment that in her youth she had found elusive, but has been transformed by the experience of motherhood, with the birth 17 months ago of their daughter, Sage.

Having a child and sharing her life is simply “awesome”, says Toni, her enthusiasm bubbling over. “I never realised the depth of love that was available until Sage came along. It’s a whole other thing, another side of life. I love it, I love her. It’s the best thing ever.”

Just as family is clearly at the heart of Toni’s personal life, it is family that is at the centre of her latest professional offering, the quirky but poignant and captivating comedy United States of Tara, which premieres on ABC1 on July 29.

To read more about Toni Collette, see the July issue of The Australian Women's Weekly, out now.

Your Say: What do you think of Toni Collette? Tell us below...


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User comments
I really like her work on both Sixth Sense and Little Miss Sunshine, very different movies and characters one from another but I think she´s a good actress. I encourage her to continue to work on other movies and I'll be waiting to see her acting. Good luck! =]
I loved Toni is Muriels Wedding, one of my favourite Aussie Movies ever. She is brilliant in comedy or drama, i think she's even better than Nicole!!
My mum used to be a manger for a Perth hotel. She has Toni Collette staying there for a week and found her to be very rude to herself, other staff and other patrons. She acted a-top of everyone else and was never seen smiling once. If greeted with "Good morning" from a member of the hotels staff, she would simply ignore it, even in a small area such as the elevator. Interesting isn't it.
I think she is one the best actresses ever. She hasn't made a bad movie
She is like an ugly duckling that has turned into a beautiful swan. She takes on many roles and shines all the way thru. This lady is so down to earth. Love the women
Toni Collette is a truly great actress and the best of her generation to come out of Australia. She is the example that I hold up, and not that skinny, washed-out, botoxed other red-head that so many (over)rate.
Gorgeous! Quirky and a real woman.
what a wonderful.delightful, intelligent women who is relaxed in her own skin.and enjoys the simple pleasures in life.nice to see there are still real women left in australia admire her greatly.luv and lite to you toni x

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