Rose Riley: Australian Actor Making Her Mark on Screen and Stage
From Fremantle and WAAPA to Stateless, Proclivitas and major Australian theatre productions
Introduction
Rose Riley is an Australian actor known for work across television, film and theatre. She grew up in Fremantle, Western Australia, trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, better known as WAAPA, and later built a career on both stage and screen.
Viewers may recognise her from Stateless, Mr Inbetween, Mystery Road, Total Control, Home and Away and Back to the Rafters. Theatre audiences may know her from productions with Belvoir, Sydney Theatre Company and Bell Shakespeare.
Her career was still moving in 2026. Riley appeared in Belvoir’s production of A Mirror and took the lead role of Clare in the Australian feature film Proclivitas.
Quick Facts About Rose Riley
| Fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Rose Riley |
| Profession | Actor |
| From | Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Education | Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts |
| School background | John Curtin College of the Arts |
| Known for | Stateless, Mr Inbetween, Mystery Road, Back to the Rafters |
| Major film | Proclivitas |
| Theatre companies | Belvoir, Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare |
| Award | Green Room Award for The Glass Menagerie |
| Recent 2026 work | A Mirror and Proclivitas |
Rose Riley Grew Up in Fremantle
Riley’s story starts in Fremantle.
Screenwest identifies her as Fremantle-born and raised. John Curtin College of the Arts also lists her as a former student and says she was a 2010 GAT Drama graduate.
Acting was not a late switch.
Her training started young enough for drama to become a clear professional path. After school, she went on to study at WAAPA, one of Australia’s recognised performing-arts training institutions.
Belvoir, Bell Shakespeare and Screenwest all confirm her WAAPA background.
That training helped set up what came next.
Stage work became a big part of her career.
Building a Career in Australian Theatre
Riley has worked with several major Australian theatre companies.
Her Belvoir credits include The Glass Menagerie. Her other stage work has included Harp in the South and A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Sydney Theatre Company.
She has also performed with Bell Shakespeare.
Her Bell Shakespeare work includes Richard III, Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. In Hamlet, Riley played Ophelia. She later appeared as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.
Other theatre credits listed by Belvoir include Love for Darlinghurst Theatre Company, a touring production of 1984, and Flood for Black Swan Theatre Company.
The stage work brought formal recognition too.
Green Room Award for The Glass Menagerie
One career achievement stands out.
Riley won a Green Room Award for her performance in Belvoir’s The Glass Menagerie, presented by Malthouse Theatre.
Belvoir’s official awards record lists Rose Riley as the 2017 Green Room Award winner for Female Performer in the Theatre Companies category.
That is a confirmed award.
It is also one of the strongest markers of her theatre work during that period.
Rose Riley’s Television Career
Her screen credits grew alongside theatre.
Belvoir lists Riley’s television work as including:
- The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
- Mr Inbetween
- Home and Away
- Back to the Rafters
- Stateless
- Total Control
- Diary of an Uber Driver
- Mystery Road
- The Secret City
These projects put her across several types of Australian television.
Some were dramas. Others reached international streaming audiences.
Stateless is one clear example. Screen Australia’s official production record includes Riley among the cast alongside Cate Blanchett, Yvonne Strahovski, Dominic West, Jai Courtney and other actors.
She was also part of Back to the Rafters.
Riley played Anna Davis in the 2021 continuation of the long-running Australian television franchise.
Film Work
Riley has worked in Australian films too.
Belvoir lists her film credits as Book Week, The Death and Life of Otto Bloom, Truth and Proclivitas.
Her role in Proclivitas became especially notable because she led the film.
Screen Australia lists Rose Riley as part of the cast, while Screenwest identifies her as Clare, the central character.
The horror-thriller follows Clare after her mother’s death draws her back to her hometown. She reconnects with a teenage sweetheart while painful events from her past return.
Riley stars opposite George Mason, with Hayley McElhinney also among the main cast.
The film was completed in 2025.
It later received an Australian cinema release on 19 March 2026, according to Screenwest.
A Mirror at Belvoir in 2026
Riley also returned to Belvoir in 2026.
She joined Yalin Ozucelik, Eden Falk and Faisal Hamza in A Mirror, written by Sam Holcroft and directed by Margaret Thanos.
The Belvoir production opened on 25 February 2026.
Riley played the actor portraying Mei, a secretary working for the Ministry of Culture inside the play’s layered story.
The production ran at Belvoir in Sydney through March 2026.
It put Riley back on the stage after years of work spanning theatre, television and film.
What Is Rose Riley Doing Now?
As of September 2026, Riley’s latest clearly verified major credits include A Mirror and Proclivitas.
Proclivitas gave her a lead feature-film role. A Mirror marked another appearance at Belvoir, where she had already earned recognition earlier in her theatre career.
No need to guess beyond that.
There are several people professionally known as Rose Riley. This profile refers specifically to the Australian, Fremantle-raised and WAAPA-trained actor.
That distinction matters.
A separate UK actor named Rose Riley has different training and theatre credits.
Final Thought
Rose Riley has built her acting work across two sides of the industry.
Screen and stage.
She trained in Western Australia, worked with major theatre companies, earned a Green Room Award and appeared in a long list of Australian television productions.
Her 2026 work gives readers a clear picture of where the career stands now. A Mirror brought her back to Belvoir, while Proclivitas placed her at the centre of a feature film.
The work keeps speaking.
FAQs About Rose Riley
Who is Rose Riley?
Rose Riley is an Australian actor from Fremantle, Western Australia, known for film, television and theatre work.
Where is Rose Riley from?
She was born and raised in Fremantle, Western Australia.
Where did Rose Riley study acting?
She trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, commonly called WAAPA.
What TV shows has Rose Riley appeared in?
Her confirmed credits include Stateless, Mr Inbetween, Mystery Road, Total Control, Home and Away and Back to the Rafters.
Who did Rose Riley play in Back to the Rafters?
She played Anna Davis.
What role does Rose Riley play in Proclivitas?
She plays Clare, the film’s central character.
Has Rose Riley won an award?
Yes. She won a 2017 Green Room Award for her performance in The Glass Menagerie.
What was Rose Riley’s recent theatre work?
She appeared in Belvoir’s 2026 production of A Mirror.
