Helen Thomson

Helen Thomson is an Australian actress. She is best known for her role as Gladys Presley in the biographical film Elvis.

Early life Thomson grew up on a farm outside Thangool in central Queensland, as one of five children.

Television Thomson has appeared in numerous television shows including A Country Practice, Water Rats, Blue Heelers, Stupid Stupid Man and Bad Mothers. Other credits include Jane Campion's Top of the Lake: China Girl, Fires and playing Prime Minister Angela Sway in season 5 of Rake opposite Richard Roxburgh.

She plays Ashley's mother Lynelle, in multi-award winning Australian dramedy television series Colin from Accounts. Her performance saw her nominated for Best Acting in a Comedy at the 2024 AACTA Awards, executive produced by Nicole Kidman and based on the hit novel by Liane Moriarty.

Film Thomson's film credits include comedy drama La Spagnola (2002) and A Man's Gotta Do (2004). She received an Australian Film Institute Awards nomination for her role in 2003 comedy crime thriller Gettin' Square, in which she starred opposite Timothy Spall She scored the role after Maggie Gyllenhaal was unable to take part, and after one of Luhrmann's assistants had seen her in a stage production of George Bernard Shaw’s Mrs. Warren's Profession. a spin-off of Gettin' Square.

She has been a frequent collaborator with her husband David Roberts, including in television series Colin from Accounts, the films A Savage Christmas (2023) and Spit (2025) and a stage production of In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play).

Personal life Thomson is married to fellow actor David Roberts. Together they have two children and reside at Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney.

Awards and nominations Year Work Award Category Result Ref. 2003 Gettin' Square Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role 2011 In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) Helpmann Awards Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play 2012 Summer of the Seventeenth Doll Best Female Actor in a Play 2013 The Effect Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play 2015 After Dinner 2019 The Harp in the South: Part One and Part Two Mary Stuart Best Female Actor in a Play 2024 AACTA Awards Best Acting in a Comedy

Filmography

Film YearTitleRoleNotesRef. 1990 Bloodmoon Mary Huston 1997 Thank God He Met Lizzie (aka The Wedding Party) Emma 1999 Strange Planet Lulu 2001 La Spagnola Wendy 2004 A Man's Gotta Do Tina A Savage Christmas Brenda Savage 2025 Spit Marion Barrington 2003 Blue Heelers Dr. Tatiana Zylinski 6 episodes Stingers Selma Katsonis Episode: "Conversations with the Dead" MDA Nerida Bailey 2 episodes Kath & Kim Receptionist Episode: "The Moon" 2005BlackJack: In the Money Sandra Miller TV film 2008 The Informant Lucy Norris TV film 2006–2008 Stupid, Stupid Man Carol Van Dyke 9 episodes2007 All Saints Sharon Cox Episode: "Smoke and Mirrors" Bastard Boys Valerie Corrigan Miniseries, 4 episodes 2009 The Jesters Harriet Episode: "Hard Time Getting Soft Time" 30 Seconds Faith O'Callaghan Episode: "A Matter of Trust" 2012 Nick & Seaton's Palace of Sexy Secrets Various 2 episodes 2013 Mr & Mrs Murder Olivia Patterson Episode: "The Art of Murder" 2014 Wonderland Jackie Page Episode: "Monogamy" 2014 Rake Margot Episode #3.2 2015 Catching Milat Dr. Miriam Bentley Miniseries, episode #1.1 2016 Love Child Eleanor Episode #3.4 2016–2017 Doctor Doctor Nora Gunbleton Season 2, 4 episodes2017 Top of the Lake Felicity 3 episodes Pulse Lorraine Walsh 2 episodes A Place to Call Home Gerda Davis 2 episodes 2018 Rake PM Angela Way 3 episodes 2019 Bad Mothers Liz 7 episodes 2021 FiresYvonne Webber 2 episodes 2022 Irreverent Antoinette 4 episodes 2022–2024 Colin from Accounts Lynelle 9 episodes 2023 One Night Lindy 3 episodes Wolf Like Me Jackie Episode #2.1 2025 The Last Anniversary Enigma 6 episodes 1991 Kaspajack Queensland Theatre Company with Brolgas Youth Theatre The Selection Dora Pettigrew Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC 1992 Othello Desdemona Arts Centre, Melbourne with MTC A Dickens Christmas Miss Zoe Playbox Theatre Company, Melbourne Much Ado About Nothing Margaret 1994 The Shaughraun Arte O'Neil Sydney Opera House with STC / Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC 1995 A Midsummer Night’s Dream Hippolyta / Titania Elston Hocking & Woods 2001 The School for Scandal Lady Sneerwell Sydney Opera House with STC 2006 Macbeth Lady Macbeth Sydney Theatre Company The Art of War Hannah Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC A Midsummer Night’s Dream Quince Sydney Theatre with STC 2012 Under Milk Wood Rosie Probert / Mrs Pugh / Mrs Dai Bread 1 / Gossamer Beynon / Mrs Cherry OwenWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC 2014 The Winter's Tale Hermione Sydney Opera House with Bell Shakespeare 2016 Hay Fever Myra Arundel Sydney Opera House with STC Mark Colvin's Kidney Elle Macpherson / others 2018 Top Girls Marlene Sydney Opera House with STC The Harp in the South Delie StockRoslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney with STC 2019 Mary Stuart Queen Elizabeth 2020 No Pay? No Way! Sydney Opera House with STC 2023 The Importance of Being Earnest Lady Bracknell 2024 August: Osage County Mattie Fae Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney