Jimi Bani

Jimi Bani is an Indigenous Australian actor, known for his portrayal of land rights activist Eddie Mabo in the 2012 tele-movie Mabo, several television series, and theatre performances.

Early life and education Bani is a Torres Strait Islander (Mabuiag Island) of the Wadagadum people, where his father was a tribal chief.

Bani was playing in the Queensland State basketball league in Cairns in 2004, when he answered a 'no experience needed' advertisement for actors to appear in the 2006 SBS drama miniseries RAN: Remote Area Nurse. He landed a main role in the series, alongside Susie Porter.

Career Directly after graduating from WAAPA, Bani scored a lead role in a world-premiere stage production of Jandamarra for Black Swan State Theatre Company at the 2008 Perth International Arts Festival. Both series were nominated for awards. Later that year, Bani played Peter Gibson in the third episode of Redfern Now, an ABC1 six-part series produced by Blackfella Films.

From late 2013 through 2014, Bani performed in a stage production of The Shadow King for which he received a Helpmann Awards nomination. The play was produced by the Malthouse Theatre in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals – Adelaide Festival, Brisbane Festival, Melbourne Festival, Perth International Arts Festival and Sydney Festival. That same year, he appeared in a Queensland Theatre production entitled My Name is Jimi, which he co-created with Jason Klarwein who also directed the production. The performers included members of his family in a performance which "... whisks you away to his island for an evening of music, dance, stand-up and storytelling. Four generations of one family take the stage, as Jimi’s grandmother, mother, son and brothers help him spin yarns of totems, traditions and childhood memories". The show was also performed at the Sydney Festival in 2018.

In early 2022, Bani delivered a critically acclaimed performance as George in a State Theatre Company South Australia production of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Later in 2022, Bani and Jason Klarwein staged an adaptation of Othello at Queensland Theatre, set in the Torres Straits. It was originally premiered at Cairns Indigenous Art Fair in 2021. Bani played Othello as a member of the Torres Straits Light Infantry Battalion during World War II. The production was staged in three languages; Kala Lagaw Ya, Yumplatok and English. Performing cultural songs and dances alongside Bani, were his three brothers.

In 2024, Bani voiced the character of Red, a kangaroo in the animated feature film The Lost Tiger.

Together with The Straits co-star, Aaron Fa'aoso, Bani runs Cairns film and television production company, Lone Star, teaching writing, directing, acting and cinematography to young people. The company has also produced numerous short films. 2009 Yibiyung Helpmann Awards Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play Equity Ensemble Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Telemovie or Miniseries Filmography

Film YearTitleRoleType Ref. 2017 A Thin Black Line Voice Documentary short film 2024 The Lost Tiger Red (voice) Animated film Yibiyung Smiley Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, Belvoir, Sydney 2010 The Sapphires Jimmy Playhouse, Perth with Black Swan State Theatre Company, Scott Theatre, Adelaide, Belvoir, Sydney, London & Korea tour 2011 Krakouer! Jimmy Clocktower Centre with Deckchair Theatre 2013 Peter Pan John / Pirate I / The Crocodile Belvoir, Sydney Playwrighting Australia Various roles National Script Workshop Canberra The Dragon Lancelot Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne Half and Half Ned Cairns Centre of Contemporary Arts with Jute Theatre Company 2013–2014 The Shadow King Edmund Australian tour l 2015 Storm Boy Fingerbone Bill Australian tour with STC 2016 The Shadow King Edmund Barbican Theatre, London with Malthouse Theatre Title and Deed The Traveller Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney l 2017–2018 My Name is Jimi Jimi Australian tour with QTC 2018 Hedda Ejlert Lovborg Bille Brown Theatre, Brisbane with QTC 2020Othello Othello Cairns Indigenous Art Fair & Bille Brown Theatre, Brisbane with QTC 2022 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? George Dunstan Playhouse with STCSA The Return Warrior Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne 2023 Every Brilliant Thing Narrator STCSA 2025 A Few Good Men QPAC, Brisbane with QTC 2025–2026 Dear Son Reader 2 Bille Brown Theatre, Brisbane, Odeon Theatre, Adelaide, Belvoir, Sydney with QTC & STCSA