Natalie has had a solid career in the arts for the last 25 years. Her career spans theatre, music, film and television, both as a performer and behind the lens. Beginning as an Actress in the theatre, Natalie soon found that she was a skilled storyteller. She moved into film, training as an Editor and Sound Designer at QUT, which led to her cutting short films in the late 90s. It was during this period she started writing and directing short films herself, funded by SBS, WIFT and PFTC. Moving to the UK in 2000, Natalie joined the BBC Comedy Department as a Producer’s Assistant and Researcher, working on ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS and FRENCH & SAUNDERS. She was later mentored as a Producer and Director by Armando Iannucci, working on the development and production of cult hits such as THE THICK OF IT and TIME TRUMPET. She jumped back into directing as Series and Lead Director on all three seasons of CBBC sitcom, HOT TRUBBLE and later helped launch the BBC Comedy online portal where she developed and made online content with new and established comedians including Stewart Lee, Mitchell and Webb and Morwenna Banks.
After leaving the BBC Natalie focused on directing, becoming Lead and Series Director on UK shows including the Emmy Award-winning David Hasselhoff comedy, HOFF THE RECORD, BBC2s award-winning, political-comedy THE THICK OF IT Series 4 and the Jo Brand & Morwenna Banks critically acclaimed C4 series, DAMNED Pilot & Season 2.
In 2019 Natalie re-joined forces with Armando Iannucci, directing 3 episodes of his new HBO Comedy AVENUE 5, starring Hugh Laurie. She also directed 2 episodes on the HBO series, RUN, starring Merritt Weaver and Domhnall Gleeson, created by Vicky Jones (KILLING EVE) and Executive Produced and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Other Guest Directing gigs include Comedy-Drama’s LOADED for Channel 4/AMC and E4/TNT’s GAP YEAR. Wanting to move her career closer to home Natalie relocated to Melbourne in 2014, joining Princess Pictures as a Development Producer and Director. Natalie remotely filmed RETROGRADE, a six-part narrative comedy for ABC following the lives of a group of 30-something friends, as they drown their sorrows at a ‘virtual bar’ during the first lockdown in 2020.
Most recently, Natalie set up the comedy/crime/drama series BAY OF FIRES for Archipelago Pictures, Fremantle Media Australia and the ABC. The series stars Marta Dusseldorp who also served as Executive Producer from co-creators Andrew Knight, Max Dunn and Dusseldorp. Other television credits include directing 3 episodes on JOE VS CAROLE for UPC and Peacock, created by and starring Kate McKinnon; and for Aquarius Films and SBS, Natalie set up and directed 3 episodes of the 4 part dramedy series THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS.
This year Natalie had her feature film directorial debut on AUDREY, an Australian black comedy produced by Invisible Republic (SLAM, THREE SUMMERS) written by Lou Sanz with production funding from Screen Australia. The film is due for release in 2024.
As a Producer, Natalie has a wealth of experience developing, pitching and making programs. During her work at the BBC and with Princess Pictures she has helped create and deliver comedies, dramas and format shows, working closely with new and established talent that includes Tim Vine, Peter Hellier, Toby Truslove, Morwenna Banks and Rebecca Front. Her breadth of experience means that she is invaluable and in-demand for all stages of development – plotting, writing, production and post. Whilst Natalie’s greatest skills are working with the writers and actors to create funny, moving and believable stories, she balances that with her keen eye for composition and design, as well as a love for sound and music.
