{{Short description|Australian actress}} {{Infobox person | name = Amali Golden | image = File:Amali Golden (28081655199).jpg | caption = Golden in 2018. | birth_name = Amali Ward | birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|30|2019|03|30}}<ref name="Touch"/> | birth_place = New Town, Tasmania, Australia | occupation = Actress, singer-songwriter | years_active = 2004–present | spouse = {{marriage|Beau Golden|2015}} | children = 2 }} '''Amali Golden''' ({{nee|'''Ward'''}}) is an Australian singer-songwriter and actress. She came to prominence as a contestant on the second season of ''Australian Idol'' when she was 16 years old. She made it to the top 12, before being eliminated in tenth place. Post-''Idol'', she decided against signing with a record label and instead finished school. Golden worked as a session vocalist and keyboard player, and released her self-produced EP ''Amali Ward'' in 2007. This was followed by her debut album ''Back In Time'' in 2013, which was recorded in Los Angeles. That same year, Golden made her acting debut in the soap opera ''Neighbours''. In 2014, she appeared on the sixth season of ''The X Factor Australia'' and made it to the final 24. She then undertook a year long course at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).
In 2017, Golden appeared in episodes of ''Home and Away'' and ''The Other Guy'', and the feature film ''Thor: Ragnarok''. Golden also released the single "Elephant (Talk About It)" after the track was created for her role as Amy in ''The Other Guy''. From 2019 until 2020, Golden played Young Farida in the drama series ''Bloom''. She also launched new music under the name GOLDS and her debut EP ''Imprints'' was released in November 2019. The following year, she appeared in the feature films ''Love and Monsters'' and ''Black Water: Abyss''. She also played real life medic Priya Thalayasingam in ''Bali 2002'' and returned to ''Home and Away'' as Mercedes Da Silva in 2023. She joined the supporting cast of crime drama ''Black Snow'' in 2025.
==Early and personal life== Golden is from New Town, Tasmania.<ref name="Smith">{{cite news|url=https://www.themercury.com.au/entertainment/singersongwriter-amali-ward-testing-if-she-has-the-x-factor/news-story/d218bd07ee9730e9d1034ecdbb188417|title=Singer-songwriter Amali Ward testing if she has the X Factor|last=Smith|first=Linda|date=20 July 2014|work=The Mercury|access-date=2 November 2025}}</ref> Her Sri Lankan mother is a radiographer, and her English father Dr John Ward was a radiation oncologist.<ref name="Touch">{{cite news|url=https://www.themercury.com.au/lifestyle/tasweekend-former-australian-idol-star-enters-a-golden-era-on-the-silver-screen/news-story/b38f253a171322776b624886a606a2a2|title=Golden touch on silver screen|last=Smith|first=Linda|date=30 March 2019|work=The Mercury|access-date=2 December 2025}}</ref><ref name="Gray">{{cite magazine|last=Gray|first=Sigourney|last2=Harry|first2=PP|last3=Timbs|first3=Pete|date=11–17 September 2004|title=Geek chic!|magazine=TV Week|issue=37|page=19}}</ref> Her brother Jamie Ward competed on the seventh series of ''MasterChef Australia''.<ref name="Waterworth">{{cite news|url=https://www.themercury.com.au/entertainment/third-tasmanian-masterchef-hopeful-in-the-kitchen/news-story/e17e26fd35905709ff18159e9e2d17c0|title=Third Tasmanian Masterchef hopeful in the kitchen|last=Waterworth|first=Ben|date=19 May 2015|work=The Mercury|access-date=25 December 2025}}</ref> Golden attended The Friends' School,<ref name="Smith"/> and she thought she would go into law or medicine, however, her time on ''Australian Idol'' led her to realise that a career in music and drama was achievable.<ref name="Touch"/> While appearing on ''Australian Idol'', Golden lived at home with her parents in Hobart.<ref name="Gray"/> She moved to Sydney when she was 17.<ref name="TT">{{cite news|url=https://tasmaniantimes.com/2013/03/amali-a-ward/|title=Amali A-ward|date=3 March 2013|work=Tasmanian Times|access-date=24 December 2025}}</ref> Golden has a degree in internet communications.<ref name="TT"/>
She married music producer and director Beau Golden in 2015, after meeting while song writing with a mutual friend. The couple have a home studio where they make music together.<ref name="Price">{{cite news|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/confidential/amali-golden-reveals-how-she-went-from-australian-idol-finalist-to-starring-in-a-hollywood-movie/news-story/ba198164da001a0e873e7cddbd700027?amp|title=Amali Golden reveals how she went from Australian Idol finalist to starring in a Hollywood movie|last=Price|first=Amy|date=23 June 2019|work=The Courier-Mail|access-date=2 November 2025}}</ref> They have two children.<ref>{{cite Instagram|last=Golden|first=Amali|user=amaligolden|postid=C1QS6LDS_7E|date=24 December 2023|title=Merry Christmas from the Goldens!|access-date=30 December 2025}}</ref>
==Career== ===Music=== ====2004–2013: ''Australian Idol'' and ''Back In Time''==== {{Further|Australian Idol season 2#The Top 12 Contestants}} Golden, then Ward, was a contestant on the second season of ''Australian Idol''. She was 16 years old and still at school when she auditioned for the show.<ref name="Moran">{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/seven-years-after-australian-idol-amali-ward-and-reigan-derry-are-giving-reality-tv-another-crack/news-story/0b5005b4d4b8cd7e8c169c73442777b0|title=Seven years after Australian Idol, Amali Ward and Reigan Derry are giving reality TV another crack|last=Moran|first=Jonathon|date=10 July 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=2 November 2025}}</ref> Golden became known for being "the shy, slightly awkward teen".<ref name="Moran"/> She made it to the top 12 and the live shows, before being eliminated in tenth place on 20 September 2004.<ref name="Gray"/><ref name="Pritchard">{{cite web|url=https://archive.punkee.com.au/australian-idol-where-are-they-now/74656|title=Where Are They Now: The 'Australian Idol' Contestants You Actually Haven't Thought Of In Yonks|last=Pritchard|first=Tahlia|date=18 June 2019|publisher=Punkee|access-date=2 November 2025|archive-date=10 July 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250710050830/https://archive.punkee.com.au/australian-idol-where-are-they-now/74656|url-status=live}}</ref> Golden decided not to sign with any of the labels interested in her, as she felt they wanted her to be a different type of artist to the one she wanted to be. She chose to finish school and work out what she wanted to do first.<ref name="Knight">{{cite web|url=https://celebrity.nine.com.au/music/amali-ward-from-idol-teen-to-soul-queen/b0e76f1c-d1e9-418f-9f2d-1ab9665293fa|title=Amali Ward: From Idol teen to soul queen|last=Knight|first=Claire|date=27 May 2013|publisher=9Honey|access-date=2 November 2025}}</ref>
Golden went on to work as a session vocalist and keyboard player for various acts, including Dua Lipa, Charli XCX, Craig David and Missy Higgins.<ref name="Price"/> She released her self-produced EP ''Amali Ward'' in 2007, before playing a number of festivals such as the East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival.<ref name="Pritchard"/> Golden was a support act for Seal during the Sydney leg of his 2012 tour.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.themercury.com.au/entertainment/singersongwriter-amali-ward-testing-if-she-has-the-x-factor/news-story/d218bd07ee9730e9d1034ecdbb188417|title=Singer-songwriter Amali Ward testing if she has the X Factor|last=Smith|first=Linda|date=20 July 2014|work=The Mercury|access-date=24 December 2025}}</ref>
Golden released her debut album ''Back In Time'' in 2013 under her own label.<ref name="Knight"/> It was recorded in Los Angeles and produced by David Ryan Harris, who previously worked with Australian singer Guy Sebastian. It also features some members of John Mayer's touring band.<ref name="Knight"/> Golden stated that the album was about "things that have happened to me or things that are important to me. I try to write about things other than just love songs and stuff... I don't know what I could add to what's already been said by so many other people."<ref name="Knight"/> ''Back In Time'' was preceded by the singles "Leave Me Alone" and "Knock You Out", which won the 2011 John Lennon Songwriting Contest Award in the R&B category.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jlsc.com/winners/2011a/winners.php|title=2011 Grand Prize Winners - Session I|year=2011|publisher=John Lennon Songwriting Contest|access-date=30 December 2025|archive-date=17 September 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250917084421/https://jlsc.com/winners/2011a/winners.php|url-status=live}}</ref> She also won the UTAS Stephen Schwartz Songwriting Award at the 2013 APRA Professional Development Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/news/apra-professional-development-award-winners-announced/V59IS0pNTE8/25-03-13|title=APRA Professional Development Award Winners Announced|last=Condon|first=Dan|date=25 March 2013|publisher=Themusic.com.au|access-date=30 December 2025|archive-date=20 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250420070832/https://themusic.com.au/news/apra-professional-development-award-winners-announced/V59IS0pNTE8/25-03-13|url-status=live}}</ref> Golden toured the album around Australian and was chosen by Brian Ritchie of the Violent Femmes to perform at the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart.<ref name="Knight"/>
====2014–present: ''The X Factor'' and GOLDS==== In 2014, Golden appeared on the sixth season of ''The X Factor Australia''.<ref name="Smith"/> She was part of the Over 25s mentored by Redfoo.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A377317108/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=0cddeac9|title=Amali sees Redfoo on the way to spot in top 24|date=5 August 2014|work=Southern Courier|access-date=2 November 2025|via=Gale|url-access=subscription}}</ref> She made it to the final 24, before being eliminated.<ref name="Waterworth"/>
Golden released the R&B track "Elephant (Talk About It)" in 2017. The song was created for her role as musician Amy in ''The Other Guy''. It was co-written and produced by her husband Beau Golden.<ref name="Elephant">{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplejunearthed/artist/amali-golden/|title=Amali Golden tracks|publisher=Triple J|access-date=23 December 2025}}</ref> "Elephant (Talk About It)" touches on the issue of isolation in a relationship. Golden commented "This was the first time I've written a song in character, and it was strangely freeing. Even though it was based on a character, the concept of two people in a relationship avoiding a dreaded conversation they know they need to have is pretty universal."<ref name="Elephant"/>
In March 2019, Golden released the single "Broken Wing" under the name GOLDS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://celebmix.com/golds-releases-stunning-single-broken-wings/|title=GOLDS releases stunning single 'Broken Wings'|last=Bryant|first=Toby|date=1 March 2019|publisher=CelebMix|access-date=25 December 2025|archive-date=14 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214010117/https://celebmix.com/golds-releases-stunning-single-broken-wings/|url-status=live}}</ref> Of her new project, Golden stated: "It's fun to do something with a new name. It has given me a lot of freedom to put something out with no preconceived notions from anyone who listens to it."<ref name="Touch"/> Her second single "Don't Care" was released in June 2019. Toby Bryant of CelebMix described it as "electropop" with an "R&B influenced production".<ref name="Bryant">{{cite web|url=https://celebmix.com/golds-returns-with-sophomore-single-dont-care/|title=GOLDS returns with sophomore single 'Don't Care'|last=Bryant|first=Toby|date=12 June 2019|publisher=CelebMix|access-date=30 December 2025}}</ref> Both tracks were co-written and produced by Golden's husband Beau Golden.<ref name="Bryant"/> GOLDS's debut EP ''Imprints'' was released on 29 November 2019.<ref name="TJU">{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplejunearthed/artist/golds/|title=GOLDS About|publisher=Triple J Unearthed|access-date=30 December 2025}}</ref>
===Acting=== Golden admitted that she had wanted to pursue an acting career before her appearance on ''Australian Idol''.<ref name="Price"/> She made her acting debut in the Australian soap opera ''Neighbours'' in October 2013. During the guest stint, in which she played herself, she performed a song written especially for the storyline, which she said was fun because it was not her "usual style".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a516860/neighbours-appearance-for-singer-amali-ward/|title='Neighbours' appearance for singer Amali Ward|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=19 September 2013|publisher=Digital Spy|access-date=2 November 2025|archive-date=16 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016174245/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a516860/neighbours-appearance-for-singer-amali-ward/|url-status=live}}</ref> She also made a number of appearance in television commercials, including for the brands Rexona, Lipton Tea, and Mazda.<ref name="Pritchard"/><ref name="Touch"/> Golden completed a year long course at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 2015.<ref name="Price"/> She acquired an acting coach and attended private acting classes.<ref name="Touch"/>
In 2017, Golden appeared in an episode of comedy series ''The Other Guy'' and she had small roles in soap opera ''Home and Away'' and the superhero film ''Thor: Ragnarok''.<ref name="Touch"/><ref name="Price"/> This was followed by roles in ''Harrow'' and ''Bondi Slayer''.<ref name="Touch"/> Golden then spent a month in Los Angeles auditioning for roles as part of pilot season.<ref name="Touch"/> From 2019 until 2020, she played Young Farida in the Stan drama series ''Bloom''.<ref name="Touch"/> For her performance in the series, Golden was included on the longlist for the Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent.<ref name="Touch"/> She makes an appearance in the 2020 sci-fi horror ''The Invisible Man'', however, her scenes were cut from the final film and later released on Blu-Ray.<ref name="TJU"/><ref>{{cite Instagram|last=Golden|first=Amali|user=amaligolden|postid=CAtliq9hKrM|date=28 May 2020|title=The Invisible Man deleted scenes are out now on the 4K Blu-Ray!|access-date=30 December 2025}}</ref>
In 2020, Golden appeared in the feature films ''Love and Monsters'', originally titled ''Monster Problems'', and ''Black Water: Abyss''.<ref name="Price"/> She then guested in the ABC TV drama ''Wakefield'' and the American science fiction drama ''La Brea''.<ref name="Reilly"/> In 2022, Golden played real life medic Priya Thalayasingam in the four-part series ''Bali 2002'', which tells the story of the 2002 Bali bombings.<ref name="Reilly">{{cite web|url=https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/bali-2002-release-date-cast-trailer-episode-guide-and-interview-with-claudia-jessie|title=Bali 2002: ITV1 release date, cast, plot, trailer episode guide and interview with Claudia Jessie|last=Reilly|first=Elaine|date=9 September 2023|work=What's On TV|access-date=3 December 2025|archive-date=22 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250322052132/https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/bali-2002-release-date-cast-trailer-episode-guide-and-interview-with-claudia-jessie|url-status=live}}</ref> Golden returned to ''Home and Away'' in 2023 as violinist Mercedes Da Silva, who helps the show's fictional band Lyrik record an album.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Cullen|first=Tamara|date=1–7 July 2023|title=Dicey duet|magazine=TV Week|issue=27|pages=4–5}}</ref> She joined the supporting cast of crime drama ''Black Snow'' for its second season, which aired in 2025.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/black-snow-season-2-cast-filming-locations-and-episode-guide-3621771?srsltid=AfmBOoo-304GyqKPhdJx7IRYAK1NNljn5zsIVgv6eepK7M-5LKcBsyKv|title=Black Snow season 2 cast, filming locations and episode guide|last=Guyoncourt|first=Sally|date=3 April 2025|work=I|access-date=2 December 2025}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Amali Golden===
====Studio albums====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Details |- ! scope="row"| ''Back In Time'' | * Released: 3 May 2013 * Label: Precious Records (13) * Formats: CD |}
====Extended plays==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" style="width:8em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| EP details |- ! scope="row" | ''Amali Ward'' | *Released: 7 November 2007 *Label: Amali Ward *Formats: CD |}
====Singles==== {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- !rowspan="2" | Year !rowspan="2" | Single !| Chart positions |- style="font-size:90%;" !width="40"| AUS |- | 2012 |align="left"| "Leave Me Alone" | style="text-align:center;"| — |- | 2013 |align="left"| "Knock You Out" | style="text-align:center;"| — |- | 2017 |align="left"| "Elephant (Talk About It)"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/elephant-talk-about-it-single/1268035961|title=Elephant (Talk About It) - Single|publisher=Apple Inc.|access-date=23 December 2025}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"| — |- | colspan="5" style="text-align:center; font-size:8pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or receive certification |}
===GOLDS=== ====Extended plays==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" style="width:8em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| EP details |- ! scope="row" | ''Imprints'' | *Released: 29 November 2019 *Label: *Formats: Digital download |}
====Singles==== {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- !rowspan="2" | Year !rowspan="2" | Single !| Chart positions |- style="font-size:90%;" !width="40"| AUS |- | 2019 |align="left"| "Broken Wing" | style="text-align:center;"| — |- | 2019 |align="left"| "Don't Care" | style="text-align:center;"| — |- | colspan="5" style="text-align:center; font-size:8pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or receive certification |}
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- ! scope="row"| 2004 | ''Australian Idol'' | Herself | Top 12 finalist |- ! scope="row"| 2011–2012 | ''Save Point'' | Co-host | |- ! scope="row"| 2013 | ''Neighbours'' | Herself | Guest |- ! scope="row"| 2014 | ''The X Factor Australia'' | Herself | Top 24 |- ! scope="row"| 2017 | ''Home and Away'' | Felicity Cox | Guest |- ! scope="row"| 2017 | ''The Other Guy'' | Amy Wade | Episode: "The Dots" |- ! scope="row"| 2017 | ''Thor: Ragnarok'' | Asgardian Date #2 | Feature film |- ! scope="row"| 2017 | ''The Auditions'' | Skye Silva | Episode: "Baz Luhrmann's Pride and Prejudice" |- ! scope="row"| 2019 | ''Harrow'' | Sherry Diallo | Episode: "Abo Imo Pectore" |- ! scope="row"| 2019 | ''Motown Magic'' | Harmony the Cat (singing voice) | Episode: "Superstition" |- ! scope="row"| 2019–2020 | ''Bloom'' | Young Farida | Recurring |- ! scope="row"| 2020 | ''The Invisible Man'' | Annie | Uncredited |- ! scope="row"| 2020 | ''Bondi Slayer'' | Liv | Episodes: "Drag Queens and Slay Queens", "Home and a Slay" |- ! scope="row"| 2020 | ''Black Water: Abyss'' | Yolanda | Feature film |- ! scope="row"| 2020 | ''Love and Monsters'' | Ava | Feature film |- ! scope="row"| 2021 | ''Wakefield'' | Nadia | Miniseries |- ! scope="row"| 2022 | ''Bali 2002'' | Priya | Episodes: "From the Ashes", "Operation Alliance" |- ! scope="row"| 2023 | ''La Brea'' | Catherine | Episodes: "The Journey, Parts 1 & 2" |- ! scope="row"| 2023 | ''Home and Away'' | Mercedes Da Silva | Recurring |- ! scope="row"| 2025 | ''Black Snow'' | Gita Jacobs | Recurring |- |}
*Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://imcompany.com.au/actors/amali-golden/|title=Amali Golden|publisher=Independent Management Company|access-date=2 November 2025|archive-date=16 October 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251016041243/http://imcompany.com.au/actors/amali-golden/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{IMDb name|1690855}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Golden, Amali}} Category:Living people Category:1980s births Category:Musicians from Tasmania Category:Actresses from Tasmania Category:Australian soap opera actresses Category:Australian television actresses Category:Australian film actresses Category:21st-century Australian actresses Category:National Institute of Dramatic Art alumni Category:People educated at The Friends' School, Hobart