{{short description|Australian actress (born 1979)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2012}} {{Infobox person | name = Amy Mathews | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|03|29|df=yes}} | birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | occupation = Actress | years_active = 2001–present | known_for = ''Home and Away'' | spouse = | awards = Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent (2007) | website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20120402163514/http://www.amymathewsnet.com/ Official site] }}
'''Amy Mathews''' (born 29 March 1979) is an Australian television, film and theatre actress. She is best known for her role as Rachel Armstrong in Australian soap opera ''Home and Away''.
==Early life== Mathews was born in Melbourne, Victoria, but has spent most of her life in Sydney. She was offered a scholarship at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, which she completed.<ref name=B2B>{{cite web|url= https://www.backtothebay.net/forum/topic/10414-amy-mathews-from-waitress-to-home-away-star/ |title= Amy Mathews: from waitress to Home & Away star |publisher= www.backtothebay.net |date= 13 January 2006}}</ref> She then enrolled in and completed a full time acting course at Actors Centre Australia in Sydney,<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.actorscentreaustralia.com.au/grads_in_focus/amy/ |title= Amy Mathews |publisher= Actors Centre Australia}}</ref> where she met fellow ''Home and Away'' actor Jon Sivewright, who plays Tony Holden, her husband on the show. Before landing her full time role on ''Home and Away'', Mathews waited tables to pay the bills between acting jobs.<ref name=B2B/>
==Career== Mathews became involved with the Bell Shakespeare Company. She performed as part of the "Actors at Work" program, touring high schools in Australia and Singapore.<ref name="Amy Mathews">{{cite web| url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/homeandaway/cast_amymathews.html| title=Home and Away Cast Amy Mathews| publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann| accessdate=20 September 2011}}</ref> Her passion for theatre, saw her feature in a 2003 production of ''Cigarettes and Chocolate and Other Hang Ups''.<ref>Stephen Dunne (1 April 2003){{cite web| url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/31/1048962695960.html| title=Cigarettes and Chocolates and Other Hang Ups, See-Saw Theatre Company| work=The Sydney Morning Herald| date=April 2003| accessdate=20 September 2011}}</ref> Her other early theatre credits include ''Tracked'', ''Push Up 1-3'', ''Chicom'', ''Orange Flower Water''<ref>Jason Blake (29 March 2011){{cite web| url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/theatre/orange-flower-water-20110329-1cemk.html| title=Orange Flower Water| work=Brisbane Times| date=29 March 2011| accessdate=20 September 2011}}</ref> and ''Transparency''.<ref>Lloyd Bradford Skye (13 September 2011){{cite web| url=http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/2011/09/13/review-transparency-york-theatre-sydney| title=REVIEW: Transparency – York Theatre, Sydney| work=Curtain Call| date=13 September 2011| publisher=crikey.com.au| accessdate=20 September 2011}}</ref><ref>Chris Hook (24 August 2011){{cite web| url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/whats-on/transparency-at-the-seymour-centre-and-riverside-theatres/story-e6frexmi-1226121400121| title=Transparency at the Seymour Centre and Riverside Theatres| work=The Daily Telegraph|location=Australia| accessdate=20 September 2011}}</ref><ref>Suzanne MacKay (3 September 2011){{cite web| url=http://aussietheatre.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1833:transparency-seymour-centre&catid=41:general&Itemid=111| title=Transparency - Seymour Centre| publisher=aussietheatre.com| accessdate=20 September 2011}}</ref>
Mathews made her on-screen acting debut in 2001, when she had a guest appearance in the short-lived television series ''Head Start''. Following this, she landed roles in several other television series including ''Always Greener'', ''Blue Heelers'', ''Love Bytes'', ''All Saints'' and the British series ''Jeopardy''.
Mathews then played the role of doctor and psychiatrist Rachel Armstrong on long-running soap opera ''Home and Away'', from the first episode of the 2006 season<ref>{{cite web|last=Nicholson|first=Sarah|title=A breath of fresh air |url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/tv/a-breath-of-fresh-air/story-e6freqj6-1111115768365|date=11 March 2008|work=The Courier-Mail|accessdate=22 July 2017}}</ref> until 2010 when she departed the show<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/home-and-away/news/a203266/two-more-to-leave-home-and-away/|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|title=Two more to leave 'Home and Away'|date=15 February 2010|work=Digital Spy|accessdate=22 July 2017}}</ref> to pursue new projects. The role of Rachel won Mathews the Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent in 2007.<ref name=tvw>{{cite web|url=http://tvweek.ninemsn.com.au/blog.aspx?blogentryid=662477&showcomments=true |title=2007 TV WEEK Logie Awards |publisher=ninemsn |accessdate=20 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307121548/http://tvweek.ninemsn.com.au/blog.aspx?blogentryid=662477&showcomments=true |archivedate=7 March 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv36ig5Z0-A |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/kv36ig5Z0-A |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live| title=Amy Mathews wins Most Popular Female Talent at Logies 2007| via=YouTube| date=7 May 2007| accessdate=20 September 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
Following ''Home and Away'', Mathews made guest appearances in ''Packed to the Rafters'', ''Rescue: Special Ops'' and ''Crownies'', the latter starring her former ''Home and Away'' co-stars Todd Lasance and Indiana Evans. In 2007, Mathews starred in the Australian film ''Gabriel''.
In August 2023, Mathews joined the cast of the courtroom drama series, ''The Twelve'' for its second season, in the role of Sasha Price.<ref>{{cite web| last=Slatter| first=Sean| title=Frances O'Connor to join Sam Neill in second season of 'The Twelve' as new cast unveiled| url=https://if.com.au/frances-oconnor-to-join-sam-neill-in-second-season-of-the-twelve-as-new-cast-unveiled/| website=IF Magazine| date=31 August 2023| access-date=29 September 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831031221/https://if.com.au/frances-oconnor-to-join-sam-neill-in-second-season-of-the-twelve-as-new-cast-unveiled/| archive-date=31 August 2023}}</ref> Her most recently screen appearance was in a 2025 episode of ''NCIS: Sydney'', once again opposite Todd Lasance.
Mathews' other theatre credits include ''Macbeth'' (2011–2012), ''The Taming of the Shrew'' (2011–2012), ''The Tempest'' (2012–2013), ''The Comedy of Errors'' (2012–2013) and ''Othello'' (2013) with Sport for Jove. She appeared in ''Richard III'' (2014) and ''The Anzac Project'' (2015) for the Ensemble Theatre. She also performed in ''Coma Land'' (2017), ''Toast'' (2017), ''Summer of the Seventeenth Doll'' (2018/2020) and ''Water'' (2019) for Black Swan Theatre Company<ref name=AusStage/> winning a Blue Room Award for ''Toast''<ref name=PL/> and a Performing Arts WA Award for ''Summer of the Seventeenth Doll''.<ref name=belvoir/> In 2024 and 2025, she has appeared in ''August: Osage County'', for Black Swan.<ref name=belvoir/><ref name=BSTC/>
Mathews has also starred in TV commercials. She has an interest in writing and directing, runs her own blog<ref>{{cite web |title=Actress Amy Mathews Official Blog |url=http://sewamysew.com/}}</ref> and studies surface design.<ref>{{cite web|title=Actress Amy Mathews Instagram |url=http://i.instagram.com/sewamysew/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150424133722/http://i.instagram.com/sewamysew/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-04-24 }}</ref>
==Filmography==
===Film=== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2007 | ''Gabriel'' | Maggie | Feature film |- | 2020 | ''I Met a Girl'' | Senior Constable Harrison | Feature film |- | 2026 | ''Thrash'' | Rachel Olsen | Feature film |}
===Television=== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2001 | ''Head Start'' | Louise | Season 1, 1 episode |- | 2002 | ''Always Greener'' | T'ree | Season 2, 1 episode |- | 2003 | ''All Saints'' | Mary Cowper | Season 6, 1 episode |- | 2003 | ''Jeopardy'' | Constable Tucker | Season 2, 2 episodes |- | 2004 | ''Love Bytes'' | Mel | Season 1, 4 episodes |- | 2004 | ''Blue Heelers'' | Tahnya West | Season 11, 1 episode |- | 2005 | ''All Saints'' | Cassie Anderson | Season 8, 1 episode |- | 2006–2010 | ''Home and Away'' | Rachel Armstrong | Seasons 19–23, 331 episodes |- | 2010 | ''Packed to the Rafters'' | Erin Moore | Season 3, 2 episodes |- | 2011 | ''Rescue: Special Ops'' | Claire Newell | Season 3, 2 episodes |- | 2011 | ''Crownies'' | Vanessa Kenay | Season 1, 1 episode |- | 2014 | ''A Place to Call Home'' | Amy Polson | Season 2, 7 episodes |- | 2020 | ''The Heights'' | Rima | Season 2, 1 episode |- | 2023 | ''The Claremont Murders'' | Michelle Bowman | Miniseries, 2 episodes |- | 2024 | ''The Twelve'' | Sasha Price | 8 episodes |- | 2025 | ''NCIS: Sydney'' | Heather | 1 episode |}
==Theatre== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2003 || ''Cigarettes and Chocolate and Other Hang Ups'' || Gemma || Darlinghurst Theatre, Sydney |- | 2003 || ''Tracked'' || Rose || Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney |- | 2005 || ''Push Up 1-3'' || Sabine || |- | 2010 || ''Chicom'' || Grunt 3 || New Theatre, Sydney with Brand Spanking New |- | 2011 || ''Orange Flower Water'' || Cathy Calhoun || Darlinghurst Theatre, Sydney<ref>Jason Blake (29 March 2011){{cite web| url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/theatre/orange-flower-water-20110329-1cemk.html| title=Orange Flower Water| work=Brisbane Times| date=29 March 2011| accessdate=20 September 2011}}</ref> |- | 2011 || ''Transparency'' || Jessica || Seymour Centre, Sydney & Riverside Theatre Parramatta<ref>Lloyd Bradford Skye (13 September 2011){{cite web| url=http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/2011/09/13/review-transparency-york-theatre-sydney| title=REVIEW: Transparency – York Theatre, Sydney| work=Curtain Call| date=13 September 2011| publisher=crikey.com.au| accessdate=20 September 2011}}</ref> |- | 2011; 2012 || ''Macbeth'' || Lady Macbeth || Bella Vista Farm, Everglades, Leura with Sport for Jove |- | 2011; 2012 || ''The Taming of the Shrew'' || Vincentia || Bella Vista Farm, Everglades, Leura, Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum with Sport for Jove |- | 2012; 2013 || ''The Tempest'' || Alonsa || Bella Vista Farm, Everglades, Leura with Sport for Jove |- | 2012; 2013 || ''The Comedy of Errors'' || Adriana || Bella Vista Farm, Everglades, Leura with Sport for Jove |- | 2013 || ''Othello'' || Bianca / Duchess / Second Gentleman || Seymour Centre, Sydney with Sport for Jove |- | 2014 || ''Richard III'' || Anne Neville || Ensemble Theatre, Sydney |- | 2015 || ''The Anzac Project'': ''Dear Mum and Dad'' / ''Light Begins to Fade'' || || Ensemble Theatre, Sydney |- | 2017 || ''Coma Land'' || Jinny || Studio Underground, Perth with Black Swan Theatre Company |- | 2017 || ''Toast'' || Alex || Black Swan Theatre Company |- | 2018; 2020 || ''Summer of the Seventeenth Doll'' || Olive Leech || Heath Ledger Theatre, Perth, Online with Black Swan Theatre Company |- | 2019 || ''Water'' || Gemma / Nurse || Studio Underground, Perth with Black Swan Theatre Company |- | 2021 || ''Bite the Hand'' || Dale || Subiaco Arts Centre, Perth with Last Great Hunt<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.artshub.com.au/news/reviews/theatre-review-bite-the-hand-2507532/ |title= Theatre review: Bite the Hand |publisher= www.artshub.com.au |date= 18 October 2021}}</ref> |- | 2024; 2025 || ''August: Osage County'' || Ivy Weston || Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney, Heath Ledger Theatre, Perth with Black Swan Theatre Company<ref name=belvoir>{{cite web|url= https://belvoir.com.au/productions/august-osage-county/ |title= August: Osage County |publisher= Belvoir St Theatre}}</ref><ref name=BSTC>{{cite web|url= https://blackswantheatre.com.au/season-2025/august-osage-county |title= August: Osage County |publisher= Black Swan State Theatre Company}}</ref> |} <ref name=AusStage>{{cite web|url= https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/247587 |title= Amy Mathews |publisher= AusStage}}</ref>
==Awards== {|class=wikitable ! Year ! Work ! Award ! Category ! Result |- | 2007 || ''Home and Away'' || Logie Awards ||| Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent || {{won}}<ref name=tvw/> |- | 2017 || ''Toast'' || Blue Room Awards || Best Performance || {{won}}<ref name=belvoir/> |- | 2018 || ''Summer of the Seventeenth Doll'' || Performing Arts WA Awards || Best Actor in a Mainstage Production (Female) || {{won}}<ref name=PL>{{cite web|url= https://performinglines.org.au/2019/04/30/winners-of-the-2018-performing-arts-wa-awards-revealed/#:~:text=Kelton%20Pell%2C%20Summer%20of%20the%20Seventeenth%20Doll,John%20Cowcher%2C%20Frankie's%20–%20The%20Blue%20Room |title= Winners of the 2018 Performing Arts WA Awards revealed |publisher= Performing Lines |date= 15 January 2013}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120402163514/http://www.amymathewsnet.com/ Official site] * {{IMDb name|1120736}} * [http://www.rte.ie/tv/homeandaway/cast_amymathews.html Amy Mathews Biography] at RTÉ.ie
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathews, Amy}} Category:1979 births Category:Australian soap opera actresses Category:Australian stage actresses Category:Living people Category:Logie Award winners Category:University of the Arts (Philadelphia) alumni