“As a writer and performer, Stamoulos couples vulnerability with strength”

- Michael Fitzgerald (Powerhouse Museum editor, south pacific arts editor of Time, Art Monthly Australasia, & writer for Harper’s BAZAAR)

Hello, I’m Danielle Stamoulos (she/her) — a multi-hyphenate actor, writer & story developer in Film/TV & Theatre

I tell stories about unorthodox women — outsiders, antiheroines, wrestling with their inner and outer worlds

I mean it when I say I was born for this dramatic show biz of Film/TV/Theatre — I grew up a stubborn dramatic child who used to hold her breath and voluntarily pass out as a baby every time I didn’t get what I wanted (true story). Was it self sabotage or was it the birth of my creativity? I have Greek migrant heritage and grew up on Darug & Eora lands (the ethnic burbs of Punchbowl/Bankstown NSW). I now live in Melbourne. My first meet-cute love affair is with acting (ongoing), my turning point was discovering I could also write well, create and produce work. I bring value in my creative courage to be able to shine a light on hidden truths for CALD women.

For the sake of a decent jump-cut, I went to AFTRS (Australian Film, Television & Radio School) and did a 2021 Masters of Screen (Screenwriting) and graduated ACA (Actors Centre Australia) with an Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts (Acting). The rest is a historic amount of Greek grit, sensitivity and hard-work. Cue official BIO… I am an AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema & Television Arts) award winning filmmaker, actor & writer of second generation Greek-Australian ethnicity. My short film I created, wrote & lead acted in - GORGO - is the WINNER of the 2025 AACTA AWARD BEST AUSTRALIAN SHORT FILM. It has screened at various national & international festivals worldwide, some include Northern American premiere at SBIFF24 (Santa Barbara International Film Festival), Newport Beach Film Festival, Roving Eye Rhode Island International Film Festival, Antipodes Film Festival (Saint Tropez), WINNER of Best Original Music at the Academy/BAFTA Qualifying 2024 Flickerfest Film Festival (Australia), St Kilda Film Festival nominations,and it was the WINNER of the ‘Special Mention’ award at 2025 Stellar Film Festival (Australia). I recently won the 2025 BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD for Gorgo at Australia’s invite-only short festival Stellar Film Festival, showcasing Australia’s best of the best short films.

My original supernatural cringe comedy online series CURSE OF THE VIRGIN received competitive Screen Australia online development funding in 2024. It was also earlier part of the Digital Diasporas initiative with ACE (Arts & Cultural Exchange). I am also writing a feature film as 1 of 5 writers who grew up in Western Sydney with AACTA nominated production company Co Curious (Here Out West), commissioned by Powerhouse Museum. I was also selected for the 2024 CINEFEST OZ/WIFT AUS WRITER’S RETREAT in Busselton, Western Australia. I was a Story Developer for Damien Strouthos’ (The Twelve) debut feature film PANOS, PANNOS & GEORGE, directed by Peter Andrikidis. I co-wrote Episode 4 - ‘For The Likes’ - for HALAL GURLS (ABCiview), and was the Producers’ Attachment (Development) for Co Curious’ feature HERE OUT WEST.  My original concept for a body-horror comedy TV series called FURIES was selected for the NETFLIX’S Creative Equity Fund alongside Co Curious. I also completed a Scripted Ink Writer’s Internship with STUDIOCANAL AUS/NZ, and was selected for the 2019 Screen Australia Developing the Developer initiative, whereupon I had a Development Placement with acclaimed LINGO PICTURES. I’ve worked as the Script Coordinator for SBS’/ARCADIA show WHILE THE MEN ARE AWAY alongside Showrunner Kim Wilson and Script Coordinator on S1 of to THE LETDOWN (NETFLIX/ABC). 

Other acting credits include play LADYBIRD LADYBIRD by Linda Nicholls-Gidley at Flightpath Theatre (NSW), SBS’ WHILE THE MEN ARE AWAY, LOVE CHILD S4 (Channel 9 Australia), internationally award-winning murder comedy web series SYDNEY SLEUTHERS (WINNER Best Ensemble Cast Comedy 2019 Asia Web Awards /WINNER/2019 NYC Web Fest Film), short doco film SHADING (Diversity Arts Australia), TO BE HONEST (Bankstown Arts Centre), EI8HT at 2015 Sydney Fringe Festival and THE CANTERBURY TALES (The New Theatre). I also founded theatre company EDGEWARE FORUM, where we received a BEST ENSEMBLE CAST 2016 Sydney Theatre Award nomination for Patricia Cornelius' play SLUT.

What I’m up to…

  • Gorgo (Γοργώ)

    Gorgo, a 20 minute short film I created, wrote/lead acted in - the WINNER of the 2025 AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema & Television Arts) Award for Best Australian Short Film.

    Full info + Trailer

    Official Selection

    2025 AACTA AWARD WINNER for Best Australian Short Film

    2025 WINNER ‘SPECIAL MENTION’ AWARD @ Stellar Film Festival (Australia)

    2025 WINNER BEST PERFORMANCE (Danielle Stamoulos) @ Stellar Film Festival (Australia)

    SBIFF24 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Offical Shorts Selection

    2024 WINNER of Best Original Music in an Australian Short Film 33rd Flickerfest International Short FF

    2024 Newport Beach Film Festival (USA)

    2024 Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival

    2024 Canberra Shorts Film Festival

    2024 St Kilda Film Festival (nominated for Best Editing & Best Cinematography)

    2023 Antipodes Film Festival Saint Tropez

    Image: Amanda Jermyn, Danielle Stamoulos, Veniamin Gialouris, Petra Leslie & Katie Amos at the 2025 AACTA Awards Industry Gala post their award win.

  • WINNER BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD - 2025 Stellar Short Film Festival (Australia)

    I am so thrilled that I am the Winner of the Best Performance Award at the 2025 Short Film Festival (VIC Australia) for playing Medousa in Gorgo.

    It was an honour to be amongst other incredible actor nominees. Thank you to the stellar panel of judges who also voted for my win: directors Glendyn Ivin (Penguin Bloom/The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart), Madeleine Dyer (A Savage Christmas/Colin From Accounts), actor Darren Gilshenen (comedy legend), novelist/writer Christian White (Nowhere Child), director/writer Annelise Hickey (Hafekasi), production designer Leah Popple (The Royal Hotel).

    Gorgo also took home the Winner of the ‘Special Mention’ Award by the judges. Honestly, a stellar program of some of Australia’s ‘best of the best’ shorts and a stellar night by the festival team.

    Image: myself holding the Best Performance winning trophy at Stellar Film Festival.

  • proof-of-concept still

    Curse of the Virgin - Screen Australia Online Development Grant

    Curse of the Virgin — an online supernatural cringe comedy series I’ve been developing received online development funding from Screen Australia in 2024. A story that is in-between your hoo-haa personal, taboo, woo-woo, wildly fun, queer and horny. Exploring purity narratives for CALD/WOC and the relationship between virginity stigma, anxiety and sexual health.

    Image: Digital Diasporas (ACE) proof-of-concept still with actresses Ratidzo Mambo and Danielle Stamoulos.

  • In The Room Feature Film Commission

    Currently writing a feature fIlm as 1 of 5 writers and filmmakers from under-represented backgrounds that grew up in Western Sydney for Co-Curious (Here Out West) ‘In The Room’ Feature Film Commission with Powerhouse Parramatta.

    Writers: James Elazzi, Gabriel Faatau’uu-Satiu, Andrew Undi Lee, Randa Sayed & Danielle Stamoulos. Script Producer: Clare Atkins. Producer: Kali Reid. Executive Producer: Shelia Jayadev.

    Check out this feature article with myself and the Powerhouse Museum - ‘Finding a Voice that Tells the Truth.’

    Image: Danielle Stamoulos Interview with Powerhouse Museum.

Want to Connect?

Representation

Feel free to contact on all things acting, writing and creative at:

GJ International Management: gary@gjim.com.au

For story developing/consulting work please email: daniellestam@live.com