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Daniel Monks

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Daniel Monks
Born
Perth, Western Australia[1]
EducationAFTRS[2]
OccupationActor
Notable workPulse

Daniel Monks is an Australian actor and screenwriter.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Monks was born in Perth, Western Australia,[1] to actress and casting director Annie Murtagh-Monks, who was a graduate of Sydney's National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), and performed her one-woman show, From Here to Maternity while seven months pregnant with Monk.[2][3] As a child, Monks adapted and performed in school productions of several musicals, including Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland.[2]

At the age of 11, Monks was found to have a benign tumour on his cervical spinal cord.[3][2] After undergoing the biopsy, medical negligence resulted in complications, including temporarily quadriplegia. It took six months for Monks to regain full function in his left side and partial function in his right leg, but his right arm remained paralysed. His tumour however, was successfully removed by Australian neurosurgeon Charlie Teo.[2]

Monks subsequently gave up acting, assuming it would no longer be a feasible career path. He instead pursued the idea of filmmaking during his high school years, after which he went on to study at Sydney's Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and Perth’s PAC Screen Workshops.[2][4]

Career

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Monk began his career making short films, many of which have screened at film festivals around the world, including Palm Springs International ShortFest. His shorts have also received several awards and honours.[5] He was awarded the Young Filmmaker of the Year at the 2014 WA Screen Awards.[6]

At the age of 23, Monks resumed his interest in acting once more.[2] He wrote, starred in and produced 2017 drama feature film Pulse, based on his own life. That same year, he was a finalist for the 2017 Heath Ledger Scholarship.[6] His performance in Pulse saw him nominated for the 2018 AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.[7] He was also nominated for the 2018 Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Play for his performance in the 2017 Malthouse Theatre presentation of The Real and Imagined History of the Elephant Man.[8]

After venturing to London in 2018 when Pulse was invited to screen at BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival, Monks signed an agent and relocated there a few months later, to further his career. He made his West End debut the following year, playing the lead in Teenage Dick, a modern reimagining of Shakespeare’s Richard III, at the Donmar Warehouse.[9] In 2020, he won Best Performer in a Play at The Stage Debut Awards for his performance.[10] Monks went on to perform in a contemporary take on Chekhov's The Seagull, playing Konstantin, opposite Game of Thrones's Emilia Clarke.

In August 2024, it was announced that Monks had been cast as Ser Manfred Dondarrion in the upcoming series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.[11] The series premiered in 2026.

In 2025, Monks played Brian Irvine in the mystery thriller miniseries All Her Fault,[12] and made his Royal Shakespeare Company debut as Orsino in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.[13] The following year, he appeared as Jamie Lawson in BBC One drama miniseries Waiting for the Out.[14]

Monks is also a dancer, having begun with the Catalyst Dance Masterclass Series in 2013. He was a recipient of the 2014 Amplify your Art grant, which led to him being professional trained by Philip Channells / Dance Integrated.[5]

Personal life

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Due to a medical misadventure he experienced as a child, Monks has hemiplegia of the right side to this day. His right arm is totally paralysed and his right leg has only partial function.[3][2]

Monks is openly gay.[15]

Awards and nominations

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Year Work Award Category Result Ref
2014WA Screen AwardsYoung Filmmaker of the YearWon[6]
2015Daniel MonksNSW/ACT Young Achiever AwardsArts & Fashion AwardWon[6]
2016WA Screen AwardsBest ActorNominated[6]
2017Daniel MonksHeath Ledger ScholarshipFinalist[6]
2018PulseAACTA AwardsBest Actor in a Leading RoleNominated[7]
Busan International Film FestivalFlash Forward Busan Bank AwardWon[16]
The Real and Imagined History of the Elephant ManHelpmann AwardsBest Male Actor in a PlayNominated[8][6]
Green Room AwardsBest Male Actor in a PlayNominated[6]
2020Teenage DickThe Stage Debut AwardsBest Performer in a PlayWon[10]

Performer credits

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Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2013The DucksJackson (lead)Short film[17]
Frankie & ClayFrankie (lead)Short film[17]
God & the Grey AreaHarryShort film
2014It's All About MeDancerShort film[17]
Gold CageDaniel (lead)Short film[17]
GravelVincentShort film[17]
2015JackieDanielShort film[17]
MarrowDaniel (lead)Short film[17]
Yummy CuppyAlbert Ashby (lead)Short film[17]
2016NDIA VideoAdam Corelli (lead)Video[17]
EricJohn (Lead)Short film[17]
2017PulseOllyFeature film[7][17]
Marley, SomeoneLloydFeature film[17]
iLead eLearning MockumentaryAndrew (lead)Video[17]
2018BrokenMatt (lead)Short film[17]
2020Perspective ShiftSelfDocumentary[18]
2022SissyJamieFeature film[17]
National Theatre Live: The SeagullKonstantin[17]
2024In the Room Where He WaitsToby (lead)[17][19]
Ricky StanickyKeithFeature film[17][19]
Weasel Frankie VS Uncle EltonWeasel FrankieShort film

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2017Go Happy Feet!Dan (lead)[17]
2018#AiFUploadTV short
2019Silent WitnessBarrister Delaney1 episode[17]
The SplitMr Latham1 episode[17]
2023Dead HotEugene CrumlishMiniseries, 2 episodes[17]
2024KaosNaxMiniseries, 5 episodes[17] [19]
2025It Gets WorseGraham[17]
Waiting for the OutJamie LawsonMiniseries, 3 episodes[14][17]
All Her FaultBrian IrvineMiniseries, 7 episodes[12][17]
2026A Knight of the Seven KingdomsSer Manfred Dondarrion5 episodes[11][19]
TBAUntitled Peaky Blinders Sequel Series #1Detective Inspector BellIn production

Stage

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2013Second SkinDancerCatalyst[17]
For the End (24 Hour Play Project)Hunter (Lead)Griffin Theatre Company, Sydney[17]
2014Beyond Technique (residency)DancerDance Integrated Australia[17]
The Corner Dance LabDancerDance Integrated Australia & The Animal Farm Collective[17]
Melting Pot ResidencyDancerBankstown Arts Centre, Sydney[17]
It's All About Me (solo)DancerDance Integrated Australia[17]
2015Bedside Manner – 24 Hour PartyBen (lead)Tamarama Rock Surfers, Sydney[17]
Bower BirdsFlame (lead)Murmuration Dance Theatre[17]
Strip (play reading)MontyTamarama Rock Surfers, Sydney[17]
Fitting into Wageni (as part of ASYLUM)LeftiApocalypse Theatre Company[17]
The Wonderful World of DissociaGoat / Biffer / EnsembleThe Kings Collective[17]
2016OrpheusOrpheus (lead)Lies, Lies and Propaganda / Suspicious Woman Productions[17]
Ordinary Sin (play development)VariousCompany of Rogues[17]
2017The Real and Imagined History of the Elephant ManJoseph Merrick (lead)Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne[8][17]
The Normal Heart Staged Reading for Marriage EqualityFelix TurnerDarlinghurst Theatre, Sydney[17]
Frank EnsteinFrank (lead)The Farm, co3 & Bleached Arts[17]
2017–2018Are We Awake?Hypnos (lead)Old Fitz Theatre, Sydney, Kings Cross Theatre with Red Line Productions[17]
2019Teenage DickRichard (lead)Donmar Warehouse, London[10][17]
Lord of the FliesRogerRoslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney with STC[17]
2020; 2022The SeagullKonstantin (lead)ATG, London with Jamie Lloyd Company[17]
2021The Normal HeartMickey MarcusNational Theatre, London[17]
2024–2025The Cherry OrchardPyotr TrofimovDonmar Warehouse, London, St Ann'a Warehouse, NYC[17][19]
2025Twelfth NightOrsinoBarbican Centre, London & Royal Shakespeare Company[17][13]

Writer/director/producer credits

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2009Love Like There's No TomorrowWriter / directorShort film
2010Herman and MarjorieWriter / director / producer / editorShort film
2011Wild ImaginingsWriter / director / producer / editorShort film
CharlotteWriter / director / producer / editorShort film[19]
2012PrettyWriter / director / producer / editorShort film
Dear LifeWriter / directorShort film
2015MarrowWriter / producerShort film
2017PulseWriter / producer / editorFeature film[7][17][20]
2018BrokenWriter / producerShort film[21]
2022SissyWriter / producerFeature film[22]

References

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  1. 1 2 "Daniel Monks Talks Through His Career From Pulse to In the Room Where He Waits in This Interview". The Curb Season 12, Ep. 8 (Podcast). 19 February 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Monks, Daniel (31 January 2017), "The Accessibility of Acting", thehubstudio.com.au, retrieved 13 July 2026
  3. 1 2 3 4 Russell, Stephen A. (20 March 2017), "The queer, disabled filmmaker exploring his story on the big screen", SBS
  4. ↑ Watson, Graeme (16 January 2013), "Daniel Monks' Films Selected For Mardi Gras", www.outinperth.com, retrieved 13 July 2026
  5. 1 2 "Philip Channells | Dance Integrated Australia | Daniel Monks", philipchannells.com, retrieved 13 July 2026
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "July Event: In Conversation with Daniel Monks". aarts.net.au. 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Maddox, Gerry (2 December 2018), "'Awesome': Gay, disabled and nominated for best actor at AACTAs", The Sydney Morning Herald
  8. 1 2 3 Nguyen, Justine (18 June 2018), "2018 Helpmann Awards nominations announced", Limelight
  9. ↑ Groves, Don (17 February 2020), "Daniel Monks takes centre stage again – in London", if.com.au
  10. 1 2 3 "The Stage Debut Awards". The Stage. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  11. 1 2 Petski, Denise (8 August 2024). "'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' 'Game of Thrones' Prequel Adds 7 to Cast". Deadline.
  12. 1 2 Emily, Olivia (7 November 2025). "Daniel Monks: 'All Her Fault Was a Real Pinch-Me Moment'". Country and Town House. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  13. 1 2 "Full Casting Announced for RSC'S Twelfth Night at the Barbican". Royal Shakespeare Company. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Waiting for the Out, Series 1, Episode 1". BBC One. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  15. ↑ "Daniel – I Rise for Art". mardigras.org.au. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "Award-winning actor, filmmaker and dancer with disability, Daniel Monks to lead 'Evolution to Inclusion' float". pwd.org.au. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 "Daniel Monks". International Management Company. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  18. ↑ Groves, Don (25 September 2020). "Nominations announced for 53rd annual AWGIE Awards". if.com.au. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Russell, Stephen A. (16 November 2024). "Kaos star Daniel Monks is back home for the premiere of In the Room Where He Waits at Melbourne Queer Film Festival". abc.net.au. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "Pulse". Screen Australia. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  21. ↑ "Broken". Screen Australia. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  22. ↑ "Daniel Monks | CV", curtisbrown.co.uk, retrieved 13 July 2026
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