Jenni Baird

Jenni Baird

Jenni Baird (born 29 April 1976) is an Australian actress. Baird was educated at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts from which she graduated in 1999. Upon graduation Baird appeared in the Australian short film I Promise. Baird has since appeared in several high-profile television series that have been broadcast nationwide in Australia with roles in All Saints, A Place to Call Home and The 4400, and in Australian movies Alien Trespass and Backtrack. Following her debut role in I Promise Baird then appeared in several low key television roles and made her first prominent nationwide TV role on the long running multi award-winning drama series All Saints as Paula Morgan, making her first appearance in the episode "A Little Death" on 6 November 2001. Baird then made her final appearance in 2004 on 27 April. Whilst on the show Morgan's storylines included her being a nurse at the hospital where the show is based, getting engaged, being a single mother to her son Max and making the ultimate decision to move to New York. Following her stint on All Saints Baird appeared in Global Frequency, Amorality Tale and Conviction in 2005. In 2007 Baird made her first appearance in the American Mystery Drama series The 4400 as Meghan Doyle, appearing in the Season four episode "The Wrath of Graham". Her final appearance was at the end of the fourth season. In 2009 Baird appeared in the Australian comedy science fiction movie Alien Trespass in which she portrayed Tammy. The film received mixed reviews form critics but was praised for having a "warm tone". The movie added to the fame Baird gained from her appearances in "The 4400" and All Saints. In 2015 Baird appeared as Carol Bower in the Australian thriller/drama movie "Backtrack" written by Michael Petroni. It was subsequently praised for being "Masterful" by Filmink and was called "chilling" by Dread Central. In 2013, Baird was cast in the period television drama A Place to Call Home. Prior to the airing of Baird's first appearance in the series Baird stated she was "worried" about fans' reaction to the extreme character she portrays. Baird made her first appearance in the episode "Cane Toad", and appeared throughout the rest of season one of the series. The episode was subsequently awarded an Australian Cinematographers Society award in the category of Telefeatures, TV Drama & Mini Series Award of Distinction. When the series was renewed for a second season following successful ratings Baird returned as a recurring character and reprised her role. When the show was renewed for a third season Baird returned as a main character. In 2014 Baird shared with the rest of the cast of A Place to Call Home the nomination for Most Outstanding Drama Series at the Logie Awards of 2014. The show was also nominated for the award in the category Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series at the 2014 Equity Ensemble Awards Ceremony. In 2015 Baird appeared on the TV Week list of The Top 10 Aussie Villains. The third series premiered in 2015, and following the end of the broadcast it was renewed for a fourth season set to air in 2016. Discussing the fourth season Baird stated that the audience "ain't seen nothing yet", saying the series was darker than ever before. At the Logie Awards of 2016 Baird was nominated for the award Most Outstanding Supporting Actress for her appearance in A Place to Call Home. This nomination was her first TV Logie nomination as an actress that had not been shared with rest of the cast of A Place To Call Home. In 2016 Baird appeared on the cover of the Australian newspaper The Guide in an article titled "How costumes complete A Place To Call Home". Before the end of the airing of the fourth season of A Place to Call Home was confirmed by Marta Düsseldorf to have been renewed for a fifth series which aired in 2017. Baird has publicly stated that she supported Hillary Clinton in the United States presidential election of 2016.

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