Alin Sumarwata

{{Infobox person

| image =

| imagesize =

| name = Alin Sumarwata

| birth_place = Tehran, Iran

| occupation = Actress

| yearsactive = 2004–present

| spouse = Don Hany (2011–)

| children = 2

}}

Alin Sumarwata is an Iranian-born Australian actress, whose roles include May Stone in soap opera Home and Away, Sophia Angleton in East West 101 and Vanessa Villante in Neighbours, a role she played from 2012 to 2013, 2015 and 2019. She has also starred in Strike Back: Retribution, Strike Back: Revolution and Strike Back: Vendetta as Gracie Novin.

Early life

Sumarwata was born in Tehran, Iran.{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/strike-backs-alin-sumarwata-talks-benefits-knowing-multiple-languages-012602575.html|title=Strike Back's Alin Sumarwata talks benefits of knowing multiple languages|last=Huang|first=Bryan|date=2 March 2018|publisher=Yahoo! Lifestyle|accessdate=18 February 2019}} She moved to Australia with her family at the age of seven. Sumarwata gained a scholarship to the Australian Theatre for Young People and later attended the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts.{{cite web|url=https://tvserieshub.tv/2018/04/04/interview-with-alin-sumarwata/|title=Interview with Alin Sumarwata|last=Nolen|first=Kelsey|date=4 April 2018|publisher=TV Series Hub|accessdate=18 February 2019|archive-date=19 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219015634/https://tvserieshub.tv/2018/04/04/interview-with-alin-sumarwata/|url-status=dead}} She worked part time in a law firm and an accounting firm, while she graduated from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws.

Career

One of Sumarwata's early acting jobs was a role on Indonesian television soap opera Kenapa Ada Cinta.{{cite web|url=http://nostalgia.tabloidnova.com/articles.asp?id=2152&no=2|title=Kenapa Ada Cinta - Tabloid Nova|access-date=11 April 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630092733/http://nostalgia.tabloidnova.com/articles.asp?id=2152&no=2|archive-date=30 June 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} In 2009, Sumarwata starred as Yasmin Van Koors in the mini-series, False Witness.{{cite news|url=http://tv.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/arts/television/23ion.html|title=Chases, Gunplay and Terrorism, Without the Familiar Landmarks|last=Stanley|first=Alessandra|date=23 January 2009|work=The New York Times|accessdate=6 December 2011}} She joined the cast of Home and Away in the recurring role of May Stone, before moving onto roles in Rescue Special Ops and East West 101.{{cite web|url=http://channelnine.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8214240|title=Season One, Episode One - "Blue Mountains"|publisher=Ninemsn|accessdate=6 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612103354/http://channelnine.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8214240|archive-date=12 June 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.knapmanwyld.com.au/ew101-2/ew101-2_char.html|title=East West 101 - The characters|publisher=Knapman Wyld Television Pty. Ltd.|accessdate=6 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317155803/http://www.knapmanwyld.com.au/ew101-2/ew101-2_char.html|archive-date=17 March 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

Sumarwata stars as Isabella Fortino in short film, Dark Horse. For her portrayal of Isabella, Sumarwata won the "Best Female Actor in a Short Film" award at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.encoremagazine.com.au/muff-rewards-joseph-sims-bad-behaviour-4467|title=MUFF rewards Joseph Sim's Bad Behaviour|date=31 August 2010|work=Encore Magazine|publisher=Focal Attractions|accessdate=6 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309005020/http://www.encoremagazine.com.au/muff-rewards-joseph-sims-bad-behaviour-4467|archive-date=9 March 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} The following year, Sumarwata appeared in Sea Patrol and Tangle.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s14/neighbours/news/a354469/neighbours-casts-new-female-regular-vanessa.html|title='Neighbours' casts new female regular Vanessa|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=5 December 2011|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|accessdate=6 December 2011}}{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/confidential/new-chef-to-become-a-famous-neighbour/story-e6frf96x-1226215562411|title=New chef to become a famous neighbour|date=7 December 2011|work=Herald Sun|publisher=The Herald and Weekly Times|accessdate=6 December 2011}}

On 5 December 2011, it was announced Sumarwata had joined the cast of Neighbours in the regular role of Vanessa Villante.{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hGs9R_Phx2HzIijKXI6e25m7F9ig?docId=N0285481323173541147A |title=Trouble brews for new Neighbour |date=6 December 2011 |publisher=Press Association |access-date=6 December 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525152139/https://www.webcitation.org/63jU2Zf6Z?url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hGs9R_Phx2HzIijKXI6e25m7F9ig%3FdocId=N0285481323173541147A |archive-date=25 May 2024 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }} Sumarwata and her family relocated from Sydney to Melbourne, so she could film her scenes.{{cite web|url=http://www.channel5.com/shows/neighbours/news/neighbours-newcomer-set-to-cook-up-a-storm|title=Neighbours newcomer set to cook up a storm|date=5 December 2011|work=Channel 5|publisher=Northern & Shell|accessdate=6 December 2011}} Sumarwata's character was written out in 2013.{{cite journal|date=31 August – 6 September 2013|title=Vanessa axed!|journal=TV Week|issue=35|page=6}} She made three guest appearances in 2015,{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s14/neighbours/news/a631867/alin-sumarwata-talks-neighbours-return-its-nice-to-see-a-happy-ending.html|title=Alin Sumarwata talks Neighbours return: 'It's nice to see a happy ending'|last=Klompus|first=Jack|date=27 February 2015|publisher=Digital Spy|accessdate=18 February 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://tenplay.com.au/channel-eleven/neighbours/backstage|title=Backstage with Scott Major aka Lucas Fitzgerald|date=12 September 2015|publisher=Tenplay.com.au|accessdate=18 February 2019}}{{cite journal|date=5–19 November 2015|title=The guides|journal=TV Soap|page=38}} and she reprised the role again in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a26248742/neighbours-spoilers-vanessa-villante-return-sonyas-exit-storyline/|title=Neighbours is bringing back Vanessa Villante for Sonya's exit storyline|last=Dainty|first=Sophie|date=8 February 2019|work=Digital Spy|accessdate=8 February 2019}}

In 2016, Sumarwata joined the cast of Strike Back as Gracie Novin for the show's sixth series, which began airing in 2017.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/12/strike-back-reboot-series-cinemax-sky-cast-alin-sumarwata-daniel-macpherson-1201867058/|title='Strike Back' Reboot Gets Series Order By Cinemax & Sky, Sets Core Cast|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=8 December 2016|website=Deadline Hollywood|accessdate=17 October 2017}} She reprised the role for the seventh series Strike Back: Revolution, which aired in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/744957/strike-back-season-6-gracie-novin-alin-sumarwata/|title='Strike Back's Alin Sumarwata Says 'the Stakes are Higher' in Season 6|last=Hahn|first=Kate|date=24 January 2019|publisher=TV Insider|accessdate=18 February 2019}} Sumarwata reprised the role for the final season, Strike Back: Vendetta which started airing on February 14, 2020.

Personal life

Sumarwata is married to actor Don Hany. They have two daughters.{{cite web|url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/strike-back-star-alin-sumarwata-finding-characters-vice-versa-1541/|title='Strike Back' Star Alin Sumarwata on Finding Your Characters Through Yourself (and Vice Versa)|last=Steves|first=Ashley|date=10 April 2018|work=Backstage|accessdate=18 February 2019}}

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
scope="row" \| 2004 \| Soul Traces: The Introduction \| Clara Woods \| TV movie
scope="row" \| 2005 \| The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant \| Nani \| 2 episodes
scope="row" \| 2007 \| Death's Requiem \| Sarah \| Short film
scope="row" \| 2008 \| The Terrorist \| \| Short film
scope="row" \| 2008 \| Octopus \| Jane \| Short film
scope="row" \| 2009 \| False Witness \| Yasmin Van Koors \| Also known as The Diplomat
scope="row" \| 2009 \| Home and Away \| May Stone \| Recurring role
scope="row" \| 2009 \| Rescue Special Ops \| Brooke Henley \| Episode: "Rescue in the Blue Mountains"
scope="row" \| 2009 \| East West 101 \| Sophia Angleton \| Recurring role
scope="row" \| 2009 \| Dark Horse \| Isabella Fortino \| Short film
scope="row" \| 2010 \| Sea Patrol \| Sylvanna Gorski \| Episode: "In Too Deep"
scope="row" \| 2010 \| Tangle \| Julie \| Episode: "Sleepwalking"
scope="row" \| 2011 \| Burning Man \| Nurse \| Film
scope="row" \| 2012–2013, 2015, 2019 \| Neighbours \| Vanessa Villante \| Main cast
scope="row" \| 2015 \| Mary: The Making of a Princess \| Princess Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg \| TV movie
scope="row" \| 2016 \| Jack Irish \| Galerry Owner \| 2 episodes
scope="row" \| 2017 \| Strike Back: Retribution \| Lance Corporal Gracie Novin \| Main cast
scope="row"\| 2019 \| Strike Back: Revolution \| Lance Corporal Gracie Novin \| Main cast
scope="row"\| 2019 \| My Life Is Murder \| Morgana Finch \| Episode: "Feet of Clay"
scope="row"\| 2020 \| Strike Back: Vendetta \| Lance Corporal Gracie Novin \| Main cast

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

scope="row" | 2004

| Soul Traces: The Introduction

| Clara Woods

| TV movie

scope="row" | 2005

| The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant

| Nani