Alice Englert: The Australian Star Who Does It All
When it comes to raw, multi-dimensional talent in modern cinema, Alice Englert is a name that deserves far more spotlight than it often gets. As an actress, director, writer, singer, and songwriter, she has quietly been building one of the most interesting careers in contemporary film. Born into a legendary filmmaking family and raised across continents, Alice Englert has carved her own path — on her own terms.
Who Is Alice Englert?
Alice Allegra Englert was born on 15 June 1994 in Sydney, Australia. She is the daughter of the iconic Oscar-winning filmmaker Jane Campion, best known for directing The Piano, and television director Colin Englert. Growing up surrounded by storytelling wasn’t just a happy coincidence for Alice — it shaped everything she would become.
While many people know her as an actress, Alice Englert has evolved into a true creative force. Over the course of her career, she has written screenplays, composed original music, stepped behind the camera, and delivered critically acclaimed performances across a wide range of genres. She is, without question, one of the most exciting Australian talents working in film and television today.
Early Life and Background
A Family Built on Storytelling
Alice Englert grew up in what many would call a filmmaker’s dream household. Her mother, Jane Campion, is one of the most celebrated directors of her generation — the first woman to win the Palme d’Or at Cannes and the first to win back-to-back Grand Jury Prizes at Sundance. Her father, Colin Englert, worked as a television director and even served as a second unit director on The Piano and Portrait of a Lady. Creative talent clearly runs deep in this family.
On her mother’s side, Alice’s grandparents were equally remarkable. Her grandmother was actress Edith Campion, and her grandfather was theatre director Richard Campion — two towering figures in New Zealand’s theatrical world. With that kind of lineage, it’s hard to imagine Alice Englert doing anything other than telling stories.
Growing Up Across the World
Alice’s parents divorced when she was just seven years old, and life after that took her across multiple countries. She spent time in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy — a childhood that gave her an unusually worldly perspective and an ability to adapt that would serve her well in the diverse roles she’d later take on.
Her education was equally eclectic. She attended schools in Sydney, Auckland, New York City, London, and Rome, and also spent time at Sibford School, a Quaker boarding school in Oxfordshire, England. Eventually, she made the bold decision to leave high school early to pursue acting — and the world of film is better for it.
One of Alice’s earliest and most formative experiences was spending time in her mother’s editing room as a child. Watching stories come together frame by frame gave her an intimate understanding of filmmaking long before she ever stepped in front of a camera herself.
Career Beginnings
A Child Actress from the Start
Alice Englert made her film debut at the age of eight in Listen, a short film that gave her a first taste of on-screen storytelling. By the time she was twelve, she appeared in her mother Jane Campion’s short film The Water Diary (2006), which was later incorporated into the anthology film 8 (2008). These early projects weren’t just about acting — they were her education.
Her international profile began to take shape when she appeared at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival with The Lovers, a science-fiction romance that caught the attention of the industry. It was a signal that Alice Englert was ready for something bigger.
Breakthrough as an Actress
Ginger & Rosa (2012)
The role that truly announced Alice Englert to the world was in Ginger & Rosa (2012), directed by the acclaimed Sally Potter. Set in 1960s London during the shadow of the Cold War, the film starred Alice alongside Elle Fanning in a deeply emotional story about friendship, identity, and political awakening. Alice’s nuanced performance earned her the British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actress — a prestigious recognition that launched her into the international spotlight.
Beautiful Creatures (2013)
Perhaps the role most people associate with Alice Englert is that of Lena Duchannes in Beautiful Creatures (2013). Based on the bestselling novel by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, this Warner Bros. supernatural romance was a major studio production that placed Alice front and center. She played a young woman grappling with powerful magic and a forbidden love story — and she brought both vulnerability and strength to the role.
What made her contribution even more remarkable was that she also wrote and performed the song “Needle and Thread” for the film’s soundtrack, showcasing her musical abilities alongside her acting. Beautiful Creatures remains one of the most notable entries in Alice Englert’s movies and TV shows catalogue.
In Fear (2013)
That same year, Alice proved she wasn’t one to be boxed into a single genre. She appeared in In Fear (2013), a tense, low-budget British horror film that demonstrated a completely different side of her range. The ability to move between a sweeping supernatural romance and an intimate psychological thriller in the same year said a lot about Alice Englert as a performer.
Alice Englert Movies and TV Shows: A Growing Resume
Following her breakthrough years, Alice Englert continued to build an impressive and diverse body of work across both film and television.
In 2014, she brought the mysterious Lady Pole to life in Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, the acclaimed BBC television adaptation of Susanna Clarke’s beloved fantasy novel. That same year, she appeared in New Worlds, a historical TV mini-series in which she played a character named Hope.
She then took on the lead role in Them That Follow (2019), a gripping religious thriller set in a snake-handling Appalachian community. Critics praised her committed and fearless performance.
In 2021, she had supporting roles in two very different but equally notable productions. She appeared in Body Brokers, a dark drama about the addiction treatment industry, and in The Power of the Dog — her mother Jane Campion’s Oscar-winning masterpiece that swept awards season. Appearing in her mother’s film once again felt like a meaningful full-circle moment.
Then came You Won’t Be Alone (2022), an acclaimed supernatural folk drama from Macedonian filmmaker Goran Stolevski. Alice’s supporting role in this visually stunning and emotionally rich film earned further praise and showed just how serious she is about choosing meaningful projects.
Transition to Directing and Writing
Short Films That Turned Heads
As Alice Englert’s acting career was flourishing, she was also quietly developing her skills behind the camera. Her short film The Boyfriend Game (2015) was a major statement of intent. She wrote it, directed it, and composed the music herself — an impressive triple threat. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was subsequently screened at the Berlin IFF, Melbourne IFF, and Flickerfest. It went on to win the Best Screenplay Award at the St Kilda Film Festival in 2017.
She followed that with Family Happiness (2017), which she again wrote and directed. It premiered at the Sydney Film Festival and was later screened at both the BFI London Film Festival and the Melbourne International Film Festival — a strong endorsement from the international arthouse community.
Bad Behaviour (2023): Feature Directorial Debut
Everything came together with Bad Behaviour (2023), Alice Englert’s feature directorial debut — and what a debut it was. She wrote the screenplay, directed the film, appeared in it as an actress, and composed the original music. Shot in New Zealand, the dark comedy received its world premiere at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival 2023 in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition section and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize.
The film stars Jennifer Connelly, Ben Whishaw, and Dasha Nekrasova, and explores themes of control, spirituality, and complicated family dynamics with sharp wit and emotional depth. Bad Behaviour confirmed what her short films had been hinting at for years — Alice Englert is not just a talented actress, she is a genuine auteur filmmaker.
Music and Other Creative Work
One of the things that makes Alice Englert so fascinating is that her creativity doesn’t stop at acting or directing. She is also a gifted singer and songwriter, and she has woven her musical abilities into her filmmaking in a way that feels entirely authentic.
She composed original music for both of her short films and for Bad Behaviour, giving each project a distinct sonic identity. Her contribution to the Beautiful Creatures soundtrack with “Needle and Thread” is a fan favourite. For Alice, music isn’t a side project — it’s a natural extension of how she tells stories.
Alice Englert Net Worth
Given her consistent output across acting, directing, and music, it’s natural for fans to be curious about Alice Englert’s net worth. While exact figures are not publicly confirmed, industry estimates generally place her net worth in the range of $1 million to $3 million USD, a figure that reflects her work in major studio films like Beautiful Creatures, multiple acclaimed TV productions, and her growing reputation as a filmmaker.
It’s worth noting that Alice Englert has never appeared to chase commercial projects purely for financial gain. Her project choices have consistently leaned toward artistically ambitious, critically respected work — the kind of career trajectory that tends to grow in value steadily over time rather than in explosive peaks. Given the critical recognition she received for Bad Behaviour at Sundance and her mother’s continued influence in the industry, her net worth is likely to grow substantially in the years ahead.
Legacy and What Makes Alice Englert Special
Alice Englert is part of a multi-generational filmmaking dynasty that began with her grandparents on stage in New Zealand and runs straight through to her mother’s Oscar-winning films and now her own feature directorial debut. But what’s remarkable is that despite this incredible lineage, she has never coasted on the family name.
She represents a new wave of Australian and New Zealand talent that is reshaping international cinema — one that combines serious artistic ambition with genuine emotional intelligence. She balances the mainstream and the arthouse with ease, appearing in a Warner Bros. fantasy blockbuster one moment and a Sundance dark comedy the next.
Whether you know her from Beautiful Creatures, her gripping performance in Ginger & Rosa, her work alongside Jane Campion in The Power of the Dog, or her bold directorial debut with Bad Behaviour, one thing is clear: Alice Englert is just getting started — and the best may still be yet to come.
Quick Facts About Alice Englert
Full Name: Alice Allegra Englert Date of Birth: 15 June 1994 Birthplace: Sydney, Australia Nationality: Australian Profession: Actress, Director, Writer, Singer, Songwriter Mother: Jane Campion (Oscar-winning director) Father: Colin Englert (TV director) Notable Movies and TV Shows: Ginger & Rosa, Beautiful Creatures, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, The Power of the Dog, Bad Behaviour Estimated Net Worth: $1–3 million USD
