Gracie Otto | |
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Otto in October 2011
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Born |
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
23 May 1987
Occupation | Director, writer, actress, editor, model, socialite |
Years active | 2005–present |
Website | www |
Gracie Otto (born 23 May 1987 in Sydney) is an Australian actress, film producer, writer and director. She made her feature-length directing debut with the 2013 documentary The Last Impresario about prolific British theatre impresario and film producer Michael White. The film made its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2013, where it was positively received by critics.
Gracie Otto is the daughter of the Australian actor Barry Otto and Susan Hill. Her sister is actress Miranda Otto and her brother-in-law is actor Peter O'Brien. She attended Burwood Girls High School, a public school in the Inner-West of Sydney. As a schoolgirl, Otto represented Australia and New South Wales in indoor soccer, and represented her home state New South Wales in the 2004 Australian Championships. She graduated from the renowned Sydney Film School in 2007 and spent the following year living in Paris.
Otto's feature-length directing debut was with the 2014 documentary The Last Impresario, about prolific British theatre impresario and film producer Michael White. The film made its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2013, where it was positively received by critics. Featuring interviews with 60 of his close friends and associates, including Naomi Watts, Anna Wintour, John Cleese, Kate Moss, Barry Humphries and Yoko Ono, the film celebrates the legendary man who transformed British culture through his many productions, including Oh! Calcutta, Rocky Horror, Dame Edna and Monty Python.
Otto has directed five short films, all of which have screened at prestigious international film festivals. Audiences have responded to her homage to Hitchcock and cinematic 1960s style.
Otto has earned critical acclaim as an actress for her performances in leading roles in two Australian feature films, Three Blind Mice (2008) and LBF – Living Between F**ks (2011), both of which have screened at major film festivals including SXSW, Sydney, London and Toronto. Three Blind Mice also marked Gracie’s debut as a feature film editor, probably one of the few times the leading actress doubled in this role.
Otto has been recognised by her peers with industry awards including winning the 2013 Qantas SOYA Film Award; an LA mentorship with Legally Blonde director Robert Luketic; the 2012 SOYA Film People’s Choice Award; and the 2011 InStyle & Audi Scholarship. She has been a finalist for the Inside Film Rising Talent Award, British Council Realise Your Dreams, and twice for SOYA.