Australian actor Deborah Mailman said she is “overwhelmed with pride” to be the first Aboriginal person to be inducted into Logies Hall of Fame.
Mailman, 54, one of Australia’s most-loved actors, is also the sixth woman to receive the honour, following Rebecca Gibney (2024) and Magda Szubanski (2025).
She is known for many iconic roles across television and film, including in Rabbit-Proof Fence, The Sapphires, Offspring, The Secret Life of Us, Total Control and Redfern Now.
“I am overwhelmed with pride to be the first Aboriginal person to receive this honour, as I look around the room I’m so thrilled to see so many of our mob being celebrated tonight,” Mailman said in her acceptance speech.
Mailman dedicated her award on Sunday night to her parents, who she said had supported her career with love and encouragement. She also thanked her school drama teacher for supporting her.
“It’s wonderful to be here on Gadigal Country. This is for my mum and dad,” she said.
“I was born in Mount Isa; we grew up near the old rodeo grounds. When I had a dream to be an actor, my parents met my dream with nothing but love and encouragement.”
“Whenever I made that 24-hour bus ride from Brissy back to Mount Isa, my mum and dad were always there waiting for me. This is for them.”
In a tribute video on Sunday night, stars including Cate Blanchett and Miranda Tapsell spoke about Mailman’s career, congratulating her on the honour.
“Congratulations, no one deserves this more than you,” Blanchett said.
“She brings such depth and intelligence to Australian work. It’s more than just meat pies and vegemite… there’s more to Australian stories than that. She brings that nuance to it all,” Tapsell said.
Half of the nominees for most popular new talent at the Logies this year were First Nations actors, including 10-year-old Eloise Hart, Lila McGuire and Tamala.