Tasma Walton (born 19 August 1973) is an Aboriginal Australian television and film actress and novelist.
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Early life and education
Tasma Walton was born on 19 August 1973 in Geraldton, a small city in Western Australia on the coast 400 km (250 mi) north of Perth. She grew up living in public housing with a single mother and two sisters.
She joined home-town radio station 6GE and trained as a production assistant and copywriter. One of her school teachers had her recite a passage from Medea, which prompted her to pursue acting. She was accepted into the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney but dropped out before graduating.
In her late 30s she discovered she is of Aboriginal (Boonwurrung) descent on her mother's side.
Acting career
Walton moved across the country to Sydney to train at NIDA and joined a small theatre company.
In 1995, Walton played the recurring role of Rachel Watson in Home and Away.
In 1996, Walton was cast as Dash McKinley in the police drama series Blue Heelers. Her character was introduced halfway through Season 3. She also played another character, Kim Trelor, in the same series. In the same year, she made her film debut in Fistful of Flies. Her last episode of Blue Heelers ("The Full Circle") screened in 1999.
In 2009, Walton joined the cast of City Homicide in the semi-regular role of criminal profiler, Claudia Leigh. In July 2013, it was announced that Walton had rejoined the cast of Home and Away in the recurring role of Jade Montgomery. She was on the show for two seasons.
In 2016, Walton appeared in three episodes of Rake. After discovering her Aboriginal ancestry she also had a regular role on Cleverman (2016–2017). In 2018, she joined the cast of another Indigenous themed show, Mystery Road, reprising her role from the 2013 film of the same name. She returned for the second season in 2020.
In 2023 Walton appeared in the Seven Network series The Claremont Murders, and she joined the second season of Foxtel series The Twelve in July 2024.
After the success of Reckless, a series created and written by Walton, on 24 February 2026 the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ordered a new six-part crime drama series created by her, titled Pilli Sisters PI.
Other film and TV appearances include Water Rats, Sea Patrol, The Postcard Bandit and the 2005 short Perdition. She also won recurring roles in White Collar Blue and BeastMaster.
Writing
Walton has also written two works of fiction:
Heartless (2009)
I am Nannertgarrook (2025), a historical novel based on the experiences of her great-great-great grandmother, an Indigenous woman named Nannertgarrook.
Recognition and awards
Acting
1997: Winner, Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent, at the 39th Annual TV Week Logie Awards, for her role as "Constable Dash McKinley" on Blue Heelers
2014: Nominated, Best Actress at the 3rd AACTA Awards, for her role in Mystery Road
Writing
Co-winner (with Robbie Arnott), ARA Historical Novel Prize, for I am Nannertgarrook
Shortlisted, Western Australian Premier's Book Awards – Fiction Book of the Year, for I am Nannertgarrook
Longlisted, Stella Prize, for I am Nannertgarrook
Personal life
Walton was in a relationship with fellow actor Danny Roberts for seven and a half years until 2004. She began dating Rove McManus in October 2007. They married in a private ceremony in Broome, Western Australia, on 16 June 2009. In December 2013, Walton and McManus announced the birth of their daughter.
Filmography
Theatre
Walton has also performed extensively on stage, including the following productions:
