Freya Stafford

Freya Stafford (born 21 January 1977) is an Australian actress who has appeared in the television programs Head Start and White Collar Blue as central characters.

Early life
Stafford was born in Sydney, New South Wales. In 1982 her family moved to Tasmania. She decided to join a drama group as she enjoyed acting and when she was eleven, she landed a role in a local production of Annie. Stafford attended the Tasmanian School of Art, before she moved to Sydney and joined the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). Stafford appeared in a video for Silverchair and various NIDA productions including There Is No Need To Wake Up, Twelfth Night and Three Sisters.

Career
After graduating from NIDA, Stafford joined the cast of Head Start as bisexual film-maker Basia Lem. Stafford revealed that she chose Head Start as her first television role because it was a great launching pad for her career.

She also made a guest appearance on Network Ten's The Lost World. She has also had parts in Network Ten's mini-series Small Claims, and the Australian movies Gettin' Square and Hell Has Harbour Views.

After a forty-episode season of Head Start, Freya won a role on Network Ten's White Collar Blue, an Australian cop drama, as Detective Senior Constable Harriet Walker. White Collar Blue screened for two seasons on Australian television, before being axed by the network whilst the cast and crew were on holiday after wrapping production on the second season. Stafford did not work for three months after then re-commenced her acting career.

Stafford appeared in Network Ten's first installment of the mini-series Small Claims as Melinda Fehlers, and the Australian crime-comedy Gettin' Square, which included several internationally well-known actors, such as David Wenham (the Lord of the Rings) and Timothy Spall. Stafford played the part of Annie Flynn, parole officer for the central character, Barry Wirth's (Sam Worthington) brother Joey, and also Barry's love interest.

In 2003, she was a presenter at the 45th Australian Film Institute (AFI) awards. She also appeared in the ABC's adaptation of Richard Beasley's novel Hell Has Harbour Views as lawyer Jill Bishop. In late 2006, she starred in Bell Shakespeare's production of The Tempest, as Miranda. She also guest starred in the 2006 episode Mind Games of All Saints.

She starred in a 2007 American pilot Them, which was subsequently not picked up as a series. In 2009, she appeared as lead in a six-part drama series premiered on Sunday, 19 April, on ABC1, 'Dirt Game'. Dirt Game is a co-production between Harvey Taft Production, ABC TV and Screen Australia and developed and produced with the assistance of Film Victoria. She stars also in the horror film The Clinic who was directed by James Rabbitts.

In July 2011, it was announced that Stafford had joined the cast of Neighbours as Emilia Jovanovic. In September 2012, Stafford began appearing in the ITV drama Mrs Biggs as Julie Flower. In 2014 she made a cameo appearance in the movie Predestination.

Personal life
Stafford was engaged to Nigel Joseph, before she married fellow actor Darren McAngus.

In August 2010, Stafford was forced to put her career on hold after she suffered major facial injuries after a road accident. Stafford collided with a car whilst out riding her bike in Elwood with McAngus. She went over the handlebars and was knocked unconscious, Stafford was taken to the Alfred Hospital suffering from a broken left jaw, a broken right eye socket, a broken cheekbone and dental damage. Stafford had to wait two weeks for the swelling to subside, before she could undergo reconstructive surgery, but she did not sustain any major scarring on her face. The actress saw a counsellor during her recovery.