Bio
Brooke Satchwell is an Australian actress, model and environmental spokesperson best known for her award-winning role as Anne Wilkinson in the television soap opera Neighbours, from 1996-2000.
Satchwell was born in Melbourne, Victoria in Australia, and raised on a small farm about 40 miles south of Melbourne, in Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsular. Her first school was Red Hill Primary.
She started High School at Toorak College in Mount Eliza, Victoria, an independent interdenominational girls school. During her first year, Brooke was taking a day off sick in her mother's dress shop when she was discovered by a casting agent.
After a making series of adverts, mostly as a hand or foot model, Brooke was invited to audition for the soap-opera Neighbours. She was offered a three year contract to play Anne Wilkinson and almost immediately became one of the most popular young actors in Australia.
Although offered an extension to her contract at the end of the three years, Brooke chose to leave to seek other roles.
Offered a short term guest star role on the popular Police Drama Water Rats (1996-2001), produced in Sydney, Brooke's performances were so highly regarded her character was converted to a regular part of the series. Brooke and her new partner moved the 400 miles to be near her new job.
After two seasons on this show and a further two on a second police drama, Brooke chose to take a 18 month sabbatical from full-time acting to allow her to undertake study to improve her skills.
In 2005, she was offered a role in the prestigious children's show Play School, which included her being part of the 40th anniversary celebrations for the show. She was also offered roles in three TV drama series, including her first overseas role.
Unfortunately, the period was also marked by dramas in her personal life, including the death of a favourite uncle, the divorce of her parents, domestic violence, and being caught up in the Mumbai terrorist attacks. Her existing long-term relationship ended and she returned to live in Melbourne with her mother.
She was invited to take a starring role in her first feature film Subdivision (2009).
Brooke has also acted in a number of theatre productions, tele-movies and short films, panel shows and voice over work during her career.
Brooke returned to Sydney in late 2010 and landed a recurring role in the sitcom Packed to the Rafters, which became a series regular role for the sixth and final season.