Sarah Lambert(I)

Writer, showrunner and producer Sarah Lambert has created some of Australia's most critically acclaimed, iconic and audience-pleasing drama series in recent years. Most recently, Sarah was the writer and show-runner of THE LOST FLOWERS OF ALICE HART, the adaptation of Holly Ringland's hit novel for Made Up Stories and Amazon Prime starring Sigourney Weaver, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Leah Purcell, Asher Keddie and Frankie Adams. The series has become a global hit, both critically and with audiences around the world breaking records for the most successful Australian Amazon original launch globally ever. It has been nominated for 12 ACCTA awards including Best Mini-series or Limited run series. Her work has writer of the series has been recognised with an AWGIE nomination for best screenplay in a Limited Run series. Key praise for THE LOST FLOWERS OF ALICE HART at page end.

During 2022, she was also writer and an executive producer of the adaptation of Markus Zusak's novel, THE MESSENGER, for Lingo Pictures and the ABC. It starred an exceptional young cast led by William McKenna, Alexandre Jensen, Chris Alosio and Kartanya Maynard. Key praise for THE MESSENGER at page end.

Prior to LOST FLOWERS and THE MESSENGER, Sarah is best known for the award-winning television adaptation of Marele Day's LAMBS OF GOD, for which Sarah was the writer and showrunner. The mini-series stared Ann Dowd, Jessica Barden and Essie Davis. LAMBS OF GOD was in official competition at Series Mania in 2019 and was nominated for 18 AACTA Awards, winning nine including Best Telefeature or Mini Series. It also won the ATOM Award for Best Fiction Telemovie or Miniseries and the Screen Producers Award for Mini Series Production of the Year and was nominated for an AWGIE award for Best Television or Miniseries in 2020. Key praise for LAMBS OF GOD at page end.

Sarah Lambert is also the creator, writer and a producer of the smash-hit Australian drama for Channel 9, LOVE CHILD, which was the number one drama in Australia in 2014 and went on to enjoy four seasons. Key praise of LOVE CHILD at page end.

Sarah has written on some of Australia's top drama series including the critically-acclaimed LOVE MY WAY, DANCE ACADEMY, for which she was nominated for an AWGIE for Best Children's Screenplay; THE ALICE, which garnered her a QLD Premier's Literary Award Nomination; A PLACE TO CALL HOME; and ABC's ratings winner THE DOCTOR BLAKE MYSTERIES. Sarah also co-created the 65-part teen show ALIENS AMONG US for the ABC and C5 in the UK, writing and directing over thirty episodes, shooting in the US, UK, France and Australia.

Her next original series THE GASLIGHT WING, a genre-bending female revenge series, is in development with Simon Maxwell's Motive Productions in the UK (THE WOMAN IN THE WALL, GET MILLIE BLACK, ONE NIGHT) and Fifth Season. It was also announced at the end of 2023 that Sarah will adapt the international best-selling novel THE EIGHTH LIFE by Nino Haratischvili for TV taking on the role of show-runner and working with Ink Factory (THE NIGHT MANAGER and LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL) and Amusement Park (ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT) in 2024.

Prior to her work as a writer/ creator in Australia, she worked in New York for twelve years as a partner in the film production company Babelfish where she wrote and directed the documentary CLONE STORY on the cult group the Raelians; wrote and co-directed the documentary GOD IN GOVERNMENT (PBS) about the religious right's influence on US politics; produced the documentary 14 MILLION DREAMS (Sundance); and LAST CHANCE FOR PEACE - a documentary about the civil war in Sierra Leone and the unusual path to peace forged between an alliance of Muslim and Christian religious leaders. She co-directed, wrote and produced three arts programs for PBS's City Arts series - NEW TYPE OF JAZZ; on the great record producer Teo Macero's work with some of the most iconic musicians of our time from Miles Davis to Simon and Garfunkel to modern hip hop artists, DIRECTORS ON DIRECTING on the most iconic Broadway directors working today and THE PLAY'S THE THING which featured playwrights from Edward Albee to John Patrick Shanley on bringing stories to life and the magic of theatre for which she was recognised with an Emmy nomination.

Before moving to work behind the camera, Sarah was a successful actor, growing up on Australian TV and movie screens, while also performing on stage in plays for the STC, Griffin and Marian Street theatres as well as various touring companies. She's best known for her ongoing role as Sandy Crosby on A COUNTRY PRACTICE and for her lead role in the original series of cult series, HEARTBREAK HIGH playing Christina Milano, the rookie teacher.

THE LOST FLOWERS OF ALICE HART - KEY PRAISE

"... sensitively written, expertly performed ... and beautifully shot." The Los Angeles Times "...entertaining, moving and vividly atmospheric..." The New York Times "...the hypnotic, creepy atmosphere draws you into a satisfying drama..." Financial Times

"This is a series that reels you in, episode by episode, like waves lapping against the Australian shoreline." - Evening Standard UK

"Not everyone will be able to watch this series, but how writer Sarah Lambert deconstructs abuse is one of the most profound things we will see on TV this year." Ready Steady Cut "What makes this work really sing is the masterful hand of director Glendyn Ivin who, together with screenwriter Sarah Lambert, keep the truth at arm's length distance while hypnotising you with intoxicating visuals, evocative scenes and strong performances from the cast." David Knox, TV Tonight "I challenge even the hardest of hearts not to be moved by The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart." Abby Robinson, Radio Times UK

THE MESSENGER - KEY PRAISE

"Screenwriters Sarah Lambert, Kim Wilson, Kirsty Fisher and Magda Wozniak deftly balance comedy and drama, creating a subtle and strange quirkiness. The vibes get neo-noirish at times with a moody YA energy reminiscent of Rian Johnson's 2005 film Brick... Australian film and television is littered with quirky small-town stories, but this one is different, with a downbeat stoner-like charm all of its own." Luke Buckmaster. The Guardian.

LAMBS OF GOD - KEY PRAISE

"...intensely gothic and deliriously compelling four-part series LAMBS OF GOD, from the creator/writer Sarah Lambert (adapting Marele Day's best-selling novel) and, marking his best work yet, director Jeffrey Walker. It plays out like a religious-themed Misery, with a hapless male protagonist rather, shall we say, overcome by hosts of a place that wouldn't get a great rating on AirBnB..." " Devilish humour is laced throughout... Knock-out performances from an outstanding cast keep the drama trembling with emotion - usually of the bone-shaking, skin-jiggling, eye-bulging kind - and Lambert's excellent writing remains structurally unpredictable. Lambs of God is audacious, that's for sure. And it has "future cult classic" written all over it." The Guardian.

LOVE CHILD - KEY PRAISE

"Lambert has beguilingly combined a detailed and often critical analysis of an Australia emerging slowly from the torpor and social repressiveness of the late 50's with a plot abundantly full of surprise and suspense" -The Australian.