Jemma Rivera is an Australian actress of Asian and Spanish descent and has been working professionally for over 20 years.

She began her career early as a dancer in an independent and professional dance ensemble, 78 Tourette. Later joined several professional stage musical productions, one of which she played the lead LIAT in the International Production of South Pacific, opposite Phillip Gould and produced by The Gordon Frost Organisation (The King & I). She was also cast in the ensemble of Chess The Musical performed at the Theatre Royal in Sydney Australia and directed by award winner Jim Sharman.

Jemma’s first exploration into her acting career was being cast by Australian actress/producer Kerry Walker & director Mark Gaal in the first cross cultural Australian production of an Indonesian play Cockroach Opera performed at Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney.

She enjoyed playing this role, being part of a play that brought social consciousness as it showed the public the hardship of the impoverished communities in Indonesia and having to resort to prostitution for survival and overcoming corruption and political upheaval at the time. Her dance abilities were also showcased as it was co-produced by the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Dance Company, in which later most dancers joined the Bangarra Dance Company.

There are many professional theatre credits to her name, with Sydney Theatre Company as one of her highlights as she played multiple roles in Sydney Stories Part 2, directed by David Berthold (Director of La Boite Theatre, Brisbane) and Kai Tai Chan(One Extra Dance Co.)

This gave Jemma the opportunity to showcase her dance abilities, her dramatic and comedic skills in two short stories, one written by award winning playwright, Stephen Sewell In The Club, and the other by Kai Tai Chan Two Wongs. She also acted alongside brilliant artist, Lillian Crombie (Australia) and the extraordinary performer, Paul Capsis.

Another great play for Jemma felt proud to be a part of which highlighted the issues of politics and cultural differences in Sumatra was in the play written by Julie Janson, The Information, performed at Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney and directed by Regina Heilmann, (artistic Director of PACT Theatre). It was a challenging but yet one of the most rewarding roles for Jemma to portray as a Muslim woman taking the risk to bring justice to her community by facing the Australian and Indonesian Governments. Loosely based on real events.

Jemma continues her professional career as an actress and has been seen acting alongside Lisa McCune (Blue Heelers) in Sea Patrol. A highly emotional part to play as a village woman who has had to be evacuated from her home by the Australian Navy as the local rebels had destroyed her village.

Another rewarding collaboration for Jemma was in the acclaimed SBS series East West 101 which was based upon the experiences of actual detectives in a crime unit in Western Sydney suburbs and the crime stories in their community.

Jemma acted alongside Suzie Porter (Little Fish), William McInnes (The Informant), Don Hany (Underbelly) and award winning director Peter Andrikidis (BlackJack). This series claimed success in many countries throughout Europe and the Middle East.

The tv goers were first introduced to the exotic, dynamic and seductive charm of Jemma in her tv mini-series debut, Singapore Sling as a private investigator acting alongside John Waters (All Saints), Deborah Lee-Furness (Beautiful), Jan Michael-Vincent (White Boy) and John Howard (All Saints). This mini-series continues to captivate audiences on HBO and sold in many countries.

Always a joy to be part of a comedy ensemble, Jemma acted alongside talented artists, such as Isla Fisher (Confessions of A Shopoholic), Russell Dykstra (Romulus, My Father), Felix Williamson (Lost) and Lena Cruz (Dirt Game) in the comedy feature film directed/produced/acted by Nick Giannopolous (Wog Boy) in The Wannabees.

Jemma’s first comedy collaboration on film in which highlighted her in every scene of the film was in the comedy SBS production of Sell-ebrity Selection. A black vision of futuristic infotainment directed by Jim Hearn, produced and also starred Ben Mendelsohn (Australia).

To further capture international audiences Jemma starred in the U.S. TV production, the action/drama/thriller Code 1114 alongside David James Elliott (Jag), Terry Farrell (Becker) and Stephen Lang (Law & Order) and directed by Jean De Segonzac (Law & Order CI).

With Jemma’s international look and talent, she regularly captures the interest of overseas projects.