Sarah Lambert
Sarah Lambert (born 21 January 1970) is an Australian writer, showrunner, director, and producer best known for creating and executive producing critically acclaimed television drama series such as The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Bump, and Love Child.[1] Lambert's career spans over two decades in Australian and international television, beginning with acting roles in shows like Heartbreak High before transitioning to writing and producing.[2] Her breakthrough came with the creation of Love Child (2014–2017), a Nine Network series set in 1960s Sydney that explored unwed mothers and adoption, running for four seasons and earning 20 nominations across the Australian Writers' Guild Awards (AWGIEs), Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (AACTAs), and Logie Awards.[3] She followed this with Lambs of God (2019), a Foxtel miniseries adaptation of Marele Day's novel featuring a gothic tale of isolated nuns, which received 18 AACTA nominations and won Best Miniseries.[3] In recent years, Lambert has achieved global recognition as the showrunner and writer for The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (2023), an Amazon Prime adaptation of Holly Ringland's bestselling novel starring Sigourney Weaver, which became Amazon's most successful Australian series launch and garnered 12 AACTA nominations, including a win for Best Miniseries.[3] Other credits include writing for series like A Place to Call Home, The Doctor Blake Mysteries, and Dance Academy.[2] Lambert co-founded Lantern Pictures in 2024 with director Jane Manning and executive Andrew Lambert (her brother), focusing on female-led stories, and in 2024 and 2025 was selected for Screen Australia's The Creators showrunner program in the US; Lantern Pictures signed an exclusive first-look deal with Fremantle in 2024.[3][4][5][6] Her work often highlights themes of family, resilience, and social issues, earning her accolades like AWGIE nominations and commendations from the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.[3]Biography
Early life
Sarah Lambert was born on 21 January 1970 in Australia.[7] Lambert grew up in a family of four siblings, including her older sister, actress Anne-Louise Lambert, known for her role in the 1975 film Picnic at Hanging Rock, and two older brothers, Tony and Andrew.[8] Her parents separated in the mid-1970s, after which her mother raised the children alone.[8] Following the family split, they moved to Balmain, an inner suburb of Sydney, in the 1970s.[8] During her childhood in Balmain, Lambert was exposed to the vibrant artistic community of 1970s Sydney, surrounded by actors and creatives due to her sister's burgeoning career.[8] Anne-Louise, who was 14 years older, often helped care for her younger siblings and shared early experiences like beach outings and attending film premieres, which sparked Lambert's interest in the performing arts.[8] One of her earliest memories includes sculpting mermaids out of sand with her sister at age four.[8] This familial environment naturally influenced her path toward acting and storytelling.[8]Personal life
Sarah Lambert has been married to Peter Frost.[9] She and Frost have two children: a daughter named Tilly, born via IVF, and a son named Tom, whom Lambert has described as her "miracle baby" after being told she could not have more children.[9][10] The family resides in Sydney, where Lambert has noted the challenges of managing her demanding career alongside parenting, including hiding her pregnancy with Tom during the production of Love Child to maintain work momentum.[9]Professional career
Acting career
Lambert began her acting career as a child artist in 1978, debuting in the Australian historical miniseries Against the Wind, where she portrayed Elizabeth Wiltshire in two episodes.[11] This early role marked her entry into television, followed by appearances in youth-oriented productions such as Spring & Fall (1980) as Debra and the family film Fluteman (1982) as Jane.[1] She also performed in theatre, including productions for the Sydney Theatre Company, Griffin Theatre Company, and touring ensembles, honing her skills in stage acting alongside screen work.[12] In the 1980s and 1990s, Lambert established herself in Australian television through recurring and guest roles in popular soaps and dramas. She played Sandy Crosby in 30 episodes of the long-running medical series A Country Practice from 1986 to 1988, contributing to the show's portrayal of rural Australian life.[13] Her career gained further momentum with a guest role as Elizabeth Kennedy in E Street (1989) and a lead role as the idealistic teacher Christina Milano in the teen drama Heartbreak High from 1994 to 1996, a series that became a cultural touchstone for its exploration of high school dynamics.[14] These roles highlighted her versatility in ensemble casts, often embodying relatable, grounded characters in the competitive landscape of Australian broadcasting during that era. Lambert retired from acting in 2002, shifting her focus to behind-the-camera pursuits after beginning to write and direct short films, dramas, and documentaries as early as 1991.[12] This transition was motivated by her growing passion for storytelling and desire for greater creative control, evolving organically from her experiences in the industry and influenced by her family's artistic background.[8]Writing and directing career
Following her retirement from acting in 2002, Sarah Lambert transitioned into documentary filmmaking, where she explored social and political themes through non-fiction storytelling.[2] She wrote and co-directed the 2006 documentary Clone Story, which examined the beliefs and practices of the Raelian movement.[2] Additional documentaries included God in Government, co-directed for PBS and focusing on the influence of the religious right in U.S. politics, and Last Chance for Peace, which she wrote and produced, chronicling Sierra Leone's civil war and reconciliation efforts.[2] This period marked her early emphasis on investigative narratives that highlighted marginalized voices and global conflicts. Lambert's career evolved into television writing and directing, with a focus on creating and showrunning series centered on women's experiences and historical contexts. In 2014, she created, wrote, and produced Love Child, a Channel Nine drama spanning four seasons that depicted the struggles of unwed mothers in 1960s and 1970s Sydney, becoming Australia's top-rated drama that year.[15] She followed this with Lambs of God in 2019, a Foxtel miniseries she showran, adapting Marele Day's novel into a gothic exploration of isolated nuns confronting modernization and institutional power.[2] Her most recent major project, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (2023), served as writer and showrunner for the Amazon Prime adaptation of Holly Ringland's novel, weaving themes of intergenerational trauma, silence, and resilience through a female protagonist's journey, earning 12 AACTA Award nominations.[2] In 2024, Lambert co-founded Lantern Pictures in Sydney with director Jane Manning and producer Andrew Lambert, taking on the role of creative director to champion creator-led productions.[16] The company prioritizes bold, female-focused narratives, including returnable series and true-story dramas, with a pipeline of 10 early-stage projects encompassing international co-productions and IP adaptations.[16] Lantern Pictures secured a multi-year first-look deal with Fremantle Australia in October 2024, enhancing its capacity to develop globally resonant content while sustaining a showrunner model that empowers female and diverse creators.[17] Throughout her work, Lambert has consistently addressed women's stories, from historical injustices in Love Child to emotional and psychological depths in Lambs of God and The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, prioritizing complex female characters and authentic societal reflections.[18] As an advocate for gender equity in the industry, she has emphasized the need for sustained investment in female screen creatives to foster diverse storytelling and long-term viability, participating in initiatives like Screen Australia's Creators program to mentor emerging talent, including her selection as a participant in the 2025 edition.[18][19] As of November 2025, no major new series releases have been announced beyond her 2023 project, with efforts centered on Lantern Pictures' development slate.[20]Credits
Acting film credits
Sarah Lambert appeared in five films during her acting career, spanning feature films and shorts from 1981 to 2002.[2] Her film roles, listed chronologically, are as follows:| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Doctors & Nurses | Mary Grey | Debut film |
| 1982 | Fluteman | Jane | |
| 1994 | The Roly Poly Man | Vicki Lane | |
| 1996 | Hey Amigos! | Chicciolina | Short film |
| 2002 | Turtle Monkey | Jana | Final acting role; short film |
Acting television credits
Sarah Lambert began her television acting career in Australian productions, featuring in miniseries and guest roles before securing regular positions in popular soaps and dramas. Her credits span historical dramas, police procedurals, and medical series, with a focus on ensemble casts in long-running shows.[2][1]| Year(s) | Series | Role | Role Type | Episodes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Against the Wind | Elizabeth Wiltshire | Guest | 2 | Australian miniseries about convict transportation.[11][24] |
| 1981 | Bellamy | Cassie | Guest | 1 | Australian police drama miniseries.[1] |
| 1982 | Spring & Fall | Debra | Guest | 1 | Australian anthology series addressing social issues. |
| 1986–1989 | A Country Practice | Sandy Crosby | Regular | 30 | Australian medical soap opera; played Jo Loveday's best friend.[1][25][26] |
| 1989 | E Street | Elizabeth Kennedy | Guest | 1 | Australian soap opera.[24] |
| 1990 | Rafferty's Rules | Rudi Apps | Guest | 1 | Australian legal drama.[1] |
| 1991 | Police Rescue | Juliet | Guest | 1 | Australian police procedural.[24] |
| 1993 | G.P. | Leah White | Guest | 1 | Australian medical drama.[24] |
| 1994–1995 | Heartbreak High | Christina Milano | Main cast (recurring) | 23 | Australian teen drama; portrayed a rookie teacher.[27][28] |
| 1996 | Medivac | Francine Lord | Guest | 1 | Australian medical drama (also known as Adrenalin Junkies).[1] |