Jimi Bani is a 2007 graduate from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Before attending drama school, Jimi played a regular role in the SBS series R.A.N (Remote Area Nurse) shooting in northern Australia and since graduating Jimi has had many leading roles across theatre and television.

Theatrical plays include the lead role in Jandamarra (dir: Tom Gutteridge) for Black Swan Theatre Company, Romeo and Juliet (dir: Wayne Blair) for Sydney Theatre Company, Peter Pan (dir: Ralph Myers) and Yibiyung (dir: Wesley Enoch) for Belvoir Theatre, The Dragon (dir: Marion Potts) for Malthouse Theatre and Krakouer! (dir: Marcelle Schmitz) for Deckchair Theatre. He has also performed in the theatrical production of The Sapphires, for both Black Swan Theatre Company (dir: Wesley Enoch) and for Belvoir St Theatre (dir: Neil Armfield). Belvoir went on to tour The Sapphires to both London and Korea which Jimi was a part of. Other theatre includes Storm Boy (Sydney Theatre Co) and Half & Half (Jute Theatre Co/Cairns) and most recently, Jimi has been performing the role of Edmund for Malthouse Theatre’s The Shadow King, performing seasons in Sydney, Melbourne and across the country, as well as performing at the Barbican Theatre in London for Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary of his death, in early 2016. Jimi will soon perform in Title & Deed for Belvoir Theatre’s 2016 season.

In television, Jimi played a leading role in the ABC television series The Straits for Matchbox Pictures. He then went on to play the title role of Koiki ‘Eddie’ Mabo in the telefeature Mabo, which also screened on the ABC as well as having a special screening at the Sydney Film Festival in 2012. Most recently Jimi has appeared in Black Comedy series 2, Ready for This, and Redfern Now.

Jimi received the 2013 Equity Ensemble Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Television or Miniseries (Mabo) and the 2012 Deadly Award for Actor of the Year (Mabo & The Straits); and the 2012 BOFA Award for Best Actor (Mabo & The Straits). Jimi also has 5 acting nominations to his name – a 2014 Helpmann Award Nominee for Best Male Actor (Shadow King); 2012 Silver Logie nomination for Most Outstanding Actor in a Television Drama (Mabo); a 2012 AACTA nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama (Mabo); a 2009 Helpmann Nomination for Best Supporting Actor (Yibiyung) and a 2008 WA Equity Foundation Nomination for Best Newcomer (Jandamarra).