Danielle Baynes is an award-winning actor, writer and director based in Australia. Renowned for cause-driven narratives, Danielle's strength lies in crafting stories that blend powerful performances with striking visuals. Danielle’s work often explores connection, coming-of-age and identity.
Danielle was nominated for an Australian Writers’ Guild Award and Australian Directors' Guild Award for her debut short film, COLD HEARTS. Co-written and co-directed with Yolanda Ramke (CARGO), Cold Hearts won Best Narrative Short and Exceptional Emerging Artist awards at the Hollywood Film Festival. Her second short film, COMMENTS, won the Audience Award at Freshflix Film Festival 2022 and was launched as a social impact campaign in support of the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence and is used in schools globally as an education tool on cyberbullying.
Her recent work includes THE DOG, starring Kate Walsh (GREY’S ANATOMY, EMILY IN PARIS), which premiered at Geena Davis' Bentonville Film Festival and opened the Flickerfest International Film Festival in 2025. It also screened in competition at Academy Award qualifying Hollyshorts, Odense International Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival and DC Shorts. Danielle’s latest short documentary, HOUSE DIVIDED, will premiere at Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF 2025), for the MIFF, AFL and VicScreen Footy Shorts Program. Danielle is currently in development on her feature directorial debut, PHOENIX.