Shakira Clanton
Shakira Clanton is a 2015 NIDA BFA Acting graduate of Australian Aboriginal and African American heritage from Perth, WA.
After completing her Year 12 education at Greenwood Senior High School (Perth, WA, Class of 2005), Shakira began her formal training with one year in the Aboriginal Theatre course at WAAPA. She then completed her Diploma at the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA) in Brisbane before being accepted into the prestigious NIDA Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) program in 2013, graduating in 2015.
Since graduating, Shakira has worked extensively across stage and screen. She has graced the stage in productions with esteemed companies including Sydney Theatre Company (STC), Black Swan State Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre Company (QTC), Belvoir St Theatre, and Ensemble Theatre.
Her screen credits include Wellmania (Netflix), Summer Love (ABC), Frayed (ABC), Eden (Stan), Preppers (ABC), and Doctor Doctor (Channel 9). She will also appear in the upcoming film Scoby (Contra Stories), starring alongside Jackie van Beek and Gary Sweet.
Returning to NIDA as a teacher, Shakira now tutors Diploma of Stage and Screen Performance students, sharing the acting techniques and professional insights she has developed throughout her career. She works closely with NIDA’s corporate team to support Indigenous youth through Career Trackers and is passionate about using actor training techniques to empower people from all cultural backgrounds and walks of life.
