Biography

Maia Abbas is an Iraqi-born Australian actor and filmmaker whose work spans film, television, and theatre across multiple continents. A breakthrough came with her lead role as Batul Al Hamedi in the Matchbox Pictures/ABC production House of Gods - a confident, assertive daughter at the center of an ambitious Iraqi-Australian family navigating power, faith, and secrets. The series was selected for the Main Competition at the prestigious Series Mania festival in France, in which Maia was nominated for Best Actress alongside Academy Award nominee Annette Bening, competing against an international line-up of series from across the globe. In 2024, Maia made her Melbourne Theatre Company debut in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play English by Sanaz Toossi - portraying Elham, a character whose transformation from angry young student to level-headed woman drew critical praise. The production received nominations for Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Production at the Green Room Awards. Her additional screen credits include the acclaimed ABC series Savage River (2022), the Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar (2025), the NBC mini-series Fires (2021), and Channel Seven’s Secret Bridesmaids’ Business (2019). Beyond performing, Maia is the co-founder of Exodus Films, bringing a multifaceted creative perspective to her work as a producer and director. A multilingual artist fluent in Arabic and French, she continues to champion authentic and diverse storytelling on screen.
- IMDb mini biography by: Maia Abbas