Joanne Samuel is an Australian film and television actress, who is best known for her role as the screen wife ofMel Gibson's title character in the 1979 filmMad Max.

Joanne Samuel was born inCamperdown, Sydney, Australia. She studied dance with Honeybrooks and drama at theIndependent Theatre.^{[citation needed]}

Prior to her appearance inMad Max, Samuel had made guest appearances inpolice proceduralsMatlock Police andHomicide. She was then a regular cast member in television soap operasClass of '74,The Sullivans andThe Young Doctors. She leftThe Young Doctors after the producers wrote her out of the show when she was offered theMad Max role after a fellowYoung Doctors actress who had been due to take the role fell ill.^[1][2]

Samuel later returned to television in the regular role of Kelly Morgan-Young inSkyways.^{[citation needed]}

Samuel's other film appearances included roles inAlison's Birthday (1981),Early Frost (1982),Queen of the Road (1984),The Long Way Home (1985),Nightmaster (1987, oppositeNicole Kidman),Gallagher's Travels (1987), andSpook (1988). She later guest starred inHey Dad..! as Jeanette Taylor andAll Saints, and played Mrs. Bingle inThe Wiggles Movie (1997).^{[citation needed]}

Samuel is the vice chairman of BOOMPAA, Blue Mountains Performing Arts Association. She appeared as Doris Mercher in the 2017 family filmMy Pet Dinosaur, directed byMatt Drummond.^{[citation needed]}

• Joanne Samuel atIMDb