She worked as an apprentice to Lars von Trier on the production of Dogville (2003). She considered this to be her "film school".
She was in talks to direct Wonder Woman (2017) before Patty Jenkins was hired.
She switched to directing after losing interest in acting.
Is a descendant of Australian silent film producers E.J. and Dan
Carroll. The Carroll brothers produced a number of feature films in the
1920s including 'On Our Selection' and 'The Blue Mountains Mystery'
with Raymond Longford and Lottie Lyell.
She graduated from Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art
(NIDA) with a degree in Performing Arts (Acting) in 1991.
She was in drama school a year ahead of Essie Davis, who she would later direct in The Babadook (2014).