Background
Furness was born in Sydney, Australia, and raised in Melbourne.
Furness was born in Sydney, Australia, and raised in Melbourne.
She studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, where she graduated in either 1981 or 1982.
She performed in the United States on the stage in New York and as Kathleen, the Australian wife of Cole Gioberti (Billy Moses) on the television series Falcon Crest before returning to Australia to continue her acting career. Other roles included an episode of Halifax f.p. and The Flying Doctors. An adoptive mother of two, Furness is known for her work assisting orphans globally and streamlining international adoptions, especially in her native Australia where she is a patron, and one of the creators, of National Adoption Awareness Week.
She has addressed the National Press Club of Australia on the subject of adoption laws in Australia.
Furness is a patron of the Lighthouse Foundation for displaced children and International Adoption Families for Queensland. She is also a World Vision ambassador and serves on the Advisory Committee for Aid International, working with refugees throughout the world.
In 2014, Deborra-Lee Furness was named as the New South Wales Australian of the Year for her work in adoption campaigning.