Australian Story returns tonight on ABC and ABC iview with a feature on Australian actor Yael Stone and her partner, Jack Manning Bancroft. Stone, best known for her breakout role in Orange Is the New Black, once had a promising Hollywood career, bolstered by her green card.
“It’s a passport to so much opportunity. She could have done anything at that point, for sure,” Orange co-star Uzo Aduba reflects.
However, Stone made headlines when she announced her decision to relinquish that green card, effectively turning her back on the entertainment capital.
“I thought, wow, that’s a very bold statement. Did she need to say it so publicly? Because maybe she’ll just want to go back on that,”
says friend and fellow actor Claudia Karvan.
While some viewed her actions as a potential setback, one person who stood by her unwaveringly was Jack Manning Bancroft, her childhood friend and now partner. The pair had first met at the age of five but reconnected 25 years later, forging not just a romantic relationship, but a shared sense of purpose.
“I’ve never felt like an idea was too big with Yael. And I never felt crazy, I think that’s probably the magic that unites us as a couple,”
says Manning Bancroft.
Manning Bancroft, founder and CEO of AIME, an Indigenous youth mentoring program, is no stranger to taking risks. His ambition to expand AIME globally led to him pushing himself to the point of exhaustion, even collapsing at one event.
“He collapsed at an event … and it was like, ‘Oh my God, is my son going to actually die here?’,”
recalls Bronwyn Bancroft, Jack’s mother and a well-known artist.
From Hollywood to Home
The couple, now parents to two young daughters, have both embraced a new path. Yael’s commitment to climate activism is deeply personal, fueled by the urgency she feels about the global climate crisis. She founded Hi Neighbour, a not-for-profit organization that provides opportunities for local communities, including steel and coal workers, to train in renewables.
“These people have the skills and the know-how to make this transition happen, so they’re actually the heroes of this moment. We should be empowering those people to make that change,” she says.
Jack, meanwhile, has expanded his vision for AIME, shifting from solely focusing on Indigenous solutions to tackling broader societal issues. He launched Imagi-NATION, a global social relational network that aims to create unlikely connections between people to find innovative solutions for the world's problems.
“Instead of trying to get 5,000 people to go to Mars, I want to be a part of the solutions here on Earth,” he says.
A Love Story Built on Shared Purpose
Their individual journeys, however, are intertwined with a shared sense of purpose and a deep understanding of each other’s motivations. “We came together around ideas. I’ve never felt like an idea was too big with Yael. That’s probably the magic that unites us as a couple,” Jack says.
Their shared desire to make a positive impact on the world, coupled with their ability to support each other’s choices, has strengthened their bond. They see their relationship as a partnership in life, where their individual strengths complement each other. “Jack and I are really different people and we have different ways of walking in the world but we are on this shared mission,” Yael says.
“It can be a bit lonely and you can feel like you don’t make a lot of sense but when you’ve got somebody else walking it with you, it’s incredibly powerful.”
A Shared Past, A Common Future
Their story is a testament to the power of connection, reminding us that the most rewarding relationships are often those forged in shared purpose and mutual support. They’ve proven that love can flourish in unconventional circumstances, and that a shared desire to make the world a better place can be a powerful force.
Their story is a powerful reminder that pursuing your passion, even if it means stepping away from the familiar, can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful life. Whether it’s climate activism, Indigenous mentoring, or simply being present for loved ones, the choices we make are a reflection of our values and the impact we wish to have on the world.
Beyond Hollywood & AIME
Despite the challenges of balancing their personal and professional lives, Yael and Jack have found a way to make it work. They're raising their two daughters, Pemau and Marli, in their Illawarra home, where they find solace in the simple pleasures of family life.
Their daughters may not understand their parents' complicated pasts, but they're the future that Yael and Jack are fighting for. In a world facing complex challenges, their story is a testament to the power of love, purpose, and the enduring strength of human connection.
The Two of Us: A Journey of Transformation
The story of Yael Stone and Jack Manning Bancroft is not just about two individuals pursuing their passions, but about two souls finding their way together through a shared journey of transformation. They've challenged societal expectations, defied conventional norms, and ultimately, chosen to build a life rooted in purpose, love, and a commitment to a better world. They're a testament to the power of human connection to create positive change and remind us that we can all make a difference in our own unique ways.
