In 1965 Helpmann became co-director of the Australian Ballet, for whom he created several new ballets. He became sole director in 1975 but disagreements with the company's board led to his dismissal a year later. He directed for Australian Opera and acted in stage plays into the 1980s. Although primarily a stage artist, he appeared in fifteen films between 1942 ("One of Our Aircraft is Missing") and 1984 ("Second Time Lucky"), including "The Red Shoes", "The Tales of Hoffmann" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang".