An optical shutter apparatus has a shutter blade that is movable between a first position, blocking at least a portion of an aperture and a second position spaced apart from the first position. A rotary actuator has a stator and a magnetic rotor element that is coupled to the shutter blade. The rotary actuator is energizable for moving the shutter blade between the first and second positions, wherein the rotor element rotates about an axis that lies within the stator. At least one permanent magnet is coupled to the stator and provides a magnetic field that biases the stator to provide a continuous urging force on the magnetic rotor element.