Lorraine Bayly

Australian actress From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lorraine Bayly

Lorraine Daphne Bayly AM (born 16 January 1937) is an Australian retired actress of film, television and theatre, narrator, presenter, singer, dancer, pianist and theatre director, stage manager and writer.[1]

Quick Facts Born, Occupations ...
Lorraine Bayly
AM
Lorraine Bayly in 2012, at the premier of Annie (musical)
Born
Lorraine Daphne Bayly

(1937-01-16) 16 January 1937 (age 88)
Narrandera, New South Wales, Australia
Occupations
  • Film television and theatre actress
  • presenter
  • pianist
  • singer
  • dancer
  • theatre founder
  • director
  • stage manager
  • writer
Years active1954–2018[1]
Known for
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Bayly has been a performer since she was a child, and became a professional actress in 1954,[1] having started as a theatre performer. She is perhaps best known to small screen audiences for her soap opera roles, especially in the World War II period-piece drama The Sullivans as matriarch Grace Sullivan, as well as roles in legal drama Carson's Law as Jennifer Carson and briefly in serial Neighbours as Faye Hudson, the sister of patriarch Doug Willis played by Terence Donovan.[2]

She is well-known also for having been a presenter of children's television series Play School as an original presenter in 1966 until 1978.[3]

Early life

Bayly was born in Narrandera, New South Wales. Her first performance was at age 3, playing tambourine with the Salvation Army.[4][5] At ages 5–9, she wrote, directed and starred in plays in the local jail; her father being a policeman, amateur magician and ventriloquist.[6]

At age 9–10, she had her own ventriloquist act which 35 years later she performed on The Parkinson Show in 1983, using host Michael Parkinson as her dummy.[7]

At age 11–12, she played classical piano Saturday afternoons live on Radio 2UE.[6]

Career

Summarize
Perspective

Theatre

Bayly was a founder with Hayes Gordon of the Ensemble Theatre at Kirribilli. She has appeared in professional theatre since 1954, her roles including Chase Me Comrade with Stanley Baxter, playing Linda Loman in Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller's The Last Yankee, Sheila in John Misto's Shoehorn Sonata, Mrs Patrick Campbell in Dear Liar, Margaret in Rough Justice, D H Lawrence's The Daughter-in-Law, David Williamson's Travelling North and Birthrights, Bella in Gaslight and The Male of The Species with Edward Woodward. In 2010 Bayly starred in the well known play Calendar Girls and more recently in David Williamson's When Dad Married Fury and The Sound of Music[1]

Television

listed among Lorraine Bayly's many television credits: The miniseries 1915 (ABC), The Challenge playing Eileen Bond, in Grim Pickings (SAFC) as Betsy Tander and as Lindy Chamberlain's mother Avis Murchison in Through My Eyes: The Lindy Chamberlain Story. She was also a popular presenter and original cast member on the children's television show Play School from 1966 to 1978.

Bayly is perhaps best known to television audiences for her portrayal in the drama series The Sullivans (1976–1979), as the motherly Grace Sullivan dealing with life for an ordinary Australian family during the Second World War.

From 1982 to 1984, Bayly played the lead role of in another period television drama Carson's Law as progressive lawyer Jennifer Carson set in 1920s Melbourne. The episodes revolved around the cases taken on by Jennifer and the various personal intrigues of her family. The series also starred Kevin Miles as Jennifer's father-in-law Godfrey Carson and Gregg Caves, as Billy Carson. The series Carson's Law was written specifically for Bayly.

From 1991 to 1992, Bayly appeared in serial Neighbours as Faye Hudson. Faye was a "busybody" who moved in with her brother Doug Willis Terence Donovan and his extended family.[2]

Film

Lorraine Bayly's film roles include Fatty Finn (AFI nominated), Ride a Wild Pony for Disney and The Man From Snowy River alongside acting legend Kirk Douglas.

Retirement

In 2019 Bayly retired from acting due to numerous health problems.[8]

Honours, awards & nominations (selected)

More information Year, Association ...
Year Association Award Work Results
1978 Logie Awards Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress The Sullivans as Grace Sullivan Won
1979 Logie Awards Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress The Sullivans as Grace Sullivan Won
1981 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actress in a Lead Role Fatty Finn Nominated
1983 Logie Awards Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress Carson's Law as Jennifer Carson Won
2001 Australian Government Member of the Order of Australia Honoured
2006 Australian Variety Variety's 100 Entertainer of the Century Lifetime honour Honoured
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Bayly was made a Member of the Order of Australia by The Queen in the Australia Day Honours List 2001.

She has won 10 awards from 14 nominations including three Silver Logies in 1978, 1979 and 1983 for Most Popular Actress in The Sullivans and Carson's Law respectively. She was also named in "Australian Variety's 100 Entertainers of the Century" in 2006.

Filmography

Film

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Type
1965Birth of JesusRole unknownFilm short
1967Heaven Help UsRole unknownFilm short
1975Ride a Wild Pony (aka Born to Run) Mrs. EllisonFeature film
1980Fatty FinnMaggie McGrathFeature film
1982The Man From Snowy RiverRosemary HumeFeature film
2014Locks of LoveDorisFeature film
2015To My One and OnlyDorisFilm short
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Television

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Type
1965 Diary of a Plastic Surgeon Teleplay
1966 The Interpretaris Verna Balovna TV series, 6 episodes
1966–76 Play School Presenter TV series, 147 episodes
1967 Owly's School Presenter TV series
1967–71 Homicide Moira Simmons / Jennifer Tracy / Margaret Stevens / Audrey Shepherd TV series, 4 episodes
1967; 1968 Hunter Karen Savage / Sharon Reid / Diana Mannering TV series, 3 episodes
1967 Divorce Court TV series, 1 episode
1969 Division 4 Jenny Noble / Linda Szabo TV series, 2 episodes
1969 The Rovers Virginia Shaw TV series, 1 episode
1970 The Link Men TV series, 1 episode
1971 Spyforce Julia Carpenter TV series, 1 episode: "The Bridge"
1974 Silent Number Jackson TV series, 1 episode
1976–79; 1980 The Sullivans Grace Sullivan TV series, 594 episodes
1978 Case for the Defence Sister Barrett TV series, 1 episode
1979 The Wonderful World of Disney James' wife TV series, 2 episodes
1982 1915 Helen Gilchrist TV miniseries, 4 episodes
1982 Smithy's Friends TV pilot
1983–84 Carson's Law Jennifer Carson TV series, 184 episodes
1986 The Challenge Eileen Bond TV miniseries, 6 episodes
1988 The Pandas Narrator Film documentary
1988; 1990 Rafferty's Rules Gwen Forster / Audrey Shepherd TV series, 2 episodes
1989 A Country Practice Jean Richmond TV series, 2 episodes
1989 Grim Pickings Betsy Tender TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1989 Home Brew Edna Eustace TV film
1991–92 Neighbours Faye Hudson TV series, 48 episodes
1992 The Adventures of Snugglepot, Cuddlepie and Ragged Blossom Narrator TV special
1995 Toddlers and their Thinking Narrator Film documentary
1995 G.P. Pat Stoppard TV series, 1 episode
2001 Pizza The Fairy TV series, 1 episode
2004 Through My Eyes: The Lindy Chamberlain Story Avis TV miniseries, 2 episodes
2014 When the Queen Came to Town Narrator TV documentary special
2015 The Jewel of the Mountains Narrator TV documentary
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Television (as self)

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Type
1966 Be Our Guest Host TV series
1979; 1997 This Is Your Life: Lorraine Bayly Special guest TV series, 2 episodes
1979 Sammy Awards Host TV special
1989 Accentuate the Positive Herself Film documentary
1990 Burke's Backyard Celebrity gardener TV series, 1 episode
1990 Working Actor Series Herself Film documentary
1992 Review Guest presenter TV series, 1 episode
1994 Homicide... 30 Years On Herself TV special
1995 Sale of the Century: Battle of the TV Classics Contestant (with The Sullivans cast Paul Cronin, Andrew McFarlane & Susan Hannaford) TV series, 1 episode
1995 The Crawford Story Herself TV special
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Stage

Summarize
Perspective

Source[1]

More information Year, Production ...
Year Production Role Venue / Company
1954The Desert SongRockdale Town Hall
1958Variations on Similar ThemesCammeray Children's Library, Theatre Institute, Sydney
1958–60The ManRuthTheatre Institute, Sydney, Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1959The DrunkardThe ChildEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
1960The Lonely HeartsEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
1961The Buffalo SkinnerThe MotherEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
1962Fairytales of New YorkAll female rolesEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
1963The Season at SarsaparillaJudy PogsonTheatre Royal, Sydney with J. C. Williamson's / Elizabethan Theatre Trust
1964Mary, MaryTiffany RichardsComedy Theatre, Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's
1965The RehearsalEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
1965Chase Me ComradeNancy RimmingtonTheatre Royal, Sydney with J. C. Williamson's
1967Invitation to a MarchEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
1968The Rimers of EldritchEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
1969The Daughter-in-LawEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
1969Come Laughing HomeEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
1970We Bombed in New HavenEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
1970Three Months GoneAnnaEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
1971Who Killed Santa Claus?J. C. Williamson's
1973Suddenly at HomeSheila WallisComedy Theatre Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's
1973Queen of the RebelsMarian Street Theatre
1974Who's WhoEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
1975The Male of the SpeciesJ. C. Williamson's
1976Status Quo VadisEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
1980–81The Best Little Whorehouse in TexasMona StangleyHer Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne with Cooke Hayden Price
1982The Man From Snowy RiverRosemary Hume
The Last Yankee
1991GaslightBella
1992Dear LiarMrs Patrick Campbell
1996Rough JusticeProsecutor Margaret CaselyEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
1997Death of a SalesmanLinda LomanSydney Opera House
1999The Shoe-Horn SonataSheila
2000Travelling NorthEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
2003BirthrightsMargaretMelbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Opera House, Ensemble Theatre, Sydney,
2007Rabbit HoleNatEnsemble Theatre, Sydney, Playhouse, Canberra
2010Calendar GirlsJessieLyric Theatre, Brisbane Ensemble Theatre, Sydney, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
2012When Dad Married FuryJudyEnsemble Theatre, Sydney, Theatre Royal, Sydney
2015The Shoe-Horn SonataSheilaEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
2015–16The Sound of MusicFrau SchmidtRegent Theatre, Melbourne, Crown Theatre, Perth, Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Festival Theatre, Adelaide
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References

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