Colette Mann

Mann, born in Melbourne and trained at a local Melbourne dancing school as a child until about 19 or 20, and then went to a professional dance school and trained under Betty Pounder, a choreographer for J.C. Williamson Theatre ltd. and obtained an arts degree in Law at University and taught at a secondary school[4]

In her first high-profile role, Mann appeared in the Network Ten soap opera, Prisoner s Doreen Burns, for which she was an original cast member during the first four seasons (1979–1982). Mann resigned from the role in March 1982[5] to pursue other projects and her final episode (episode 304) was broadcast in August 1982. She did however make guest appearances in 1983 and 1984.

She has appeared in The Flying Doctors, MDA and Blue Heelers. In 1988, Mann portrayed the role of "Edith Fraser" in the American television movie Outback Bound, which also starred American actors Donna Mills and John Schneider. From late 1995, Mann briefly took over the role of Cheryl Stark in the soap opera Neighbours for eight weeks when Caroline Gillmer was taken ill.[3] From February 2012, Mann joined the cast of Neighbours again as regular character Sheila Canning.[3]

Mann has also appeared as a presenter on the TV shows The Don Lane Show, Hey Hey It's Saturday, What's Cooking, Good Morning Australia and The Circle. She has been a fill-in presenter for Glenn Ridge on talk back radio MTR 1377. She has also appeared on Jeremy Vine Channel 5 in July 2019.

Mann was part of a three-woman troupe in the 1980s called The Mini Busettes with fellow Prisoner actresses Jane Clifton and Betty Bobbitt. They performed for three seasons at Melbourne's Le Joke comedy venue and at many Sydney league clubs.[6]

Mann played the role of Buttercup in Opera Australia's production of HMS Pinafore by Gilbert and Sullivan in 2005. Mann also appeared on stage as Shirley, the battleaxe owner of Broken Hill pub, in Priscilla Queen of the Desert - the Musical in 2010.[7]