Lorraine Bayly
Lorraine Daphne Bayly AM (born 16 January 1937) is an Australian actress of film, television and theatre, presenter, singer, dancer, pianist and theatre director, stage manager and writer[1]
Lorraine Bayly AM | |
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![]() Lorraine Bayly in 2012, at the premier of Annie (musical) | |
Born | Lorraine Daphne Bayly 16 January 1937 Narrandera, New South Wales, Australia |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1940–2018[1] |
Known for |
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She is perhaps best known to small screen audiences for her soap opera roles, including numerous Crawford Productions series, but. 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 and serial Neighbours as Faye Hudson the sister of patriarch Doug Willis played by Terence Donovan.[2]
Early life
Bayly was born in Narrandera, New South Wales. Her first performance was at age 3, playing tambourine with the Salvation Army. At ages 5–9, she wrote, directed and starred in plays in the local jail; her father being a policeman, amateur magician and ventriloquist.
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.
Classical piano
At age 11–12, she played classical piano Saturday afternoons live on Radio 2UE.
Actress
Theatre
Bayly was a founder 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 (actor)|Terence Donovan) and his 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.
Honours and awards (selected)
Association | Award | Year | Work | Results |
Australian Government | Member of the Order of Australia | 2001 | Honoured | |
Australian Variety | Variety's 100 Entertainer of the Century | 2006 | Lifetime honour | Honoured |
Logie Awards | Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress | 1978 | The Sullivans as Grace Sullivan | Won |
Logie Awards | Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress | 1979 | The Sullivans as Grace Sullivan | Won |
Logie Awards | Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress | 1983 | Carson's Law as Jennifer Carson | Won |
She was made a Member of the Order of Australia by The Queen in the Australia Day Honours List 2001.
Bayly 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.
Personal life
Bayly is a staunch advocate for organ donation and a supporter of the Australian Kidney Foundation. She is also a life member of the RSPCA. As of 2019 Lorraine Bayly announced she was to retire from the world of acting and performing in an over 50-year career in film, stage and theatre and will be missed by audiences around the country.
Filmography
FILM
Production | Year | Role | Type |
---|---|---|---|
Birth of Jesus | 1965 | unknown role | Film short |
Heaven Help Us | 1967 | unknown role | Film short |
Ride A Wild Pony | 1975 | Mrs. Ellison | Feature film |
Fatty Finn | 1980 | Maggie McGrath | Feature film |
The Man From Snowy River | 1982 | Rosemary Hume | Feature film |
Locks of Love | 2014 | Doris | Feature film |
To My One And Only | 2015 | Doris | Film short |
TELEVISION
Production | Year | Role | Type |
---|---|---|---|
Diary of a Plastic Surgeon | 1965 | unknown role | ABC Teleplay |
Be Our Guest | 1966 | Lorraine | ABC TV series |
The Interpretaris | 1966 | Vera Balovna | TV series, 6 episodes |
Play School | 1966-1976 | Presenter | ABC TV series |
Owly's School | 1967 | Herself | TV series |
Hunter (1967) | 1967;1968 | Karen Savage/Sharon Reid/Diana Mannering | TV series, 2 episodes |
Divorce Court | 1967 | unknown role | TV series, 1 episode |
Marriage Confidential | 1968 | Herself | TV series |
Division 4 | 1969 | Jenny Noble/Linda Szabo | TV series, 2 episodes |
The Rovers | 1970 | Virginia Shaw | TV series, 1 episode |
The Link Men | 1970 | unknown role | TV series, 1 episode |
Homicide | 1967-1971 | Moira Simmons/Jennifer Tracy/Margaret Stevens/Audrey Shepherd | TV series, 4 episodes |
Spyforce | 1971 | Julia Carpenter | TV series, 1 episode |
Silent Number | 1974 | Jackson | TV series, 1 episode |
The Sullivans | 1976-1979 | Grace Sullivan | TV series, 594 episodes, Lead role |
Sammy Awards | 1977;1979 | Herself | TV special |
The 20th Annual TV Week Logie Awards | 1978 | Herself - Silver Logie winner | TV special |
Case for the Defence | 1978 | Sister Barrett | TV series, 1 episode |
The 21st Annual TV Week Logie Awards | 1979 | Herself - Silver Logie winner | TV special |
Sammy Awards | 1979 | Herself - Compere | TV special |
This Is Your Life? Lorraine Bayly | 1979 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Cappriccio | 1980 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
What'll They Think Of Next? | 1980 | Herself | TV series |
Parkinson In Australia | 1982 | Herself | ABC TV series, 2 episodes |
1915 | 1982 | Helen Gilchrist | ABC TV miniseries, 4 episodes |
Smithy's Friends | 1982 | unknown role | TV pilot |
Carson's Law | 1983-1984 | Jennifer Carson | TV series, 184 episodes, Lead role |
ABC News | 1983 | Herself | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
Parkinson In Australia | 1983 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
The Challenge | 1986 | Eileen Bond | TV miniseries, 6 episodes |
The Pandas | 1988 | Narrator | Film documentary |
Rafferty's Rules | 1988;1990 | Gwen Forster/Audrey Shepherd | TV series, 2 episodes |
Life Education Television Appeal | 1988 | Herself | TV special |
Accentuate The Positive | 1989 | Herself | Film documentary |
The Bert Newton Show | 1989 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Grim Pickings | 1989 | Betsy Tender | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
Home Brew | 1989 | Edna Eustace | TV movie |
A Country Practice | 1989 | Jean Richmond | TV series, 2 episodes |
The Great TV Game Show | 1989 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Burke's Backyard | 1990 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Working Actor Series | 1990 | Herself | Film documentary |
Play School's 25th Anniversary | 1991 | Herself | ABC TV special |
The Midday Show | 1991;1994 | Herself | TV series, 2 episodes |
Tonight Live With Steve Vizard | 1991 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Neighbours | 1991-1992 | Faye Hudson | TV series, 48 episodes, Regular role |
New Faces | 1992 | Herself - Judge | TV series, 1 episode |
The Adventures Of Snugglepot, Cuddlepie And Ragged Blossom | 1992 | Narrator | TV special |
The Morning Show | 1992 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
In Sydney Today | 1992 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
What's Cooking | 1992 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Review | 1992 | Herself - Guest Presenter | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
Real Life | 1993 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Midday With Derryn Hinch | 1994 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Ernie And Denise | 1994 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
At Home | 1994;1995 | Herself | TV series, 2 episodes |
Homicide... 30 Years On | 1994 | Herself | TV special |
Good Morning Australia | 1995-2005 | Herself | TV series |
Toddlers And Their Thinking | 1995 | Narrator | Film documentary |
Ten News | 1995 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Sale Of The Century: Battle Of The TV Classics | 1995 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
The Crawford Story | 1995 | Herself | TV special |
G.P. | 1995 | Pat Stoppard | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
Play School 30th Anniversary | 1996 | Herself | ABC TV special |
Monday To Friday | 1996;1997 | Herself | TV series, 2 episodes |
40 Years Of TV Stars... Then And Now | 1996 | Herself | TV special |
The Seven-Thirty Report | 1997 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
This Is Your Life? | 1997 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Today | 1998 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Pizza | 2001 | The Fairy | SBS TV series, 1 episode |
People Dimensions | 2001 | Herself | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
Through My Eyes: The Lindy Chamberlain Story | 2004 | Avis | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
20 To 1 | 2006-2010 | Herself | TV series, 6 episodes |
50 Years, 50 Stars | 2006 | Herself | TV special |
Today Tonight | 2010 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
A Current Affair | 2011 | Herself | TV series, 2 episodes |
Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation | 2011 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
The Morning Show | 2012 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
When The Queen Came To Town | 2014 | Herself - Story Teller | TV documentary |
Today Extra | 2016 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
The Daily Edition | 2014;2015 | Herself | TV series, 2 episodes |
Mornings | 2015 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
The Jewel Of The Mountains | 2015 | Narrator | TV movie |
Today Extra | 2016 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Big Ted's Excellent Adventure: 50 Years Of Play School | 2016 | Herself | ABC TV special |
Today Extra | 2017 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Sunday Night | 2018 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Studio 10 | 2018 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Selected theatre
source = AusStage
Production |
Chase Me Comrad |
Death of a Salesman |
The Last Yankee |
Shoehorn Sonata |
Dear Liar |
Rough Justice |
The Daughter-in-Law |
Travelling North |
Birthrights |
Gaslights |
The Male of the Species |
Calendor Girls |
When Dad Marries Fury |
The Sound of Music |
References
- "Lorraine Bayly". AusStage.
- Dempsey, Shelley (20 June 1992). "Airwaves". The Sun-Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 26 February 2012.