Margo McLennan

Eileen Marguerite McNenemy (8 February 1938 – 28 July 2004) professionally known as Margo McLennan, she was also billed in her early acting career as Margo Mayne[1] and briefly as Margot McLennan and Marco McLennan, was a British-born actress , singer and dancer who was active in England and Australia, where she became best known to international audiences for her role in the Australian TV cult soap opera Prisoner, (known in United States and UK as Prisoner: Cell Block H and Caged Woman in Canada)

Margo McLennan
Born
Eileen Marguerite McMenemy

(1938-02-08)8 February 1938
Peckham, London, England, UK
Died28 July 2004(2004-07-28) (aged 66)
Colgate, Sussex, England, UK
Other namesMargo Mayne
Margo Lady McLennan
Margot McLennan
Marco McLennan
EducationItalia Conti Academy
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • dancer
Years active1953–2003
Spouse(s)
Tony Doonan
​
​
(m. 1962; div. 1969)​

Rod McLennan
​
(m. 1974)​
ChildrenNicola

Biography

Born in Peckham, South London, to a father who was a licensed virtualler and professional violinist and a mother who dabbled in real estate speculation, she originally trained to be an ice skater at the Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre, before deciding instead a career as an actress, having trained in the arts at the Italia Conti Academy. her career spanned some 50 years.

One of the most popular actresses of the 1960s she was a theatre, film and TV star, who appeared on magazine covers and in commercials, after being spotted as a dancer in cabaret, she appeared in such stage roles as The Merchant of Venice and Goodnight Mrs. Puffin, the latter which marked her debut in West End theatre

She was married to fellow actor Tony Doonan from 1962 until their divorce in 1969. They had one child, Nicola, from that union.[2] She changed her name to Margo Mayne.

In the 1960s and early 1970s she appeared in several British screen roles including Spaceflight IC-1 and Love Is a Splendid Illusion as well as numerous TV series including Night Train to Surbiton and Ransom For A Pretty Girl. She went on to play a succession of glamorous characters in shows such as The Gentle Killers, Motive for Murder and Man from Interpol.

Having moved to Australia, Margo joined the cult series Prisoner in 1979 as Catherine Roberts, in a controversial storyline where she is sent to prison for killing her daughter's rapist. During 1982 she returned to the show for a three episode guest role of Prison Officer Parsons.

After Prisoner she took guest roles in numerous TV series The Flying Doctors, A Country Practice, Blue Heelers and The Secret Life of Us.

In later life, under the name Margo Lady McLennen, she was an advocate for gay and lesbian marriage, and was a celebrant. Upon learning she had cancer, she returned to Britain with her second husband, Australian actor Rodney McLennan.[2]

McLennan's final acting role was in Prisoner Queen (2003), playing Mrs. Gelding. She died in West Sussex, Britain from metastasised cancer, aged 66.[2][1]

Filmography
Production Year Role Note
BBC Sunday Night Theatre1954Fairy StardustTV series
Motive for Murder1957Airport hostessTV series
The Adventures of Brigadier Wellington-Bull1959War office secretaryTV series
Man from Interpol1960TV series, 1 episode (billed as Margot Mayne)
Golden Girl1960JeanTV series
Danger Man1960LenaTV series
Dixon of Dock Green1961Paddy CooneyTV series
Theatre Night1961Jacqueline FordyceTV series
The Pursuers1961RitaTV series
No Hiding Place1963MarianTV series
Night Train to Surbiton1965PamelaTV miniseries
Spaceflight IC-1: An Adventure in Space 1965Joyce Walcott (billed as Margo Mayne)
Softly Softly1966MonaTV series
The Troubleshooters1966Air HostessTV series, billed as Margo Mayne
Ransom for a Pretty Girl1966PamelaTV miniseries, billed as Margo Mayne
River Rivals1967TV series, billed as Margo Mayne
Love Is a Splendid Illusion1970Mrs. Allanbilled as Margo Mayne
Bright's Boffins1971Pirates MateTV series, billed as Margo Mayne
Justice1971HildaTV series, billed as Margo Mayne
The Getting of Wisdom1977 ?
Bluey1977Bette TaylorTV series
Prisoner1979-1982Catherine Roberts / Prison officer ParsonsTV series, billed as Marco McLennen
All the Rivers Run1983Aunt MiriamTV miniseries
The Henderson Kids1985SecretaryTV series, billed as Margot McLennan
A Thousand Skies1985Society HostessTV miniseries
The More Things Change1986Barbara
The Flying Doctors1986Helen SpencerTV series
A Country Practice1992Mrs. BarkerTV series
Blue Heelers1994Jean RichardsTV series
The Secret Life of Us2001Stage ManagerTV series
Prisoner Queen2003Mrs. Gilding

References
  1. "Prisoner Cell Block H star dies". BBC. 2 August 2004. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  2. Thornton, Michael (4 August 2004). "Margo McLennan". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
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