Arianthe Galani

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Arianthe Galani
Born (1940-04-09) 9 April 1940 (age 84)
New Zealand
Occupation(s)Actress, TV commercial presenter
Years active1960s–present
Known for Prisoner , Number 96

Arianthe Galani (born 9 April 1940), [1] is an Australian character actress born in New Zealand [2] of Greek descent. She is known for her roles in TV soap operas and serials, TV commercials, as well as films. Galani is primarily known for guest roles and cameos, in particular most commonly playing fiery Italian or Greek mothers. [2]

Contents

Career

Galani worked in opera and sang professionally before she became known as an actor. She worked as a singer in England for four years in the 1960s then joined the Australian Opera for five years between 1967 and 1972. [3]

Galani played a regular role in soap opera, Number 96 as Maria Panucci, the aunt of Harry Michaels' character Giovanni from late 1976 until the end of the series in August 1977, and then took a regular role in Australian Broadcasting Corporation situation comedy series Home Sweet Home (1980). Both roles were as fiery Italians.

Between these roles she made appearances in the first season of cult TV series Prisoner as Mrs. Bentley, a woman who had buried a baby alive, a crime later blamed on Lynn Warner (Kerry Armstrong, whom was wrongly incarcerated and continued to protest her innocence. Though her appearances were brief, the character played a crucial role in one of the show's original storylines, and with the program's international success is probably Galani's most widely seen portrayal.

Other television credits include: Matlock Police , Homicide , The Young Doctors , A Country Practice , The Flying Doctors , Home and Away , Police Rescue , Murder Call , Something in the Air , All Saints and Blue Heelers .

TV adverts

Galani also features in a series of television adverts for Jalna Greek Yoghurt and Mortein.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984 Melvin: Son of Alvin Mrs. GiannisFeature film
1985 A Street to Die Dr. WalseaFeature film
1987 Dear Cardholder AntoinetteFeature film
1992 Resistance MotherFeature film
1993 Love in Limbo (aka Touch Me, Kiss Me, Love Me)Mrs. CostanidesFeature film
1995 Billy's Holiday AnnaMusical feature film
1998The Picture WomanWoman (voice)Short film
1999ThreadedDonnaShort film
2000 Dogwoman: A Grrrl's Best Friend Mrs. JayasingeTV movie
2001Like Mother Like Son: The Strange Story of Sante and Kenny KimesBeatriceTV movie
2001Bowl Me OverFloraShort film
2008BellaBella's MomShort film (2 parts)

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1974 Matlock Police AngelaTV series (episode: Dennis)
1976 Homicide Angela FarellaTV series (episode: Wrong End of the Gun)
1976-77 Number 96 Maria PanucciTV series
1977 Pig in a Poke TV series (episode: Theo's Story)
1979 Prisoner Mrs. BentleyTV series
1980 The Young Doctors Mother SuperiorTV series
1980-82Home Sweet HomeMaria PacelliTV series (26 episodes)
1982 A Country Practice Rhonda ShawTV series (episode: A Sign of Affection Part 1 and Part 2)
1986 The Great Bookie Robbery Mrs. DavisTV miniseries
1988 Melba MelikaTV miniseries
1988 The Flying Doctors Connie PorterTV series
1988 A Dangerous Life Josephine ReyesTV miniseries
1990 Come In Spinner TV miniseries
Home and Away Gina LuciniTV series (6 episodes)
1991 G.P. Raffaella GrazianoTV series (4 episodes)
1991 A Country Practice Bunica EnescuTV series (episode: A Brief Encounter Part 1 and Part 2)
1991 E Street MaggieTV series (1 episode)
1992 Six Pack LuullaTV series
1995 Heartbreak High YayaTV series
1991-95 Police Rescue Sophia AnelopoulosTV series
1999-2000 All Saints Gilda PolettiTV series
2000 Murder Call Antoinette de BonoTV series
2000 Something in the Air Nanny SofiaTV series
1994-2002 Blue Heelers Helena HashamTV series (6 episodes)
2002The Angel FilesAlexandra LuciniTV series
2003 Marking Time Mrs. SpiroTV miniseries
2007 Satisfaction Mrs. GTV series (2 episodes)
2010 Dance Academy JuliannaTV series
2015 The Principal Mrs. BashirTV miniseries
2017 Pulse Arianna KoutoufidesTV series
2019 Secret City Chrissy RopolousTV series
2019 Lambs of God AbessTV series (4 episodes)
2021 Amazing Grace Yia YiaTV series

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References

  1. "Natalie Hall Management - Arianthe Galani". Archived from the original on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 Giles, Nigel "NUMBER 96", published by Melbourne Books ISBN   978-1-925556-00-1
  3. Richard Coleman 'From sausage rolls to queenly role' Sydney Morning Herald 19 June 1980 p. 8