Career
McGrath began her professional acting career in theatre restaurants in Brisbane. [1] She also had an early film role in 1969 film Age of Consent , playing the role of Grace. [2]
In her twenties, McGrath relocated to London, where she worked in production for BBC radio's international news services [1] and studied mine, dance and drama. [3] After three years, she returned to Brisbane, rejoining Twelfth Night Theatre for 12 months. [3] She then moved to Melbourne where she appeared extensively in theatre, including productions for Melbourne Theatre Company and Playbox Theatre Company. [1] and appeared in Skyways and Young Ramsay . [3]
McGrath was known for playing characters with a dry, often sarcastic wit. [4] She was best known to international audiences for her role in the cult Network Ten soap opera Prisoner as fair-minded but sarcastic Deputy Governor Colleen 'Poface' Powell. [5] Initially a minor character, appearing in 12 episodes in the first two series (1979–1980), she became a permanent cast member in 1981 and went on to appear in a total of 263 episodes. She chose to leave the series, her farewell episode airing in May 1984, during the show's sixth season. [6]
After leaving Prisoner, McGrath appeared in guest roles in Special Squad , Neighbours (1985) and The Flying Doctors (1986; 1988) and 1986 miniseries Sword of Honour . [7] In 1989, she appeared in the first series of the children's comedy series Round The Twist in 1989, playing Matron Cecilia Gribble (the wife of Frankie J. Holden’s character). [1]
McGrath went on to become a regular cast member on A Country Practice , playing hippie Bernice Hudson from 1992 until 1993. Not long afterwards, the series was axed by the Seven Network, and McGrath returned for the final episode. [7]
After a role in ABC drama Police Rescue , [7] McGrath joined the cast of medical drama series All Saints on its debut in 1998, where she became known for playing the long-running role of nurse Yvonne 'Von' Ryan, opposite co-star Georgie Parker. She was the only original cast member to stay with the series until its conclusion in late 2009. [8] The role saw her nominated for a Logie Award. [9]
McGrath also starred in anthology series Naked: Stories of Men in 1996. Her final television role was as a counsellor in the series Winners & Losers . [7]
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