Judith McGrath

Last updated

Judith McGrath
Judithmcgrath.jpeg
Judith McGrath as Colleen Powell in Prisoner
Born(1947-04-21)21 April 1947
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Died20 October 2017(2017-10-20) (aged 70)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Other namesJudy McGrath
OccupationActress
Years active1967–2012
Notable work

Judith McGrath (21 April 1947 – 20 October 2017) was an Australian actress. She was known for her roles as Colleen Powell in Prisoner , Matron Gribble in Round the Twist , Bernice Hudson in A Country Practice , and Yvonne 'Von' Ryan in All Saints .

Contents

Biography

McGrath was known for her television roles, including soap operas Prisoner (1979–84), as Deputy Governor/Officer Colleen "Poface" Powell, A Country Practice (1992–93) as hippy Bernice Hudson and for her Logie Award-nominated role in the medical drama All Saints as Nurse Yvonne "Von" Ryan (1998–2009) and her comedy roles in children's series Round the Twist as Matron Cecilia Gribble.

McGrath was known for playing characters with a dry, often sarcastic wit. [1]

Early life

Born in Brisbane, McGrath began her career at the Brisbane Arts Theatre, and was a member of Twelfth Night Theatre under artistic director Joan Whalley. She also played Grace in the 1969 film Age of Consent .

Career

McGrath is probably best known to international audiences for her role in the cult Network Ten series Prisoner as fair-minded but sarcastic Deputy Governor Colleen" Poface" Powell. [2] Initially a minor character, appearing in 12 episodes in the first two series (1979–80), 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, taping her final scenes in December 1983. Her farewell episode aired in May 1984 during the show's sixth season. [3]

After leaving Prisoner, McGrath appeared in guest roles in Neighbours in 1985 and The Flying Doctors in 1986 and 1988, before appearing in the first series of the children's television show Round The Twist in 1989, playing Matron Gribble. [4] She went on to be a regular cast member on A Country Practice as Bernice Hudson from 1992 until 1993.

McGrath played the long-running role of Yvonne "Von"' Ryan in television medical drama series All Saints on Network Seven from its debut in 1998, opposite co-star Georgie Parker. She was the only original cast member to stay with the series until it concluded in late 2009. [5]

Death

McGrath died at a hospice in Brisbane at the age of 70 from lung cancer on 20 October 2017. [6] [7]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleType
1969 Age of Consent Brisbane Girl - Grace (as Judy McGrath)Feature film
1986 Backstage Hotel ReceptionistFeature film
2005FinkCentrelink WomanFeature film
2010Scone WarsMavis HepsteadFilm short

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1977 Bluey Mrs. ThompsonSeason 1, episode 22 (guest)
1977, 1980 Young Ramsay Rosemary BillingsSeason 1, episode 8 / Season 2, episode 5 (guest)
1978–80 Cop Shop Mrs. BondSeason 1, episode 23 (guest)
Leila FoleySeason 2, episode 22 (guest)
Jane HardySeason 2–3 (recurring, 4 episodes)
Eve FlemingSeason 3, episodes 59 & 60 (guest)
1978 The Sullivans Miss HarveyUnknown season (recurring, 4 episodes)
1979 Skyways Mrs. MasonUnknown season (guest, 2 episodes)
Dr. MendelshonUnknown season (guest, 2 episodes)
Zoe LawrenceUnknown season (guest, 1 episode)
1979–84 Prisoner Colleen PowellSeasons 1–3 (recurring, 31 episodes)
Seasons 3–6 (main role, 232 episodes) [a]
1984 Special Squad June HolgateSeason 1, episode 26 (guest)
1985 Neighbours Margaret HaywoodSeason 1, episodes 67 & 68 (guest)
1986, 1988 The Flying Doctors Cynthia Cumberland-BrownSeason 1, episode 18 (guest)
Caroline LongleySeason 3, episode 22 (guest)
1986 Sword of Honour DieticianMiniseries (episode 4)
1987 Willing and Abel (unknown role)Season 1 (unknown episodes)
1987 Camera Script episode "Second Star On The Right"
1989 Round the Twist Matron GribbleSeason 1 (main role, 9 episodes)
1992–93 A Country Practice Bernice HudsonSeasons 12–13 (main role, 149 episodes)
1995 Police Rescue HazelSeason 4, episode 3 (guest)
1996 Naked: Stories of Men MargaretSeason 1, episode 3 (main role)
1998–2009 All Saints Yvonne 'Von' RyanSeasons 1–12 (main role, 493 episodes)
2011–12 Winners & Losers Maria CrawleySeasons 1–2 (recurring, 3 episodes)

Other appearances

YearTitleRoleNotes
1982 Telethon 1982 Herself – GuestTV special
1992 The Main Event HerselfTV series (1 episode)
1994Day to DayHerself – GuestTV series (1 episode)
2001–02 The Weakest Link HerselfTV series (2 episodes)
2007 Channel 7 Telethon HerselfTV special
2011 Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation HerselfTV series (1 episode)

Notes

  1. Played a recurring role in Prisoner from Season 1, episode 48, until Season 3, episode 59. From Season 3, episode 60, she was upgraded to a main character.

Related Research Articles

<i>Round the Twist</i> Australian childrens comedy television series

Round the Twist is an Australian children's comedy drama television series which follows the supernatural adventures of the Twist family, who leave their conventional residence to live in a lighthouse, in the fictional coastal town of Port Niranda.

<i>All Saints</i> (TV series) Australian television medical drama

All Saints is an Australian medical drama television series that first screened on the Seven Network on 24 February 1998. Set in the fictional All Saints Western General Hospital, it focused on the staff of Ward 17 until its closure in 2004, which is when the focus changed and began following the staff of the Emergency Department. The show was produced by John Holmes alongside Jo Porter, MaryAnne Carroll and Di Drew. The final episode aired on 27 October 2009, completing its record-breaking 12-year run.

<i>McLeods Daughters</i> 2001-2009 Popular Australian TV dramatic series

McLeod's Daughters is an Australian drama television series created by Posie Graeme-Evans and Caroline Stanton for the Nine Network, which aired from 8 August 2001, to 31 January 2009, lasting eight seasons. It stars Lisa Chappell and Bridie Carter in the leading roles as two sisters reunited after twenty years of separation, thrust into a working relationship when they inherit their family's cattle station in South Australia. The series is produced by Millennium Television, in association with Nine Films and Television and Southern Star. Graeme-Evans, Kris Noble and Susan Bower served as the original executive producers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tammin Sursok</span> Australian and American actress, model and singer (born 1983)

Tammin Sursok is an Australian and American actress. She is best known for her roles on television as Dani Sutherland on Home and Away, Colleen Carlton on The Young and the Restless, and Jenna Marshall on Pretty Little Liars.

<i>A Country Practice</i> Australian television series

A Country Practice is an Australian television soap opera/serial which was broadcast on the Seven Network from 18 November 1981 until 22 November 1993, and subsequently on Network Ten from 13 April 1994 to 5 November 1994. Altogether, 14 seasons and 1,088 episodes were produced.

Valerie Kathleen Lehman is an Australian actress and director, best known locally and internationally for her role as the antagonist "Top Dog" and self-styled Queen Bea Smith in the Australian TV series Prisoner for the first five series from 1979 until 1983 for 356 episodes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leeanna Walsman</span> Australian actress

Leeanna Walsman is an Australian actress. She is best known for her role as Zam Wesell in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), and for her roles in the 2000 film Looking for Alibrandi and the television series Wentworth. She was nominated for both AACTA and Logie awards for her role in Emmy Award-winning series Safe Harbour.

Belinda Jane Emmett was an Australian actress and singer. She was best known for her roles in the TV drama series Home and Away and All Saints as well as the sitcom Hey Dad..!. She was married to Australian television host, comedian and media personality Rove McManus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rowena Wallace</span> English-born Australian actress

Rowena Wallace is an English-born Australian stage and screen actress, most especially in the genre of television soap opera. She is best known for her Gold Logie-winning role as conniving Patricia "Pat the Rat" Hamilton/Morrell/Palmer in Sons and Daughters, being the first soap star to win the Gold Logie. After leaving the series and being replaced in the role by Belinda Giblin, Wallace returned in the final season as Patricia's sister Pamela Hudson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Muggleton</span> English Australian theatre, television and film actress

Amanda Lillian Muggleton is an English Australian theatre, television and film actress. She is best known for her supporting television soap opera role in Prisoner as Chrissie Latham, with appearance between 1979 and 1983.

Carol Ann Burns was an Australian actress, theatre director and patron of the arts, with a career spanning 50 years. She worked extensively in theatre and television serials, as well as telemovies and mini-series in Australia and the United Kingdom. In Australia she was a founding member of the Queensland Theatre Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bunney Brooke</span>

Bunney Brooke, born as Dorothy Cronin, was an Australian actress, creator, producer, director, designer, playwright and casting agent, best known for her being one of the early faces of Australian television. Known for her television, movie, theatre acting and comedy roles including the long-running role of Flo Patterson in the soap opera and movie release version of Number 96 in the 1970s, and in her later years to a new generation of viewers in her role as Helen "Nell" Rickards in children's series Round the Twist and her role as Violet "Vi" Patchett in E Street (1990).

Kym Wilson is an Australian actress and former television host.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Johnson (actor)</span> Australian actor (b.1979)

Ryan Johnson is an Australian actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Marais</span> South African-born Australian actress (born 1985)

Jessica Dominique Marais is a South African-born Australian former actress. She is best known for her roles in Australian television. Her accolades include 5 Logie Awards and 9 nominations, as well as 2 Equity Ensemble Awards nominations.

Bethany Lee is an Australian former film, television and theatre actress. She guest starred on numerous television series during the 1970s, including recurring roles on The Long Arm, Number 96 and Skyways, but is best known for her role as Andrea Hennessy in the cult soap opera Prisoner.

<i>Doctor Doctor</i> (Australian TV series) Australian television drama series

Doctor Doctor is an Australian television drama created by Tony McNamara, Ian Collie and Alan Harris, which premiered on the Nine Network on 14 September 2016, lasting five seasons, concluding on 23 June 2021. The cast includes Rodger Corser, Nicole da Silva, Ryan Johnson, Tina Bursill, Hayley McElhinney and Steve Bisley, and follows the story of Hugh Knight, a rising heart surgeon who is gifted, charming and infallible. He is a hedonist who, due to his sheer talent, believes he can live outside the rules. His "work hard, play harder" philosophy eventually comes to 'bite' him. The series was originally produced by Essential Media & Entertainment and Easy Tiger Productions in association with Screen NSW. Andy Ryan and Jo Rooney served as executive producers.

<i>Prisoner</i> season 3 Australian drama television series

The third season of Australian drama television series Prisoner premiered on Network Ten on 4 February 1981. It consists of 81 episodes and concluded on 11 November 1981.

References

  1. Lane, Richard. Prisoner: Cell Block H.
  2. "It's Saints and winners". Manchester Evening News . 20 April 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  3. "Prisoner Shake-Up". TV Week : 9. 24 December 1983.
  4. Children's show with a twist [ permanent dead link ]
  5. Idato, Michael (26 October 2009). "All Saints fades away". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  6. Knox, David (22 October 2017). "Vale: Judith McGrath". TV Tonight. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  7. Smith, Sophie (23 October 2017). "Australia mourns loss of Logie nominated All Saints soap star". Herald Sun. Retrieved 23 October 2017.