Lorraine Bayly

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Lorraine Bayly
AM
Lorraine Bayly.jpg
Lorraine Bayly in 2012, at the premiere of Annie (musical)
Born
Lorraine Daphne Bayly

(1937-01-16) 16 January 1937 (age 88)
Narrandera, New South Wales, Australia
Occupations
  • Film television and theatre actress
  • presenter
  • pianist
  • singer
  • dancer
  • theatre founder
  • director
  • stage manager
  • writer
Years active1954–2018 [1]
Known for

Lorraine Daphne Bayly AM (born 16 January 1937) is an Australian retired actress of film, television and theatre, narrator, presenter, singer, dancer, pianist and theatre director, stage manager and writer. [1]

Contents

Bayly has been a performer since she was a child, and became a professional actress in 1954, [1] having started as a theatre performer. She is perhaps best known to small screen audiences for her soap opera roles, 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 as Jennifer Carson and briefly in serial Neighbours as Faye Hudson, the sister of patriarch Doug Willis played by Terence Donovan. [2]

She is well-known also for having been a presenter of children's television series Play School as an original presenter in 1966 until 1978. [3]

Early life

Bayly was born in Narrandera, New South Wales. Her first performance was at age 3, playing tambourine with the Salvation Army. [4] [5] At ages 5–9, she wrote, directed and starred in plays in the local jail; her father being a policeman, amateur magician and ventriloquist. [6]

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. [7]

At age 11–12, she played classical piano Saturday afternoons live on Radio 2UE. [6]

Career

Theatre

Bayly was a founder with Hayes Gordon 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 and his extended 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.

Retirement

In 2019 Bayly retired from acting due to numerous health problems. [8]

Honours, awards & nominations (selected)

YearAssociationAwardWorkResults
1978 Logie Awards Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress The Sullivans as Grace SullivanWon
1979 Logie Awards Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress The Sullivans as Grace SullivanWon
1981 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actress in a Lead Role Fatty Finn Nominated
1983 Logie Awards Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress Carson's Law as Jennifer CarsonWon
2001 Australian Government Member of the Order of Australia Honoured
2006Australian VarietyVariety's 100 Entertainer of the CenturyLifetime honourHonoured

Bayly was made a Member of the Order of Australia by The Queen in the Australia Day Honours List 2001.

She 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.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleType
1965Birth of JesusRole unknownFilm short
1967Heaven Help UsRole unknownFilm short
1975 Ride a Wild Pony (aka Born to Run)Mrs. EllisonFeature film
1980 Fatty Finn Maggie McGrathFeature film
1982 The Man From Snowy River Rosemary HumeFeature film
2014Locks of LoveDorisFeature film
2015To My One and OnlyDorisFilm short

Television

YearTitleRoleType
1965Diary of a Plastic SurgeonTeleplay
1966 The Interpretaris Verna BalovnaTV series, 6 episodes
1966–1976 Play School PresenterTV series, 147 episodes
1967Owly's SchoolPresenterTV series
1967–1971 Homicide Moira Simmons / Jennifer Tracy / Margaret Stevens / Audrey ShepherdTV series, 4 episodes
1967; 1968 Hunter Karen Savage / Sharon Reid / Diana ManneringTV series, 3 episodes
1967 Divorce Court TV series, 1 episode
1969 Division 4 Jenny Noble / Linda SzaboTV series, 2 episodes
1969 The Rovers Virginia ShawTV series, 1 episode
1970 The Link Men TV series, 1 episode
1971 Spyforce Julia CarpenterTV series, 1 episode: "The Bridge"
1974 Silent Number JacksonTV series, 1 episode
1976–1979; 1980 The Sullivans Grace SullivanTV series, 594 episodes
1978 Case for the Defence Sister BarrettTV series, 1 episode
1979 The Wonderful World of Disney James' wifeTV series, 2 episodes
1982 1915 Helen GilchristTV miniseries, 4 episodes
1982Smithy's FriendsTV pilot
1983–1984 Carson's Law Jennifer CarsonTV series, 184 episodes
1986 The Challenge Eileen BondTV miniseries, 6 episodes
1988The PandasNarratorFilm documentary
1988; 1990 Rafferty's Rules Gwen Forster / Audrey ShepherdTV series, 2 episodes
1989 A Country Practice Jean RichmondTV series, 2 episodes
1989 Grim Pickings Betsy TenderTV miniseries, 2 episodes
1989Home BrewEdna EustaceTV film
1991–1992 Neighbours Faye HudsonTV series, 48 episodes
1992The Adventures of Snugglepot, Cuddlepie and Ragged BlossomSelf - NarratorTV special
1995Toddlers and their ThinkingSelf - NarratorFilm documentary
1995 G.P. Pat StoppardTV series, 1 episode
2001 Pizza The FairyTV series, 1 episode
2004 Through My Eyes: The Lindy Chamberlain Story AvisTV miniseries, 2 episodes
2014When the Queen Came to TownNarratorTV documentary special
2015The Jewel of the MountainsNarratorTV documentary

Stage

Source [1]

YearProductionRoleVenue / Company
1954 The Desert Song Rockdale Town Hall
1958Variations on Similar ThemesCammeray Children's Library, Theatre Institute, Sydney
1958–60The ManRuthTheatre Institute, Sydney, Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1959 The Drunkard The Child Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1960The Lonely Hearts Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1961The Buffalo SkinnerThe Mother Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1962Fairytales of New YorkAll female roles Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1963 The Season at Sarsaparilla Judy Pogson Theatre Royal, Sydney with J. C. Williamson's / Elizabethan Theatre Trust
1964 Mary, Mary Tiffany Richards Comedy Theatre, Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's
1965 The Rehearsal Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1965 Chase Me Comrade Nancy Rimmington Theatre Royal, Sydney with J. C. Williamson's
1967Invitation to a March Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1968 The Rimers of Eldritch Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1969 The Daughter-in-Law Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1969Come Laughing Home Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1970 We Bombed in New Haven Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1970 Three Months Gone Anna Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1971Who Killed Santa Claus? J. C. Williamson's
1973Suddenly at HomeSheila Wallis Comedy Theatre Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's
1973Queen of the Rebels Marian Street Theatre
1974Who's Who Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1975The Male of the Species J. C. Williamson's
1976Status Quo Vadis Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1980–81 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Mona Stangley Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne with Cooke Hayden Price
1982The Man From Snowy RiverRosemary Hume
The Last Yankee
1991 Gaslight Bella
1992 Dear Liar Mrs Patrick Campbell
1996Rough JusticeProsecutor Margaret Casely Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1997 Death of a Salesman Linda Loman Sydney Opera House
1999 The Shoe-Horn Sonata Sheila
2000 Travelling North Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
2003 Birthrights Margaret Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Opera House, Ensemble Theatre, Sydney,
2007 Rabbit Hole Nat Ensemble Theatre, Sydney, Playhouse, Canberra
2010 Calendar Girls Jessie Lyric Theatre, Brisbane Ensemble Theatre, Sydney, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
2012 When Dad Married Fury Judy Ensemble Theatre, Sydney, Theatre Royal, Sydney
2015 The Shoe-Horn Sonata Sheila Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
2015–16 The Sound of Music Frau Schmidt Regent Theatre, Melbourne, Crown Theatre, Perth, Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Festival Theatre, Adelaide

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Lorraine Bayly". AusStage.
  2. 1 2 Dempsey, Shelley (20 June 1992). "Airwaves". The Sun-Herald . Fairfax Media . Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  3. ↑ "Presenters".
  4. ↑ "Lorraine Bayly joins the cast of The Sound of Music with Cameron Daddo and Marina Prior". The Daily Telegraph. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  5. ↑ Lorraine Bayly interview for The Daily Show, Dec 2015 , retrieved 20 December 2023
  6. 1 2 "Nostalgia Week: Lorraine Bayly | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  7. ↑ "Where are they now? Lorraine Bayly starring in The Sound of Music". WYZA. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  8. ↑ Duck, Siobhan (30 January 2021). "Lorraine Bayly on the health issues forcing her to retire from acting". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
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