Lynette Curran

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Lynette Curran
Lynette Curran as Sandra Sprague in The Boys (1998) (cropped).jpg
Curran in 1998
Born1945 (age 7980)
Australia
OccupationActress
Years active1965–present

Lynette Curran is an Australian actress known for many roles in Australian television series and films, including the soap opera Bellbird , and the films Country Town (1971) and Bliss (1985).

Contents

Career

Theatre

She started acting in the theatre in 1964. Theatre work includes The Country Wife , Rookery Nook , Richard II , Just Between Ourselves, and Ashes for the Melbourne Theatre Company. She also played in Steaming for the Seymour Centre in Sydney. [1]

Film and television

Curran was a cast member of soap opera Bellbird when it started in 1967. She left the series permanently in 1974; at the time she left she was the program's last remaining original cast member. [2]

Curran acted in the film version of the serial Country Town (1971). She made several other film appearances in the 1970s, with roles in sex comedy Alvin Purple (1973), and in dramas I'm Here, Darlings! (1975), Caddie (1976). Late 1970s television appearances include soap opera Number 96 (in 1976), and police procedurals Bluey and Cop Shop . Curran was a recurring cast member of soap opera The Restless Years (1977–1981), playing the scheming Jean Stafford. She won a Sammy Award for her role in Australian Broadcasting Corporation series Spring and Fall . [1]

She co-starred with Barry Otto in the acclaimed 1985 film adaptation of Peter Carey's award-winning novel Bliss .[ citation needed ]

Other roles include feature films Heatwave (1982), The Delinquents (1989), The Boys (1998), Japanese Story (2003), Somersault (2004), These Final Hours (2013), A Few Less Men (2017) and Brothers' Nest (2018).[ citation needed ]

For her appearance in Somersault she won the 2004 AACTA award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. [3]

On television she played Brenda Jackson in the Love My Way , and acted in Underbelly: The Golden Mile and Cleverman . She was in Wentworth as Vera Bennett's elderly, terminally-ill mother (2015).[ citation needed ]

Curran appears in Season 2 of Aftertaste (2022). [4]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1971 Country Town Rhoda Wilson
1973 Alvin Purple First Sugar Girl
1976Drift Awayunknown roleShort film
Caddie Maudie
1980Buckley's ChanceDoctor's wifeShort film
1982 Heatwave Evonne Houseman
1985 Bliss Bettina Joy
1986 Bullseye Dora McKenzie
1987 Comrades ProstituteUK
The Year My Voice Broke Anne Olson
1989 The Delinquents Mrs. Hansen
1990 Dead to the World Pearl Elkington
Swimmingunknown roleShort film
1991Every Little Breezeunknown roleShort film
1993Just DessertsMrs. FulliloveShort film
1995 Mushrooms Minnie
1997 Road to Nhill Margot
Oscar and Lucinda Mrs. Ahearn
1998 The Boys Sandra Sprague
Praise Sexual Health Worker
1999BangersMotherShort film
2000 My Mother Frank Jean
2003 Japanese Story Mum
2004 Somersault Irene
2007Prada HandbagMerylShort film
2009BoundlessMotherShort film
Prime Mover Mrs Boyd
2013 These Final Hours James' Mum
2014 Love Is Now Nurse
A Priest In The FamilyMollyShort film
2015BlueyOld WomanShort film
Black ClockMrs. AndersonShort film
2017 A Few Less Men Maureen
2018 Brothers' Nest Mum
Birdieunknown roleShort film
2019Aldi Australia: The Miracle HamBerylShort film
2021Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten RingsOld Lady on BusUS

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1965 The Sweet Sad Story of Elmo and Me BettyTV movie
1965-70 Homicide Karen Latimer / Anna / Karen Barratt / Joy Hamilton / Wendy Hamilton5 episodes
1967-74 Bellbird Rhoda Lang1107 episodes
1971-72 Matlock Police Vicky Thompson / Sandra Hughes2 episodes
1970-73 Division 4 Kerry Nolan / Wendy Morris2 episodes
1973 Brumby Innes MayTV movie
1974 The End Product Estelle ClayTV movie
Rush Amy DraperEpisode: "They Faced All the Dangers, Those Bold Bushrangers"
Eye of the Spiral (aka '’The Spiral Bureau’')TV movie
1975 Behind the Legend BelleEpisode: "Tom Roberts"
Cash and Company Emma RileyEpisode: "Home Brewed"
I'm Here, Darlings! TV movie
1976 King's Men Episode: "Pipeline"
Alvin Purple FanEpisode: "London Derriere"
Fair GameTV pilot
Number 96 Samantha Minerver2 episodes
The Outsiders CarolEpisode: "Change of Image"
1977 A Journey to the Center of the Earth VoiceAnimated TV movie
Bluey JennyTV series, 1 episode 39: Son of Bluey
1978The GeeksTinaTV movie
Chopper Squad Cheryl FalconiEpisode: "Cliff Rescue"
Case for the Defence Angela CraigEpisode: "The Family Way"
1978–1980 The Restless Years Jean StaffordTV series
1980 Spring & Fall CarolEpisode: Cold Comfort
1980–1981 Cop Shop Trudy Lovell / Shirley Youngman / Marie Wood6 episodes
1982 The Mike Walsh Show Guest - Herself with Amanda Muggleton & Gwen PlumbTV series, 1 episode
1984 Carson's Law Vanessa Martin2 episodes
1984–1992 A Country Practice Connie Barker / Karen Stone / Karen West5 episodes
1986 The Flying Doctors Jean IrvingEpisode: Million Acre Prison
1987 The Shiralee HareemaTV miniseries, 2 episodes
1988 Rafferty's Rules Dr. CurlewisTV series, 1 episode: Freedom
Touch the Sun: Peter and Pompey Connie DriscollTV movie
The Dirtwater Dynasty Our MumTV miniseries, 1 episode
Australians Mrs. CuthbertTV series, 1 episode 19: Betty Cuthbert
Stringer Valerie Gordon
1989 Becca EmmaTV movie
Police State Dawn ParkerTV movie
1993Death In the FamilyTV movie
1995 Echo Point Angela Tilbury1 episode
1997 Big Sky Meg BatemanEpisode: "Lost and Found"
1998FCTVGuestTV series, 1 episode
Aftershocks Fay AsquithTV movie
1998–2006 All Saints Anita Petrakis / Hilary Doyle / Harriet Bell5 episodes
1998; 2000 Water Rats Glenda Lord / Geraldine Sawyer2 episodes
1999–2005 Blue Heelers Evie Osborn / Marie Biden3 episodes
2000 Murder Call Janet SimmsEpisode: "Paid in Full"
2001; 2002 Backberner Miriam Stardwick2 episodes
2001–03 Always Greener Connie Linguini9 episodes
2003 White Collar Blue Sandra Benson1 episode
2004-07 Love My Way Brenda Jackson28 episodes
2006 Call Me Mum DellmayTV movie
2009 Chandon Pictures LoreleiEpisode: "The Man with the Dancing Fingers"
2010 Wicked Love: the Maria Korp Story DaphneTV movie
Underbelly: The Golden Mile Irene Webb2 episodes
City Homicide Posy Pollard1 episode
Rake Colleen1 episode
2011 Bed of Roses Frida Fryberg3 episodes
Slide Connie1 episode
2013-14 Wentworth Rita Bennett3 episodes
2015 Glitch Jo Willis1 episode
2016 Cleverman Virgil2 episodes
Deep Water Rhys' Mother2 episodes
2017 Newton's Law Martha Payne1 episode
2018 Harrow Millicent Bruce1 episode
2019Molly and CaraMolly
2020 Reckoning KittyEpisode: "You Should Be Dancing"
2022 Aftertaste June6 episodes
2023 Queen of Oz Sylvia3 episodes

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
1965 The Sweet Sad Story of Elmo and Me BettyABC TV Studios
1969 The Imaginary Invalid Toinette Theatre Royal
1969 The Country Wife Russell Street Theatre & Canberra Theatre with MTC
1969A Long View Russell Street Theatre with MTC
1969 Six Characters in Search of an Author Russell Street Theatre with MTC
1969 Rookery Nook Russell Street Theatre with MTC
1971Customs and Excise Nimrod
1972 Brumby Innes Pram Factory with Australian Performing Group
1976Martello TowersFrancesca Jones Nimrod
1976 The Recruiting Officer Melinda, an Heiress Nimrod
1976 Rookery Nook Rhoda Marley UNSW with Old Tote Theatre for Sydney Festival
1977The Mind with the Dirty ManDivIna Metro Theatre, Sydney
1977AshesAnne Russell Street Theatre with MTC
1978 Richard III Lady Anne Neville Melbourne Athenaeum with MTC
1978 The Beaux' Stratagem Cherry Melbourne Athenaeum with MTC
1978Just Between OurselvesPam Russell Street Theatre with MTC
1978Under Milk Wood Melbourne Athenaeum with MTC
1978 Arsenic and Old Lace Elaine Harper Melbourne Athenaeum
1979The Day After the FairAnna Comedy Theatre, Melbourne & Theatre Royal, Sydney
1980 The Sunny South Bubs Berkley Sydney Opera House with STC for Sydney Festival
1980 Sexual Perversity in Chicago / ReunionCarol Nimrod
1981Every Burglar Has a Silver Lining Seymour Centre
1981 La Veniexiana Seymour Centre
1982A Woman Alone Nimrod
1982-83 Steaming Sydney Opera House, Seymour Centre,Theatre Royal, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne & Canberra Theatre
1982 Medea Nimrod
1982Female Parts Nimrod
1982 The Importance of Being Earnest Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax Marian Street Theatre
1984Two Marian Street Theatre
1985-86 The Real Thing SGIO Theatre, Brisbane for QTC & Playhouse Adelaide
1985 The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui Seymour Centre with Nimrod
1986Dreams in an Empty CityPlayhouse Adelaide with STCSA
1988Citizen of the Year Playhouse, Perth with WATC
1989The Real MatildaBay Street Theatre
1989Lipstick DreamsPlayhouse, Newcastle with New England Theatre Company, Hunter Valley Theatre Company & Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust
1990Hot Fudge and Icecream Wharf Theatre with STC
1990Words of One Syllable Belvoir Street Theatre
1991The BoysSandra Sprague Stables Theatre with Griffin Theatre Company
1991 Racing Demon Wharf Theatre with STC
1991 The Killing of Sister George Q Theatre
1991Three Stories High - Julia's Song / Painted Woman / Koori Love Belvoir Street Theatre
1992 Diving for Pearls Canberra Theatre, Bridge Theatre, Coniston, Riverina Playhouse
1992 Steaming Adelaide
1992Wet and Dry Stables Theatre with Griffin Theatre Company
1993A Prayer for WingsLookout Theatre, Woollahra
1993Mesmerized Stables Theatre with Griffin Theatre Company
1993Aftershocks Belvoir Street Theatre
1993In Relation to Inadmissable Evidence Belvoir Street Theatre
1995 The Last Yankee Ensemble Theatre
1995 The Real Thing Marian Street Theatre
1996Bold Girls Belvoir Street Theatre
1998The BoysSydney
1998Tilly's Turn Stables Theatre
1999 Pride and Prejudice Sydney Opera House with STC & MTC
2000 Suddenly Last Summer Mrs Holly Belvoir Street Theatre
2001 Fireface Wharf Theatre with STC for Sydney Festival
2001 The Laramie Project Belvoir Street Theatre
2001 The School for Scandal Sydney Opera House with STC
2002 All My Sons Kate Sydney Opera House with Ensemble Theatre
2002Presence Stables Theatre with Griffin Theatre Company
2003 Broken Glass Sylvia Gellburg Ensemble Theatre
2005 The Chairs Petty Pie Belvoir Street Theatre
2005 Colder Than Here Belvoir Street Theatre
2007The Gates of EgyptClarice Belvoir Street Theatre
2007Derrida In LoveJacqueline Ensemble Theatre
2009 The Crucible Tituba / Mary Lewis / Rebecca Nurse Wharf Theatre with STC
2011 Gross und Klein (Big and Small) STC
2012 Gross und Klein (Big and Small)European tour - Théâtre de la Ville, Barbican Theatre, London, Vienna Festival & Ruhrfestspiele with STC
2013 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Big Mama Theatre Royal with Belvoir Street Theatre
2014 Hedda Gabler Aunt Julie Belvoir Street Theatre
2016The Great FireMary Belvoir Street Theatre [5]
2019I'm With HerDr Marion Blackwell Darlinghurst Theatre Company [6]
2020Cursed! Belvoir Street Theatre

[7]

Awards and nominations

YearNominated workAwardResult
Spring and Fall Sammy Award Won [1]
1985 Bliss AFI Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role Nominated
1998 The Boys AFI Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominated
1999 The Boys Film Critics Circle of Australia (FCCA) Award for Best Female Supporting ActorWon
2004 Somersault AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Won [8]
2004 Somersault Film Critics Circle of Australia (FCCA) Award for Best Female Supporting ActorWon
2007 Call Me Mum AFI Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama Nominated
2019 Brother's Nest Australian Film Critics Association (AFCA) Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated
2023 Aftertaste Equity Ensemble Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesNominated

Personal life

Curran was married when she was 19, but the marriage was short-lived. She has had two substantial relationships since then, but bore no children. She lives alone in Sydney. A sexual assault and incest survivor, Curran is estranged from her family.

Curran has Indigenous Australian heritage, as she discovered two of her great-grandmothers were Aboriginal.

She dabbles as a medium, which she got into after foreseeing the death of a friend in a car accident. She first had premonitions as a child. She offers readings at Sydney markets, using tarot cards, numerology and astrology. [9]

Curran is often mistaken for good friend and fellow Australian actress Jacki Weaver, whom she has previously worked with, most notably in the 2008 Ensemble Theatre production of Derrida In Love. [10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Atterton, Margot. (Ed.) The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Australian Showbiz, Sunshine Books, 1984. ISBN   0-86777-057-0 p 54
  2. "1974 Cast Exodus". Bellbird. Aussie Soap Archive. May 2000. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  3. "AACTA Awards 2004 Winners and Nominees". Australian Film Institute . Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  4. "Lynette Curran, Julian Maroun and Syd Brisbane added to 'Aftertaste' for season two". IF Magazine . 27 February 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  5. "The Great Fire | Stage Whispers". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  6. "I'm With Her | Stage Whispers". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  7. "AusStage". ausstage.edu.au. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  8. "AACTA Awards 2004 Winners and Nominees". Australian Film Institute . Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  9. "A blonde's bombshells". amp.smh.com.au. 5 March 2005. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  10. "Mistaken identities". Star Observer. 20 April 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2024.