Maggie Dence

Last updated

Maggie Dence
AM
Maggie Dence.jpg
Dence in January 2013
Born
Margaret Helen Dence

(1942-02-01) 1 February 1942 (age 83)
Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia [1]
OccupationsActress, comedienne
Years active1959–present
Known for
Spouse
Graham Rouse
​
​
(m. 1965;died 2021)​

Margaret Helen Dence AM (born 1 February 1942) is an Australian actress of stage and screen, with a career spanning some seven decades. Dence is known to early audiences for her roles in the satirical TV comedy The Mavis Bramston Show , and also serving as that series' mascot (originally portrayed in the pilot by Noeline Brown). [2] Dence featured in comedy Kingswood Country with stars Ross Higgins and Judi Farr as snobbish Merle Bullpit. Her dramatic roles include Rose Sullivan in The Sullivans , Bev Baker in Prisoner , and school headmistress Dorothy Burke in Neighbours . [2]

Contents

Career

Mavis Bramston and Kingswood Country

Dence played various characters influential Australian satirical sketch comedy program The Mavis Bramston Show from 1966 and 1968. One of her characters was the title character Mavis Bramston [3] – the joke being that Mavis appeared in only the opening segment of each episode and was not seen again thereafter. She was also a recurring guest in the popular 1980s sitcom Kingswood Country , playing the snobbish Merle Bulpitt.

Soap opera: The Sullivans, Prisoner and Neighbours

Her best-known soap opera roles are The Sullivans as the sweet-natured Rose Sullivan between 1976 and 1978, and Prisoner in a darker role in 1984 as an evil psychopath and serial killer called Bev 'The Beast' Baker. [2] She played stern school headmistress Dorothy Burke in Neighbours from 1990. Dence decided to leave the show in late 1992 and she filmed her final scenes in November. [4] She then travelled to the UK, where she played the Fairy Godmother in a pantomime production of Cinderella. [4]

Other roles

Dence also had smaller cameo roles in TV serials A Country Practice , [3] The Flying Doctors , All Saints and Heartbreak High . [2]

In 2005, she appeared in the award-winning Australian film Look Both Ways . [2]

Personal life

Dence was married to actor and director Graham Rouse for 56 years until his death in June 2021. They met at the Independent Theatre in Sydney. [5]

Awards and recognition

Dence was named (on 29 September) the 2011 recipient of the Equity Awards Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding services to the performing arts – both stage and screen – and her longstanding involvement with the NSW Actors' Benevolent Fund. [2] The award, presented by Foxtel, is from Maggie's peers and members of her union, the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance Equity (Performers) Section, which she joined in 1962. [2]

Dence was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours "for service to the performing arts". [2] [6]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1971 Wake in Fright ReceptionistFeature film
1982 The Best of Friends Shop assistantFeature film
1982 The Return of Captain Invincible Italian LadyFeature film
1988CherithFilm short
1989 Luigi's Ladies ShandraFeature film
2003 Danny Deckchair Meredith ButcherFeature film
2003 Peter Pan Lady Quiller CouchFeature film
2005 Look Both Ways JoanFeature film
2009GraceNonaFilm short
2015The Witching HourOld WitchFilm short
2015The WidowElaineFilm short
2016The Mother SituationFilm short
2016SetaceousFilm short
2018GrannyGrannyFilm short
2018Inside WaterYabbyFilm short
2019StrangersBibiFilm short
20??Dirt CheapIreneFeature film
2021 The Drover's Wife Mrs. Shirley McGuinessFeature film
2023 The Appleton Ladies' Potato Race Miss VaughnFeature film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1966–1968 The Mavis Bramston Show Mavis BramstonTV series (regular lead role)
1967; 1975 Homicide Elaine FlemingTV series, 1 episode: "The Legacy"
1968–1969I've Married a BachelorTV series, 3 episodes "You Tell Me Your Dreams, I'll Tell You My Dreams", "Into the Breach"
1969 Skippy the Bush Kangaroo SopranoTV series, 1 episode: "El Toro"
1970 The Link Men Edie WhitmanTV series, 1 episode 11: "Somebody's Kid Is Missing"
1972 A Nice Day at the Office Mrs. QuiggleyTV series, 1 episode
1973 Boney Mrs. CouttsTV series, 1 episode: "Boney and the Emu Man"
1973 Division 4 Marion EvansTV series, 1 episode: "Willie"
1974 Silent Number Nurse Janet KayTV series, 1 episode: "Bang, Bang, You're Dead"
1975 Homicide Anne Carson / Elaine FlemingTV series, 1 episode: "Brick Veneer"
1976–1979 The Sullivans Aunty Rose SullivanTV series, 250 episodes
1979 Doctor Down Under Mrs. PeabodyTV series, 1 episode: "A Bird in the Hand"
1980Trial by MarriageTV series
1980–1984 Kingswood Country Merle Bullpit TV series, 18 episodes;
1981 A Town Like Alice Mrs. O'ConnorTV miniseries, 2 episodes
1981 Daily at Dawn TV series, 1 episode
1981 A Country Practice Jan HardyTV series, 2 episodes: "Secrets: Parts 1 & 2"
1981 Holiday Island Mrs BrandonTV series, 1 episode
1981 The World Around Us : Stress - It Wasn't Meant to be EasyHerselfTV documentary
1982 A Country Practice Courtney FraserTV series, 2 episodes: "Show Down: Parts 1 & 2"
1984 A Country Practice Blanche MitchellTV series, 2 episodes: "Ships in the Night: Parts 1 & 2"
1984 Prisoner Bev BakerTV series, 6 episodes
1985 The Perfectionist Rosie PetersTV film
1985 Possession Lady ShannonTV series
1985 Winners: The Other Facts of Life PsychiatristTV film
1987 Willing and Abel TV series, 1 episode: "Miss September"
1987 The Flying Doctors Helen ManningTV series, 1 episode: "Sapphire"
1988 Act of Betrayal DorothyTV film
1989 A Country Practice Victoria FlemingTV series, 2 episodes: "Bel Canto: Parts 1 & 2"
1989 Rafferty's Rules Vanessa PearceTV series, 1 episode
1989 Edens Lost ProducerTV miniseries, 4 episodes
1989Home BrewMarjorie DaleyTV film
1990More Winners: The Big WishLady MikeevilTV film
1990–1993 Neighbours Dorothy Burke TV series, 356 episodes
1994 G.P. Judith MarrTV series, 1 episode: "Coitus Interruptus"
1994The Mavis Bramston 30th AnniversaryHerselfTV special
1995 Correlli Maureen BarnesTV series, 1 episode: "An Early Release"
1995Neighbours: A 10th Anniversary CelebrationHerselfTV special
1997 Heartbreak High Mrs. MacTV series, 1 episode
1998 Blue Heelers Elizabeth SchulzTV series, 1 episode: "Letting Go"
1998 Driven Crazy Granny RoseTV series, 1 episode: "Mousechap"
1998–2007 All Saints Lyn Brown / Maggie Cooper / June MarkhamTV series, 5 episodes
2000 Water Rats Joy TurnerTV series, 1 episode: "Mummy Dearest"
2000 Grass Roots Ellen LeonardTV series, 1 episode: "The Whole Year"
2000 Stingers Celia JonesTV series, 1 episode: "Organised Crime"
2002 Fairy Tale Police Department VoiceTV series, 26 episodes: "Pinocchio: Puppet in Peril"
2002 Always Greener Sister SternTV series, 1 episode: "Understanding the Cry"
2002–2003 All Saints June MarkhamTV series, 3 episodes: "Chemistry", "Trust", "Friend in Need"
2006 Small Claims: The Reunion RomaTV film
2008 Milly, Molly VoiceTV series
2008 Out of the Blue Olive HammondTV series, 17 episodes
2013The Very Trevor Ashley ShowOld LadyTV series, 1 episode: "Pilot"
2013–2015 Wonderland Ruth MacPhersonTV series, 9 episodes
2014; 2016 Black Comedy TV series, 2 episodes
2015 Ready for This MabelTV series, 1 episode: "Fresh Meat"
2016 Rake JanetTV series, 1 episode: "4.3"
2017Attack! Attack! Art?GranTV series, 4 episodes
2019 The Commons JaniceTV miniseries, 1 episode
2019 Frayed Mrs AtkinsTV series, 7 episodes
2022–2023 Heartbreak High NanTV series, 3 episodes
2022 Significant Others PamTV series, 3 episodes
2022Pushing The Boundaries: The Mavis Bramston ShowHerselfFilm documentary
2023 The Messenger [7] Milla RosebyTV series, 6 episodes
2023 Queen of Oz JuneTV series, 1 episode: "Ginger Eyebrows"

Theatre

YearProductionVenue
1959 Volpone Independent Theatre
1960 The Crucible Independent Theatre
1960Clerambard Independent Theatre
1960 Inherit the Wind Independent Theatre
1962 Rhinoceros Independent Theatre
1962What's New? Phillip St Theatre
1962 The Rose and the Ring Independent Theatre
1963The RageCopenhagen Downstairs Revue
1963Twenties Spectacular Independent Theatre
1963Abousir and Aboukir Independent Theatre
1966Muriel's Virtues Independent Theatre
1967Hail Gloria Fitzpatrick Phillip St Theatre
1968Breath of Spring Independent Theatre
1969 The Women Independent Theatre
1970Oh, Sir Henry! Melbourne Athenaeum
1972Blop Goes the Weazel University of NSW, Parade Theatre 1
1973 Bonbons and Roses for Dolly Jane Street Theatre
1974Kookaburra Nimrod Theatre
1975Girl's Night OutJools Theatre Restaurant
1975Balance of PaymentsTregear Community Centre & AMP Theatrette, Sydney (2 performances)
1976Still Life with ApplesBankstown Town Hall & AMP Theatrette, Sydney (2 performances)
1976 Kennedy's Children Nimrod Theatre
1976 The Shoemaker's Holiday Sydney Opera House
1978 The Comedy of Errors Nimrod Theatre
1978 The Lady from Maxim's Sydney Opera House
1979 Last of the Red Hot Lovers Ensemble Theatre
1979The Sea Nimrod Theatre
1980Has He Anyone Ensemble Theatre
1981 The Man from Mukinupin Sydney Ooera House
1982 Annie [3] Canberra Theatre
1982 The Provok'd Wife University of NSW, Parade Theatre
1982 Camino Real University of NSW, Parade Theatre
1982Four Lady Bowlers in a Golden HoldenKinselas, Darlinghurst & Canberra Theatre
1983 Sweeney Todd Q Theatre, Penrith
1984 The Season at Sarsaparilla The Playhouse, Adelaide
1985 The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui Seymour Centre
1985 Arms and the Man Seymour Centre
1986Having a Ball..! Canberra Theatre
1987 The One Day of the Year Ensemble Theatre
1987 See How They Run Northside Theatre, Killara,
1988 Steel Magnolias Seymour Centre & Melbourne Athenaeum
1988 A Small Family Business Northside Theatre, Killara
1989 Curtains Northside Theatre, Killara
1993 Away Riverside Theatres, Parramatta
1994GoodworksQ Theatre, Penrith
1996 The Shoe-Horn Sonata Playhouse Theatre, Perth
1996Virtual UnrealityTilbury Hotel, Woolloomooloo
1996Good WorksThe Space, Adelaide & Wharf 2 Theatre, Sydney
1997MongrelsWharf 1 Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company
1998 After the Ball Sydney Opera House
2001 Noises Off Sydney Opera House
2003 Uncle Vanya Darlinghurst Theatre
2003The Kid Theatre Royal, Hobart
2005Close to Home Stables Theatre
2008Attack of the Granny Boomers Parade Theatre
2014 Once in Royal David's City Belvoir Street Theatre
2015Seventeen Belvoir Street Theatre
2016The Turquoise Elephant Stables Theatre
2017 Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo Old Fitzroy Theatre
2018Marjorie Prime Ensemble Theatre
2019Baby Doll Ensemble Theatre

References

  1. ↑ "Maggie Dence". Auslit.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Ms Margaret Helen Dence AM". Australian Honours. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia) . Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "Maggie Dence revels in her 'Annie' role". The Canberra Times . Vol. 56, no. 16, 911. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 15 January 1982. p. 11. Retrieved 29 May 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  4. 1 2 McGowan, Mark (7 November 1992). "A fairytale ending!". TV Week . pp. 60–61.
  5. ↑ Estera, Christine (2 July 2021). "Veteran Aussie actor Graham Rouse dies aged 87: 'We lost another stalwart of stage and screen'". 9Honey . Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  6. ↑ "The Queens Birthday 2022 Honours List".
  7. ↑ "Production to begin on the Messenger | TV Tonight". 29 May 2022.
  8. ↑ "Maggie Dence". AusStage. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
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