Paula Duncan

Last updated

Paula Duncan
AM
Born
Paula Margaret Duncan

(1952-09-15) 15 September 1952 (age 72)
OccupationActress
Years active1971 – present
Known for
Spouse
(m. 1982;div. 1998)
Family Carmen Duncan (sister)

Paula Margaret Duncan AM (born 15 September 1952) is an Australian actress. [1]

Contents

Her numerous television roles include playing in Number 96 as Carol Finlayson (1974-1975), The Young Doctors (1976–77), as Nurse Lisa Brooks, Cop Shop as Detective Danni Francis (1977–83), for which she twice won the Logie Award for Most Popular Actress, Prisoner as Lorelei Wilkinson (1986), Richmond Hill as Janet Bryant (1988), Home and Away as Bridget Jackson (1990) and Neighbours (2011). Other notable roles include Paradise Beach and Breakers .

Duncan's older sister was stage and screen actress and activist Carmen Duncan.

Career

Duncan was born in Cooma, New South Wales, to publicans Rita and Robert on 15 September 1952. [2] has played several leading roles in various TV series. Early roles were Carol Finlayson in Number 96 (her sister Carmen Duncan had previously acted in this serial), followed by Lisa Brooks in The Young Doctors. She left The Young Doctors to take the role of Danni Francis in Cop Shop , and stayed in the role for the series' entire 1977–1984 run. After Cop Shop ended she played Lorelei Wilkinson in Prisoner in 1986, then was Janet Bryant in Richmond Hill (1988) for its entire run, Bridget Jackson in Home and Away, [3] and Joan Hayden in Paradise Beach . [4]

In 2011 Duncan joined the cast of Neighbours as Carolyn Johnstone, a love interest for Harold Bishop (Ian Smith). [5] Duncan previously appeared in the show as Amy Medway in 1985. [5]

Advertising

Duncan is well known to Australian audiences through her work on television commercials, especially humorous commercials for the Ajax household cleaner Spray N' Wipe, from 1988 to 2010. [6] [7]

She has also made guest appearances on the NRL Footy Show on Network Nine.

Personal life

Duncan married actor John Orcsik in June 1982 after they met acting together in Cop Shop . They opened acting school, The Australian Film & Television Academy (TAFTA) [8] together on the Gold Coast in 1994. They divorced in 1998. They have since worked together in the show Paradise Beach and elsewhere.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1974Casualty Wardunknown roleTV film
1975Polly Me Loveunknown roleTV film
1978 Cass TV film
1985 Jenny Kissed Me GaynorFeature film
1987 Future Past Miss BernsteenTV film
1996 Academy Jennifer HaywoodTV film
2004Cocktail HourSandraFilm short
2004 Strange Bedfellows Yvonne PhilpotFeature film
2009BrailleMadamFeature film
2011Surprise SurpriseMurielFilm short
2015Natural InjusticeDoreen SmithFeature film
2017TornTess SmithFilm short
2020UnsoundAngelaFeature film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1955 Lux Video Theatre KittyTV series US, 1 episode "So Evil My Love"
1973The Pirates of PenzanceUnknown roleTeleplay
1974This Love AffairJoanTV series, 1 episode 8: 'One Of My Silly Dreams'
1974 Certain Women unknown roleTV series, 2 episodes
1974-75 / 1977 Number 96 Carol Finlayson"1.669", "1.689", "1.700"
1975Ain't Got a Barrel of Moneyunknown roleTV pilot
1977 The Young Doctors Lisa BrooksTV series, 121 episodes
1977-1984 Cop Shop Det. Danni FrancisTV series, 582 episodes
1984 Matthew and Son Barbara DeanTV pilot
1985 Neighbours Amy MedwayTV series, 4 episodes
1986 Prisoner Lorelei WilkinsonTV series, 54 episodes Regular role; Season 8
Studio 86 GlendaTV series, 1 episode "An Electric Day"
1988 Richmond Hill Janet BryantTV series
1990 Home and Away Bridget Jackson TV series, 8 episodes Recurring role; Season 3
Skirts Guest role: Janine DaviesTV series, 1 episode 3: "Wolf Whistles"
1992 Mother And Son Real Estate agentTV series, 1 episode "The Clock"
1993-1994 Paradise Beach Joan Hayden"2.139"
1999 Breakers Karen FairbarnTV series
2000 Pizza Lorelei WilkinsonTV series, 1 episode "Gambling Pizza"
2002 Always Greener Make-up artistTV series, 1 episode
2008 East of Everything PaulineTV series, 3 episodes: "No Way to Nirvana", "Save Me Some Scones", "Aesthetic My Arse"
2011 Neighbours Carolyn Johnstone TV series, 7 episodes Recurring role; Season 27
2015 Hiding Jenny KrilichTV series, 3 episodes "1.1", "1.3", "1.8"

Interview / self appearances

YearTitleRoleNotes
2023 Today Extra HerselfTV series, 1 episode
2022 Who Do You Think You Are? HerselfTV series, 1 episode
Weekend SunriseGuest (with John Orcsik)TV series, 1 episode
Seven News MelbourneHerselfTV series, 1 episode
This Is Your Life: Ray MeagherHerselfTV series, 1 episode
2018-2019 The Morning Show Herself - InfomercialTV series
2019 Studio 10 HerselfTV series, 2 episodes
Chris Smith TonightHerselfTV series, 1 episode
2020 First Dates Australia HerselfTV series, 1 episode
2021-2024 The Morning Show Herself - Sleeper Pro Pillow InfomercialTV series
2015-2019 The Daily Edition HerselfTV series, 6 episodes
2016 Australian Disability Film Festival HerselfTV special
2016; 2016 The Morning Show Guest (with John Orcsik)TV series, 1 episode
2016; 2019 Studio 10 Guest (with Maggie Kirkpatrick, Lynda Stoner & Toni Pearen)TV series, 1 episode
2016 The Morning Show GuestTV series, 1 episode
2012 The Circle HerselfTV series, 3 episodes
2015; 2016 Studio 10 HerselfTV series, 1 episode
2008 This Is Your Life: Bert NewtonHerselfTV series, 1 episode
2009 Ten News HerselfTV series, 1 episode
2010 A Current Affair HerselfTV series, 1 episode
2011 Today Tonight Herself & John OrscikTV series, 1 episode
2011 The Morning Show HerselfTV series, 1 episode
2007 Where Are They Now Guest - Herself with 'Cop Shop' cast: John Orscik, Lynda Stoner, Joanna Lockwood, Terence Donovan & Gil TuckerTV series, 1 episode
2007; 2011 Today Tonight Herself - Guest with 'Cop Shop' cast: Gil Tucker, John Orcsik, Terence Donovan & Greg RossTV series, 2 episodes
2008Confidential at the LogiesHerselfTV special
2008SusieHerselfTV series, 1 episode
2003 This Is Your Life :10 Year Celebration SpecialHerselfTV special
2003; 2006; 2007 Mornings with Kerri-Anne HerselfTV series, 3 episodes
200650 Years 50 StarsHerselfTV special
TV Turns 50 - The Events That Stopped A NationHerselfTV special
What a YearHerselfTV series, 1 episode
2006; 2010 A Current Affair HerselfTV series, 2 episodes
2002The Best of Aussie Cop ShowsHerselfTV special
New Idea: 100 Fabulous YearsHerselfTV special
2000 The Morning Show HerselfTV series, 1 episode
1999 Denise HerselfTV series, 1 episode
Good MedicineHerselfTV series, 1 episode
LawsHerselfTV series, 1 episode
Fox Studios Australia: The Grand Opening HerselfTV special
1998FCTVHerselfTV series, 6 episodes
1997 The Footy Show HerselfTV series, 1 episode
Sex And Beyond: 25 Years of CleoHerselfTV special
1995; 1996; 2001; 2008 This Is Your Life: Paula Duncan/Carmen Duncan/Judy Nunn/Bert NewtonHerselfTV series, 2 episodes
1996; 1997Monday to FridayHerselfTV series, 2 episodes
1997Australian Good TasteHerselfTV series, 1 episode
Where Are They Now? HerselfTV series, 1 episode
Celebrity Wheel Of Fortune ContestantTV series, 1 episode
1997-2000 Beauty and the Beast HerselfTV series
1996-2000 An Australian Christmas At Darling Harbour HerselfTV special
1996 The Crawford Story HerselfTV special
1995The TimesHerselfTV series, 2 episodes
1994Dr FeelgoodHerselfTV series, 1 episode
1993; 1995Ernie and DeniseHerselfTV series, 2 episodes
1994Love RulesHerselfTV series, 1 episode
What’s Cooking? HerselfTV series, 1 episode
At HomeHerselfTV series, 1 episode
Today HerselfTV series, 1 episode
Midday with Derryn HinchGuest with John OrcsikTV series, 1 episode
1993; 1994Live It UpHerselfTV series, 3 episodes
1993-2005 Good Morning Australia HerselfTV series
1993 The Great Outdoors HerselfTV series, 1 episode
1992 The Morning Show HerselfTV series, 2 episodes
Ten News HerselfTV series, 1 episode
Seven Nightly News HerselfTV series, 1 episode
National Nine News HerselfTV series, 1 episode
ABC News HerselfTV series, 1 episode
1991; 1992In Sydney TodayHerselfTV series, 1 episode
1990; 1991 Tonight Live With Steve Vizard HerselfTV series, 2 episodes
1990TV Celebrity Dance PartyHerselfTV special
1991; 1997Celebrity Wheel of FortuneContestantTV series, 2 episodes
1991 The Main Event HerselfTV series, 1 episode
1988Henry Lawson's AustraliaPresenterVideo
Rugby League Grand FinalHerselfTV special
Life Education Television AppealHerselfTV special
1989TV WeddingsHerselfTV special
The Bert Newton Show HerselfTV series, 1 episode
In Melbourne TodayGuest - HerselfTV series, 1 episode
1989; 1989 Celebrity Family Feud Contestant (with family John, Simon & Jessica Orcsik)TV series, 1 episode
1989 Celebrity Family Feud Guest (with Chantal Contouri, Jo Mitchell & Jodie Gillies)TV series, 1 episode "Leading Ladies"
1987Have a GoHerselfTV series, 2 episodes
1987-1998 The Midday Show HerselfTV series
1986An Australian Audience with Dame Edna EverageHerselfTV special
PunchlinesHerselfTV special
1984; 1984 The Mike Walsh Show Guest (with sister Carmen Duncan)TV series, 1 episode
1982The 24th Annual TV Week Logie Awards HerselfTV special
19841984 TV Week Logie AwardsGuest (with John Orcsik arriving at event)TV special
1984 The Mike Walsh Show Guest (with John & Simon Orcsik)TV series, 1 episode
1980The 22nd Annual TV Week Logie Awards HerselfTV special
1977 Number 96: The Final Episode HerselfTV special
1975 Celebrity Squares HerselfTV series, 1 episode
1974-1978 You Say The Word HerselfTV series
1973The Barry Crocker Comedy HourHerselfTV special

Stage

YearTitleRoleType
1972 Dick Whittington and His Cat
1983 Salad Days
1985Half In Earnest
1987Hansel And Gretel's Aussie Adventure
1987Blithe Spirit
1989 Bedroom Farce
1990 The Lady's Not For Burning
1995 Brazilian Blue
1998Social Climbers
2002 The Vagina Monologues
2007Flying Solo
2008Theatresports

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References

  1. AusStage. "Paula Duncan".?
  2. "As she celebrates 50 years in showbusiness, Paula Duncan reflects on the highs and the lows". 5 February 2023.
  3. Williams, Glen (14 April 1990). "Paul becomes a 'monster' mum". TV Week . p. 91.
  4. Paula Duncan at IMDb
  5. 1 2 "Harold Bishop to find love on Ramsay Street". Herald Sun . The Herald and Weekly Times. 30 March 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  6. "The Spray N' Wipe commercial". news.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 June 2014.
  7. "Ajax jingle to return with Paula Duncan reprising character of frantic housewife". Mumbrella. 4 March 2010. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  8. "The Australian Film & Television Academy". tafta.com.au. Retrieved 5 July 2020.