Vikki Blanche

Last updated

Vikki Blanche
Born1966or1967(age 57–58) [1]
Australia
Occupation(s)Actress, director
Years active1983–present

Vikki Blanche (born 1966 or 1967) is an Australian actress and director. She made her television debut in the children's series Home in 1983, followed by a role in the ABC drama The Keepers . Shortly after graduating from the National Theatre in late 1984, Blanche was cast as Julie Robinson in the soap opera Neighbours , which began airing in March 1985. After seven months she decided to leave the serial so she would not be typecast in the future. Blanche joined the cast of The Flying Doctors as Paula Patterson in 1988. She also appeared in the sitcom Col'n Carpenter and the 1991 miniseries Rose Against the Odds . Blanche then spent 18 months living and studying acting in New York City. Upon her return to Australia, she was cast as Senior Detective Chris Faithful in the second season of the ABC police drama Phoenix . After an appearance in the 1997 feature film Road to Nhill , Blanche wrote and directed The Other Days of Ruby Rae, which earned her a nomination for Best Screenplay in a Short Film at the 2000 AFI Awards. Blanche has since gone on to direct television commercials.

Contents

Early life

Blanche has a brother. [2] She became interested in acting when she was eight years old, [3] after she joined the National Theatre workshops. [2] She attended Kingswood College in Box Hill. [2]

Career

Blanche made her television debut in the 1983 ABC children's series Home . [2] [4] Blanche played Billie, who she said "knew what she wanted and what she believed in and was good at organising what the others should do." [2] The following year, she appeared alongside Bill Hunter and David Cameron in the nine-part ABC drama series The Keepers . The show focuses on the lives of Fisheries and Wildlife officers in a small community. Blanche plays Kim, the daughter of Aggie French (Catherine Wilkin). [5] She also had a six week guest stint as a doctor's daughter in The Young Doctors . [2] Blanche graduated from the National Theatre in November 1984. [6]

Blanche's breakthrough role was that of Julie Robinson in the soap opera Neighbours . [6] Blanche admitted to not taking the audition seriously, as she had only just graduated from school and did not think she would win the role. [7] She was cast in December 1984, started filming in January 1985, and made her debut in the first episode on 18 March 1985. [6] Margaret Koppe of TV Radio Extra described Blanche's character as complex. Julie appears to be helpful and caring, but she often interferes and schemes. [6] Marie McNamara of The Age praised Blanche for her performance, [8] while a reporter for the Aberdeen Press and Journal said she made Julie "one of the most popular characters in the Australian soap." [7] Blanche had a relationship with her co-star David Clencie during her time in the serial, and the couple lived together for six months. [1] After seven months of playing Julie, Blanche chose to leave Neighbours before the end of her contract. She admitted that she did not want to stay in the same role for a long time and end up typecast. [9]

Following her departure from Neighbours, Blanche worked at the St Martin's Theatre in Melbourne and had a guest role in an episode of The Flying Doctors . [1] In 1988, she re-joined the main cast of The Flying Doctors as radiographer Paula Patterson, the younger sister of pilot Sam, played by Blanche's former Neighbours co-star Peter O'Brien. [10] While appearing on The Flying Doctors, Blanche also worked at the Cadillac Bar in Melbourne. [11] Alongside her Flying Doctors co-star Liz Burch and singer Neil Finn, Blanche appeared in Nine Network's A Chance for the Children programme in 1990, which highlighted the need for water, health care and education in third world countries. [12] Following a number of changes to the format of the show, Blanche was written out of The Flying Doctors to make way for new actors. [11] Blanche admitted that while she would have stayed on with the show, her character had very few storylines in the last six months, and she questioned whether she was learning anything new. [11]

After leaving The Flying Doctors, Blanche starred as Julia in the Network Ten sitcom Col'n Carpenter . [13] [14] She was contracted for 26 weeks, and she liked that she got to have a say in how her character developed. [11] As Col'n Carpenter was the first comedy Blanche had worked on, she had to learn new acting skills, and she felt that she picked up a lot from her co-stars Kim Gyngell and Monica Maughan. [11] She also filmed a role as Jenny Rose in the 1991 miniseries Rose Against the Odds , which tells the story of Aboriginal boxer Lionel Rose. Blanche met with the real Jenny Rose to talk about her life and relationship with Lionel. [14] Blanche later felt that working on both productions simultaneously made her lose respect for her job because of the scheduling, so she decided to go overseas to study acting in order to stay challenged. [14] She spent 18 months living and working in New York City. [15] She studied acting at the HB Studio and the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, and chose not to attend auditions or seek roles. She worked as a waitress in order to pay her rent. [15]

A few weeks after returning to Melbourne, Blanche auditioned for the second season of the ABC police drama Phoenix . [15] Blanche had not watched the series before she was offered the role of Senior Detective Chris Faithful, who is married to Peter Faithful (Simon Westaway) and goes undercover for the drug squad. [15] [16] Blanche described her character as having a "gift for the job. She's tough, in that she is mixing with crooks, but I don't think she's tougher than anyone else in that environment." [15] To prepare for the role, Blanche spoke with undercover drug officers and went through research material compiled by the writers. [3] Phoenix was filmed over 13 weeks, which suited Blanche, who preferred not to stay with a show for too long, and aired in early 1993. [15] In 1997, Blanche appeared in the comedy-drama feature film Road to Nhill as Jill Whitton. [17]

In 1999, Blanche began teaching the Meisner technique at The Sydney Actors Playhouse. [18] She also attended the VCA School of Film and Television, where she wrote and directed the short film The Other Days of Ruby Rae. [19] The plot follows a widowed vicar (Norman Kaye) whose faith is renewed when he befriends a 10-year-old. [20] Blanche received a nomination for Best Screenplay in a Short Film at the 2000 AFI Awards. [21] The film won the George Méliès Award at the Taos Talking Pictures Film Festival. [22] Blanche has since gone on to direct television commercials. [23] In 2001, she won the Young Director of the Year Award at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for her work on a commercial for Australian feminine hygiene company Cottons. [24] The following year, she signed with Academy Films and relocated to London. [25]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996 Turning April VoiceFeature film
1997 Road to Nhill Jill WhittonFeature film
1999The Other Days of Ruby RaeWriter, directorShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983 Home BillieRecurring role
1984 The Keepers Kim FrenchMain cast
1985 Neighbours Julie Robinson Main cast
1986 The Flying Doctors Prue BrowningEpisode: "Sins of the Father"
1988–1991The Flying DoctorsPaula PattersonMain cast
1990 Col'n Carpenter Julia BarnesMain cast
1991 Rose Against the Odds Jenny OakesTV miniseries
1992 The Late Show Dinner Party GuestEpisode: "#1.17"
1993 Phoenix II Senior Detective Chris FaithfulMain cast

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxine Klibingaitis</span> Australian actress (1964–2023)

Maxine Koran Klibingaitis was an Australian actress, notable for her roles in TV soap operas and serials. She is best known for her roles in Prisoner, as Bobbie Mitchell, and in Neighbours, as Terry Inglis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackie Woodburne</span> Australian actress

Jacqueline Anne Woodburne is an Australian actress, who is notable for her roles in TV soap operas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eliza Taylor</span> Australian actress (born 1989)

Eliza Jane Morley, known professionally as Eliza Taylor, is an Australian actress. She is best known for her roles as Janae Timmins on the Australian soap opera drama Neighbours (2005–2008), as Clarke Griffin on the dystopian science fiction series The 100 (2014–2020), and as Hannah Carson in the NBC science fiction series Quantum Leap (2022–2024).

Colette Mann is an Australian actress, singer, TV and radio presenter, choreographer and author/writer and media personality, she has been in the entertainment industry for over 50 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annie Jones (actor)</span> Australian actress

Annie Jones is an Australian actress, known for her roles in soap operas and serials, most especially Sons and Daughters as Jess Campbell, in Neighbours as Jane Harris and Newlyweds as Allie Carter. She has won two Logie Awards.

Lucy Robinson (<i>Neighbours</i>) Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Lucy Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Melissa Bell. The character has previously been portrayed by Kylie Flinker and Sasha Close. She was created by producer Reg Watson as one of the serial's original characters. Lucy was a prominent figure during the early 1990s of Neighbours, with Bell playing her on and off for five years. Portrayed originally as being clever, a recast was implemented to fit the character's transformation and she became the stereotype of a ditzy blonde female. She has been involved in storylines including battling a brain tumour, coping with blindness, incest, modelling and addictions to drugs, alcohol and spending. She has also been positively and negatively received by critics for her "busty blonde" image while played by Bell. After making a brief return on 6 May 2013, Lucy made subsequent return visits until 2016. She was reintroduced as part of the serial's 35th anniversary in 2020, before returning briefly in late 2021 as part of the reintroduction of her half-brother, Glen Donnelly, and twice in 2022, appearing in the show's finale episode. Bell returned on 18 September 2023 following the show's renewal, but departed again on 21 September 2023. Bell returned again on 13 February 2024 for three episode centered around David Tanaka's death and left again on 15 February 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Daniels</span> Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Helen Daniels is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, portrayed by Anne Haddy. Following the death of Jim Robinson in 1993, she remained the only original character played continuously by the same actor until her own death in 1997, making her the second longest-serving original character after her grandson Paul Robinson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacinta Stapleton</span> Australian actress (born 1979)

Jacinta Patrice Stapleton is an Australian actress. Best known for her role as Amy Greenwood in the Australian television soap opera Neighbours from 1997–2000, 2005 and 2020–2023). Her most notable role was playing undercover police officer Christina Dichiera in the primetime crime drama television series Stingers. Her performance garnered an Australian Film Institute nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Drama. She is the sister of Blindspot actor Sullivan Stapleton.

Alexandra Fowler is an Australian actress and singer. She is known for her roles as Angela Hamilton in Sons and Daughters from 1982 and 1984 through 327 episodes and Zoe Davis in Neighbours (1986); both series were produced by the Grundy Organisation, and in 1985, she was cast in another Grundy serial, Possession, just before that series was cancelled.

Jim Robinson (<i>Neighbours</i>) Australian soap opera character

Jim Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Alan Dale. Jim was created by Reg Watson as one of Neighbours' twelve original characters. He made his on-screen debut in the soap's first episode, which was broadcast on 18 March 1985. Jim was the patriarch of the Robinson family. Dale departed the show in 1993 after falling out with the producers over pay and his character was killed off on 29 April 1993. Dale filmed some scenes for the serial in September 2018, which aired on 25 December 2018 and 25 March 2019.

Scott Robinson (<i>Neighbours</i>) Fictional character from the soap opera Neighbours

Scott Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours. He was created by Reg Watson as one of the serial's twelve original characters. Originally played by Darius Perkins, he made his debut during the first episode broadcast on 18 March 1985. Perkins was 20 years old when he received the role of teenager Scott. He felt some anxiety about his audition performance and did not think anything was going to come from it, until the production company contacted him a month later to sign on as Scott. When production moved to Network Ten in 1986, producers wanted "a more upfront" Scott and the role was recast to Jason Donovan, who joined the cast following his graduation from school. He made his debut on 12 February 1986, and producers hoped Donovan's blond hair and blue eyes would increase the character's appeal. Perkins later said that he had been physically and mentally exhausted after filming for nine months, and felt unable to continue in the role of Scott.

Philip Martin (<i>Neighbours</i>) Soap opera character

Philip Gordon Martin is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Ian Rawlings. Originally played by Christopher Milne during the character's first appearance in 1985, Rawlings took over the role when the character returned to the show in 1992 and remained until 1999. He briefly returned in 2005 for several episodes, and later in 2017 for the web series Neighbours vs Time Travel, and in 2022 for the show's then finale. Rawlings reprised the role in 2023.

Julie Martin (<i>Neighbours</i>) Fictional character

Julie Martin is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours. Originally played by Vikki Blanche, she made her first screen appearance during the show's first episode broadcast on 18 March 1985. The character departed in the same year. When she returned in 1992, Julie Mullins took over the role. Julie married Philip Martin and became his children's stepmother. Julie and Philip also had a daughter, Hannah. Julie's storylines have included struggling to befriend her stepson, her crumbling marriage and the discovery that she is a product of rape. Julie was portrayed as a busybody and gossip.

Des Clarke (<i>Neighbours</i>) Fictional character in the soap opera Neighbours

Des Clarke is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Paul Keane. Des was created by Reg Watson as one of Neighbours' twelve original characters. He made his first on screen appearance on 18 March 1985, the show's first episode. Des departed during the episode broadcast on 11 October 1990. Keane later reprised the role as part of Neighbours' 30th anniversary celebrations in March 2015. He also returned for the 35th anniversary on 18 March 2020, again in August and December 2020 and for the serial's final episodes in 2022.

<i>Neighbours</i> Australian soap opera (1985–present)

Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera that has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap Sons and Daughters. Although successful in Melbourne, Neighbours underperformed in the Sydney market and was cancelled by Seven four months after it began airing. It was immediately commissioned by rival Network Ten for a second production season, which began screening on 20 January 1986. Neighbours became the longest-running drama series in Australian television history. In 2005, it was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caroline Alessi</span> Fictional character from the soap opera Neighbours

Caroline Alessi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Gillian Blakeney. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 18 January 1990, alongside her twin sister Christina Alessi, played by Gillian's real-life twin, Gayle Blakeney. Both sisters reprised their roles in June 2019, and returned on 6 September.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Inglis</span> Soap opera character

Terry Inglis is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours played by Maxine Klibingaitis. She made her first appearance on 11 June 1985. Terry is employed by Max Ramsay as his plumber's apprentice. Terry dates Shane Ramsay and Paul Robinson, whom she later marries. Terry kills Charles Durham and later shoots Paul when he goes to report her to the police. The character departed on 5 November 1985. She is arrested for Charles' murder off-screen, and she later commits suicide, becoming the only character from the serial to have died this way.

Eve Morey is an Australian actress. Her roles have included Lucy Green in Pig's Breakfast (1999) and Sonya Rebecchi in the soap opera Neighbours, the latter role played from 2009 to 2022. She has also appeared in All Saints (1998), Home and Away (1998) and various theatre productions.

David Clencie is an Australian actor. He made his debut aged 15 in the children's television series Sam's Luck. He was cast in the lead role of Sam Parkes, after impressing the producer while auditioning for the ABC network. He then appeared in police drama Cop Shop and the 1981 miniseries I Can Jump Puddles. The following year, Clencie joined the cast of The Sullivans as Steve Sullivan, a role which he considered to be his big break. He also had roles in Home, A Country Practice, and Starting Out. From 1985 until 1986, Clencie played Danny Ramsay in the soap opera Neighbours. He left the cast after he and the producers agreed that his character would be rested. After leaving Neighbours, Clencie had a career in real estate and became a voice-over artist for television commercials. He made guest appearances in numerous television dramas, including Blue Heelers. He briefly reprised his Neighbours role in July 2005.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cook, Stephen (9 August 1986). "'Why I quit' Neighbours star tells". TV Week . p. 56.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cooney, Jenny (28 April 2024). "Back to school". TV Week . p. 25.
  3. 1 2 Thomas, Brett (23 May 1993). "Like a chameleon". The Age . Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  4. ↑ "Your week on television". The Sydney Morning Herald . 1 April 1984. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2022– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  5. ↑ Lewis, Jacqueline Lee (1 April 1984). "Feet up? Watch all the wildlife". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  6. 1 2 3 4 Koppe, Margaret (16–22 March 1985). "Big role for a beginner". TV Radio Extra. Vol. 5, no. 226. pp. 15, 75.
  7. 1 2 "They are both good 'Neighbours'" . Aberdeen Press and Journal . 24 November 1986. Retrieved 23 February 2022– via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ↑ McNamara, Marie (14 March 1985). "Our new neighbours". The Age . Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  9. ↑ Oram, James (1988). Neighbours: Behind the Scenes. Angus & Robertson. p. 119. ISBN   978-0-207-16075-2.
  10. ↑ Devlyn, Darren (27 August 1988). "Sam's sexy sister". TV Week . p. 29.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Devlyn, Darren (14 April 1990). "Why Vikki's not nursing grudges". TV Week . p. 25.
  12. ↑ Heath, Sally (18 January 1990). "Sentimental rather than educational look at aid". The Age . Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2022– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  13. ↑ Fulton, Matt (16 December 2021). "Watch: Col'n Carpenter". My Geek Culture. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 Walker, Frank (29 September 1991). "Vikki Bites the Big Apple". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McGowen, Mark (17 October 1992). "Vikki goes from New York to Phoenix". TV Week . pp. 64–65.
  16. ↑ Thomas, Brett (23 May 1993). "Vikki Blanche". The Age . Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  17. ↑ Stratton, David (18 August 1997). "Road to Nhill". Variety . Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  18. ↑ "The Actors' Leap". The Age . 29 October 1999. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  19. ↑ Zion, Lawrie (2 December 1999). "Short cuts". The Age . Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  20. ↑ French, Phillip (24 September 2000). "Mystery in Tehran, torture in Buenos Aires, well-heeled narcissism in London". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  21. ↑ "Winners & Nominees 2000 – Non-Feature Film". Australian Film Institute. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  22. ↑ Hernandez, Eugene (9 April 2001). "Daily News: New Fest Sets Bookends; and Moodysson Wins Taos Land". IndieWire . Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  23. ↑ Duck, Siobhan (15 March 2015). "It's been a mixed bag for the original Neighbours cast since they left the long-running soap". news.com.au. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  24. ↑ "Gallery 44: Ones to watch – Vicky Blanche". Haymarket Media Group. 31 October 2002. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  25. ↑ "Academy signs Vikki Blanche". Shots.net. 24 April 2002. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.