Anne Charleston (born 30 December 1942) is an Australian actress, notable for her career locally and in the United Kingdom in theatre and television. She began her career on the stage in the mid-1950s before moving onto the small screen in the early 1960s, appearing in various telefilms. Following parts in a range of series by Crawford Productions, Charleston became known for her work in the cult classic series Prisoner, where she played three different characters between 1979 and 1984.[1] Her most prominent television roles were in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, where she played matriarch Madge Bishop (1986–1992; 1996–2001), and the British soap Emmerdale, playing Lily Butterfield (2006–2009).

Anne Charleston
Born (1942-12-30) 30 December 1942 (age 81)
Melbourne, Australia
OccupationActress
Years active1955–present
Known forNeighbours
Emmerdale
Notable workHomicide
Bellbird
Class of '74
Prisoner
Possession
Dossa and Joe

Career

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Early television roles

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Anne Charleston first became widely recognisable in Australia starting from the late 1960s on television, taking various guest roles in the Crawford Productions police dramas including Homicide, Division 4 and Matlock Police. Other appearances included guest roles in other Crawford's adventure series Hunter (1967) and Ryan (1973), and in Network Ten-produced police drama The Long Arm (1971). She was in TV plays such as Man of Destiny[2] and The Shifting Heart (1968).[3]

Recurring TV roles: Bellbird and Number 96

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She had continuing roles in soap operas Bellbird and Class of '75, and appeared in Number 96 as a deranged woman named Stella who kidnapped Alf (James Elliot) and Lucy Sutcliffe's (Elisabeth Kirkby) baby in late 1975. She also appeared in the feature film version of Bellbird, Country Town (1971), playing a different character from that which she had played in the series.

Prisoner (TV series)

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In the late 1970s and the 1980s she became internationally renowned thanks to several small roles in soap opera Prisoner. She briefly played the brusque daughter of released prisoner "Mum" Brooks (played by Mary Ward) in 1979, and mother of Judith-Ann, Charleston returned for several appearances in the serial as a policewomen through the early 1980s before taking the larger recurring role of Deidre Kean, mother of prison toughie Reb Kean (Janet Andrewartha), in 1984.

The role was intended to be a long term character in Prisoner, however, in 1985, Grundy cast her in a leading regular role in new soap opera, Possession; however, the series was cancelled by the network later that same year due to lower than desired ratings.[1]

Australian theatre

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Charleston had also enjoyed a busy career acting in the Australian theatre. With St. Martin's Theatre she acted in Wrong Side of the Park, The Irregular Verb, To Love, Angels in Love, A Far Country, The Anniversary, Invitation to a March, Eden House, The Cavern, Have you Any Dirty Washing Mother Dear, Blithe Spirit and Children's Day.[4]

She also appeared in J C Williamson's Woman in a Dressing Gown starring Googie Withers, Juggler's Three for the Melbourne Theatre Company Workshop, and The Secretary Bird starring Patrick Macnee. Other theatre includes Busybody, Port Wine, Night of the Ding Dong, Burst of Summer, Murder in the Cathedral, The Rivals, The Tower, Everyman, Antigone, The Man of Destiny, Otherwise Engaged and The Shifting Heart.[4]

Neighbours

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In 1986, Charleston was cast as Madge Bishop (Mitchell) in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. Madge was a new character added to the series when it switched to Network Ten. The series became popular in Australia and the United Kingdom in the years following. Through the series Charleston became internationally recognised, and won a Penguin Award in 1987 for Best Actress.

In 1992, Charleston left the series and emigrated to the Republic of Ireland. Four years later she accepted the offer to return to Neighbours, reprising the role from 1996. In her second stint in the series, Charleston observed that Madge had been transformed from being bold and fiery to a more meek and passive character, a change that led to her ultimate decision to leave the series in 2000. Her final episode was broadcast in Australia during April 2001. She returned to Neighbours in 2015 alongside co-star Ian Smith to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the serial. Charleston also appeared in a documentary celebrating the anniversary titled Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite, which aired in Australia and the UK in March 2015.[5][6]

Following the news of Neighbours' cancellation, Charleston reprised her role of Madge, imagined by Susan Kennedy as to how she might look if still alive, in the show's final episode, which aired on 28 July 2022 (until its eventual reboot).[7]

After Neighbours

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In 1989, Charleston took on the role of another 'Madge', Madge Allsop in an episode of The Dame Edna Experience on ITV in the UK, when Dame Edna Everage asked Doctor Christiaan Barnard to give her bridesmaid a face lift. Dame Edna did not like Madge's new face, so asked the surgeon to reverse the operation, restoring Emily Perry to the role.

In 2013, Charleston played a role in the Prisoner remake, Wentworth. The role saw her portraying the mother-in-law of prisoner Liz Birdsworth.

After leaving Neighbours for the first time, Charleston lived in Ireland for several years, and returned there after leaving the series again in 2001. With the high levels of popularity enjoyed by Neighbours in the UK, Charleston has now relaunched her career there. She has undertaken theatre and radio work in the UK and Ireland since leaving Neighbours in 2001, and is also a regular performer in pantomime. In 2001, she appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.[8][9]

Charleston took the role of Dossa in comedy series Dossa and Joe, and then had the regular role of Betty Waddell in the relaunched series of Crossroads in 2003. In 2004 she was a contestant in the second series of the Living TV reality television show, I'm Famous and Frightened!

In 2005, she had cosmetic surgery performed on her neck, live on British television, on the Channel 5 programme, Cosmetic Surgery Live. In the same year, she also "regressed into a previous life", as a poor Irish farm girl, when she appeared in the programme Have I Been Here Before?.

In August 2012, Charleston was a contestant on BBC TV's Celebrity Masterchef.

Emmerdale

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In late 2006, Charleston joined the cast of Emmerdale, originating the character of Lily Butterfield, the estranged sister of Edna Birch (Shirley Stelfox) who arrives to attend her great niece Eve's wedding blessing. Unbeknown to Edna and Lily, Edna's son Peter has invited them both to try to get them to make amends. However, a dark family secret will ensure their reunion does not run smoothly.

Of her new role, Charleston said: "I am over the moon to be joining one of my favourite soaps. I am delighted to be playing such a fantastic character."[10] Series Producer Kathleen Beedles added: "We are thrilled to confirm that Anne will be playing the character of Lily. Viewers can expect to see sparks fly when Edna and Lily are reunited and we are looking forward to welcoming Anne on-set."[11][12] Charleson's first taping day was on Monday 25 September 2006, and she first appeared on screen on Friday 3 November 2006. She appeared in only three episodes. The character returned in October 2007 for a four-month run, and returned again in 2008 on a regular contract.[13] Charleston quit in April 2009 and the character was subsequently written out of the serial and made her last appearance on 3 August 2009.[14]

Theatre

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Charleston has appeared in theatre roles both locally and internationally in her native Australia; her theatre credits go back to the mid-1950s[15]

Anne starred in Aladdin at Belfast Grand Opera House in 1995–1996 with Rod Hull and Emu.

In January 2010, it was announced that Charleston would be joining the touring production of Calendar Girls as Jessie (Miss January).[16]

In July 2012, it was revealed that Charleston would appear alongside Mischa Barton in an Irish stage production of Steel Magnolias, playing Ouiser Boudreaux in the production. It was due to premiere at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin in September, and be followed by a nationwide tour.[17][18][needs update]

In 2012, Charleston toured the UK in a production of The Cemetery Club alongside Anita Harris, Shirley Anne Field and Peter Ellis.

The 2014–15 pantomime season saw Anne playing the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at the Redditch Palace Theatre.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Type
1959 Night of the Ding-Dong Louise TV movie
1961 Burst of Summer Sally Blake TV movie
1964 Everyman Beauty TV movie
1965 Otherwise Engaged Pamela TV movie
1965 The Tower TV movie
1966 Antigone Ismene TV movie
1969 2000 Weeks Will's Mother Feature film
1971 Country Town Dorothy 'Dot' Atkins Feature film
2022 Three Thousand Years of Longing Fanny Feature film

Television

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Year Title Role Type
1962; 1964 Consider Your Verdict Lucinda Morell TV series, 2 episodes
1965–73 Homicide Sandra Martin / Elaine Mitchell / Leigh Gardiner / Anne Davies / Sue Tait / Alison Young / Judith Lambert / Irene Taylor / Alice Baker / Jan Whelan / Eva Kemp (as Anne Charlestone) TV series, 11 episodes
1966 Australian Playhouse Yvette TV series, 1 episode
1967 Love and War Guest role TV series, 1 episode
1968 Hunter Patricia French TV series, 2 episodes
1968 Contrabandits Judy TV series, 1 episode
1970–74 Division 4 Lynn Black / Jill Ferris / Estelle Phillips / Dr. Berman / Woman / Grace TV series, 6 episodes
1970 The Long Arm Sybil Duckworth TV series, 1 episode
1971 Bellbird Wendy Robinson TV series, 528 episodes
1972 A Time for Love Rosemary TV series, 1 episode
1972; 1973 Matlock Police Carol Anderson / Sal Stevens TV series, 2 episodes
1974 Ryan Samantha Moss TV series, 1 episode
1975 Class of '74 Faith Adams TV series, 98 episodes
1975 The Company Men Guest role TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1975 Two Way Mirror Gloria Lawrence TV pilot, 1 episode
1975 Number 96 "Mad" Stella TV series
1976 The Sullivans Guest role TV series
1978 Case for the Defence Natalie O'Brian TV series, 1 episode
1978-81 Cop Shop Alison Chambers / Ann Gregory / Jan Morris / Alison TV series, 9 episodes
1979, 1984 Prisoner Recurring role: Lorraine Watkins / Guest roles: Policewoman / Deidre Kean TV series, 22 episodes
1979 Twenty Good Years Melinda Fielding TV series, 20 episodes
1979 Skyways Wendy Stewart TV series, 2 episodes
1980 Timelapse Dell TV series
1983 A Descant for Gossips Margaret TV movie
1985 Possession Elizabeth Macarthur TV series, 31 episodes
1985 I Live with Me Dad Mrs. Harkness TV movie
1986–92;1996–2001; 2015; 2022 Neighbours Madge Ramsay / Madge Mitchell / Madge Bishop TV series, 1372 episodes
2002 Dossa and Joe Dossa Bailey TV miniseries, 6 episodes
2003 Crossroads Betty Waddell TV series UK
2006–09 Emmerdale Farm Lily Butterfield TV series UK, 178 episodes
2011 Holby City Sandy Eaton TV series UK, 1 episode
2011 Justin's House Auntie Justina TV series UK, 1 episode
2013 Wentworth Celeste Donaldson TV series, 1 episode
2013 Doctors Mrs. Anstee TV series UK, 1 episode
2019-20 Bloom Loris Webb TV series, 8 episodes
2021 The Newsreader Avis TV series, 1 episode
2022 Wayward Strand Ida Vaughan (voice) Video Game
2023 Crazy Fun Park Baba Vanga TV series, 4 episodes
2024 Fake Shirley Burt 8 episodes

Self appearances

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Year Title Role Notes
2022 Neighbours: End of the Road Herself TV special
Studio 10 Herself (with Ian Smith) TV series, 1 episode
2019 Soaps' Most Controversial Storylines Herself / Madge Bishop TV special, UK
2018 Loose Women Herself TV series UK, 1 episode
Top of the Box Herself / Madge Bishop TV miniseries UK, 1 episode
2016 The Morning Show Guest TV series, 1 episode
2015 Bafta's 60 Seconds With... Guest TV series UK, 1 episode
Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite Herself TV special
2012 Celebrity Masterchef Contestant TV series UK, 1 episode
The Big Fat Quiz of the 80s Herself (uncredited) TV special, UK
Pointless Celebrities Contestant TV series UK, 1 episode
Big Brother's Bit on the Side Guest TV series UK, 1 episode
2011 This Morning Guest TV series UK, 1 episode
50 Greatest Wedding Shockers Herself TV special, UK
2009 The British Soap Awards 2009 Audience member TV special, UK
2008 50 Ways to Leave Your TV Lover Herself TV special, UK
Top 50 Showbiz Comebacks Herself TV special, UK
50 Greatest TV Endings Herself TV special, UK
2007 Seoige and O'Shea Herself TV series Ireland, 1 episode
Never Mind the Buzzcocks Herself TV series UK, 1 episode
Soapstar Superchef Herself TV series UK, 2 episodes
The Antony Cotton Show Guest TV series UK, 1 episode
Countdown Special Guest TV series UK, 1 episode
2006 An Audience with Coronation Street Herself TV special, UK
The Podge and Rodge Show Guest TV series Ireland, 1 episode
2006; 2011 This Morning Guest TV series UK, 2 episodes
2005 Cosmetic Surgery Live Herself TV series UK, 1 episode
Have I Been Here Before? Herself TV series UK, 2 episodes
The Big Call Herself TV series UK, 1 episode
The Heaven and Earth Show Herself TV series UK, 1 episode
2005 TV Moments Herself TV special, UK
2004 I'm Famous and Frightened Herself TV series UK
It Shouldn't Happen on a TV Soap Herself TV special, UK
The Good Soap Guide Herself TV series UK, 1 episode
Great Soap TV Moments Herself TV special, UK
2003; 2018 Loose Women Guest TV series UK, 3 episodes
2003 The Weakest Link Contestant TV series UK, 1 episode
Today with Des and Mel Guest TV series UK, 1 episode
2002 Kelly Guest TV series UK/Ireland, 1 episode
2001; 2003 Liquid News Herself TV series UK, 2 episodes
2001 A Question of TV Guest TV series UK, 1 episode
An Audience with Kylie Minogue Audience member TV special, UK
2000 Neighbours Revealed Herself / Madge Bishop TV series UK, 3 episodes
1997 Light Lunch Guest TV series UK, 1 episode
1995; 1997; 1999; 2000 Good Morning Australia Guest TV series, 4 episodes
1995 A Bit of Fry & Laurie Guest role TV series, UK
Neighbours: A 10th Anniversary Celebration Herself / Madge Bishop TV special
1991-93 You Bet! Guest TV series UK, 3 episodes
1992 Noel's House Party Guest TV series UK, 1 episode
1989-1991 Going Live! Guest TV series UK, 3 episodes
1991 That's Showbusiness Panelist TV series UK, 1 episode
1990 In Melbourne Today Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
Happy Birthday, Coronation Street Herself TV special, UK
Bruce Forsyth and the Generation Game Guest TV series, 1 episode
Jameson Tonight Guest TV series UK, 1 episode
1989 The Dame Edna Experience Madge TV series UK, 1 episode
The Paul Daniels Magic Show Guest TV series UK, 1 episode
Bazaar Herself TV series UK, 2 episodes
1989 A Tribute to Neighbours: Celebrating 1000 Episodes Herself / Madge Bishop TV special
1988; 1989 Wogan Guest TV series, UK, 3 episodes
1989; 2001 Blankety Blank Contestant TV series UK, 3 episodes
1988 The Royal Variety Performance Herself TV special, UK
1988 The Satellite Show Herself TV series UK, 1 episode

Theatre

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Year Title Role Type
1995-96 Aladdin Belfast Grand Opera House
2010 Calendar Girls Jessie (Miss January) Tour
2012 Steel Magnolias Ouiser Boudreaux Gaiety Theatre, Dublin & Irish national tour
2012 The Cemetery Club UK tour
2014–15 Cinderella Fairy Godmother Redditch Palace Theatre

References

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  1. ^ a b Lane, Richard (1991). Prisoner Cell Block H. London, England: Thames Mandarin.
  2. ^ Vagg, Stephen (4 October 2021). "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: Point of Departure and Man of Destiny". Filmink. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  3. ^ Vagg, Stephen (7 June 2021). "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: The Shifting Heart". Filmink. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b Atterton, Margot. (Ed.) The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Australian Showbiz, Sunshine Books, 1984. ISBN 0-86777-057-0 p 40
  5. ^ Knox, David (28 February 2015). "Airdate: Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  6. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (4 March 2015). "Neighbours 30th anniversary schedule confirmed by Channel 5". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  7. ^ "Neighbours' Madge Bishop returning for finale - 21 years on from death". 25 July 2022.
  8. ^ Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 25 February 2001. ITV.
  9. ^ Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 29 April 2001. ITV.
  10. ^ "Anne Charleson to join 'Emmerdale'". Life Style Extra. Retrieved 13 April 2011.[dead link]
  11. ^ "Madge Bishop joins Emmerdale". Metro.co.uk. 21 September 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  12. ^ "Former Neighbours star joins Emmerdale". RTÉ. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  13. ^ "Soaps – News – Anne Charleston returns to 'Emmerdale'". Digital Spy. 29 March 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  14. ^ Green, Kris (8 April 2009). "Charleston to leave 'Emmerdale'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Anne Charleston theatre credits". AusStage.
  16. ^ "Madge to Bare All!". Holy Soap. Archived from the original on 12 January 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  17. ^ OC's Mischa 'Steels' the show Irish Herald. 11 July 2012
  18. ^ Mischa Barton live on Moncrieff tomorrow[permanent dead link] Newstalk. 11 July 2012 [dead link]
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