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.[2] 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 | 30 December 1942 Melbourne, Australia |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1955[1]–present |
| Known for | Neighbours Emmerdale |
| Notable work | Homicide Bellbird Class of '74 Prisoner Possession Dossa and Joe |
Career
editEarly television roles
editAnne 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[3] and The Shifting Heart (1968).[4]
Recurring TV roles: Bellbird and Number 96
editShe 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)
editIn 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 policewoman 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.[2]
Australian theatre
editCharleston 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.[5]
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.[5]
Neighbours
editIn 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.[6][7]
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).[8]
After Neighbours
editIn 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.[9][10]
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
editIn 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."[11] 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."[12][13] 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.[14] Charleston quit in April 2009 and the character was subsequently written out of the serial and made her last appearance on 3 August 2009.[15]
Theatre
editCharleston has appeared in theatre roles both locally and internationally in her native Australia; her theatre credits go back to the mid-1950s[1]
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
editFilm
edit| 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
edit| 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; 2025 | 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 | 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
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit- ^ a b "Anne Charleston theatre credits". AusStage.
- ^ a b Lane, Richard (1991). Prisoner Cell Block H. London, England: Thames Mandarin.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (4 October 2021). "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: Point of Departure and Man of Destiny". Filmink. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (7 June 2021). "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: The Shifting Heart". Filmink. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ a b Atterton, Margot. (Ed.) The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Australian Showbiz, Sunshine Books, 1984. ISBN 0-86777-057-0 p 40
- ^ Knox, David (28 February 2015). "Airdate: Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (4 March 2015). "Neighbours 30th anniversary schedule confirmed by Channel 5". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ "Neighbours' Madge Bishop returning for finale - 21 years on from death". 25 July 2022.
- ^ Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 25 February 2001. ITV.
- ^ Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 29 April 2001. ITV.
- ^ "Anne Charleson to join 'Emmerdale'". Life Style Extra. Retrieved 13 April 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "Madge Bishop joins Emmerdale". Metro.co.uk. 21 September 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
- ^ "Former Neighbours star joins Emmerdale". RTÉ. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
- ^ "Soaps – News – Anne Charleston returns to 'Emmerdale'". Digital Spy. 29 March 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
- ^ Green, Kris (8 April 2009). "Charleston to leave 'Emmerdale'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ "Madge to Bare All!". Holy Soap. Archived from the original on 12 January 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
- ^ OC's Mischa 'Steels' the show Irish Herald. 11 July 2012
- ^ Mischa Barton live on Moncrieff tomorrow[permanent dead link] Newstalk. 11 July 2012 [dead link]