Annie Byron is an AFI Award-winning Australian film, stage, and television actress best known for Wolf Creek 2, Fran, Muriel's Wedding, and Doing Time for Patsy Cline.[1]

Annie Byron
Born
Inverell, Australia
Alma materUniversity of New South Wales, National Institute of Dramatic Art
OccupationActress
Years active1971–present
AwardsAFI Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Fran (1985)

Early life

edit

Byron was born in Inverell, Australia. She attended primary school at St. Mary's Ross Hill Primary School and Sacred Heart Primary School, then high school at St. Ursula's College in Armidale and Inverell High School. She graduated with a scholarship to the University of New South Wales, where she earned an Arts degree with Honors in Drama.

After graduating university, she enrolled in the National Institute of Dramatic Art along with Steve Bisley, Debra Lawrence, Robert Menzies, Peter Kingston, Judy Davis, and Mel Gibson.[2]

Career

edit

Byron was cast as Lou, the second wife of Harry Sullivan in the Australian television series The Sullivans the year after graduating from NIDA. She has since worked in numerous film, television, theatre and radio productions in Australia for over 30 years. She is best known for her roles as Lil in Wolf Creek 2,[3] as Marge in Fran,[4][5][6][7] as Rhonda's Mother in Muriel's Wedding, and as Mum in Doing Time for Patsy Cline.

She has performed with Australian theatre companies Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir St Theatre, the Ensemble Theatre, The Q, Perth Actors Collective, Hothouse Theatre, Griffin Theatre Company, and the Playbox Theatre Company.[8]

She performed in the sold out run of Sydney Theatre Company's production of Hedda Gabler opposite Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving in 2004 in Sydney and in 2006 at Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City.[9][10][11] She also toured internationally to Dublin, Seoul, and Montreal with Force Majeure's production of The Age I'm In.[12]

Filmography

edit

Film

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1984 Silver City Dorothy Feature film
Displaced Persons Nurse Evans TV movie
1985 Fran Marge Feature film

Won: AFI Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1985

1987 Great Expectations: The Untold Story Mrs. Joe Gargery TV movie
1989 Afraid to Dance Betty Feature film
1990 Shadows of the Heart Rose Flanagan TV movie
1992 The Distant Home Dr. Allport TV movie
Clowning Around Una Crealy TV movie
1993 No Worries Mrs. Burke Feature film
How Wonderful Midwife Feature film
1994 Muriel's Wedding Berris (Rhonda's mother) Feature film
1997 Doing Time for Patsy Cline Ralph's mum Feature film

Nominated: AFI Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in 1997

2000 My Mother Frank Eunice Feature film
Six O'Clock Swill Aunt Alice Short film
2003 The Postcard Bandit Thelma Abbott TV movie
2006 Stepfather of the Bride Stephanie TV movie
2007 Glory Glory Short film
In The Company of Actors Herself Documentary film
2008 ActingClassof1977.com Herself Documentary film
The View from Greenhaven Clare Feature film
2013 Wolf Creek 2 Lil Feature film
2014 Glory Glory Short film
2015 Ruby Ruby Short film
2018 Slam Diana Feature film
2020 Mothboy Leading Short film
Goodbye Text Bridget Short film
2022 Nut Farm Esme Feature film

[13]

Television

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1971 The Comedy Game Actress Episode: "Aunty Jack's Travelling Show"
1976-83 The Sullivans Lou Sullivan 1978-80
1978 Father, Dear Father In Australia Mrs. Rees Episode: "Novel Exercise"
1988 The Flying Doctors Julie McDonald Episode: "Johnnie Come Home"
1983-92 A Country Practice Patricia York / June Allen / Vivienne Roberts / Meryl Bellamy / Carol Hacking / Liz Mitchell 11 episodes
1990 Home and Away Angela Newton 3 episodes
1998-2006 All Saints Maisie Sparks / Julie Costello 3 episodes
1999 Murder Call Magda Trebor Episode: "Dead Offerings"
2000 The Potato Factory Lusty Duchess (main) Miniseries, 4 episodes
Backberner Politician
2003 Always Greener Lolly Hopkins 3 episodes
Stingers Liliana Jarras Episode: "Sons & Lovers"
2006 All Saints Maisey
2008 Molly (guest)
2018 Drop Dead Weird Maryanne Season 2
2017 Growing Up Gracefully Barrister
2017 Home and Away Grandmother (guest)
2018 Doctor Doctor Vivian

[13]

Stage

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1978 La bohème Bohemian Theatre 3, Acton with Canberra Repertory Society
1978 Widowers' Houses Maid Parade Theatre with Old Tote Theatre Company
1979 Interview D1 Studio, Kensington with NIDA
1979 Little Lunches ABC Radio Sydney
1979 A Cheery Soul Mrs Wakeman / Mrs Watmuff Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company
1979 The Lady of the Camellias Maid Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company
1979 Discovering Australia Main cast Orange Doors Theatre / St John's Hall, Paddington with Griffin Theatre Company
1979 The Grand Finale of Rene Trouver Her Orange Doors Theatre / St John's Hall, Paddington with Griffin Theatre Company
1980 New Blood Woman Performance Space, Cleveland Street
1981 The Rocky Horror Show Janet Australian tour with Phillip Emanuel Productions & J. C. Williamson's[14]
1981 The Bridal Suite Vera, the bride Stables Theatre with Griffin Theatre Company
1981 The Venetian Twins Rosaura Seymour Centre, Canberra Theatre, Festival Theatre Adelaide, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne & Geelong with Nimrod Theatre Company
1983 Miss Julie Servant Belvoir Street Theatre with Nimrod Theatre Company
1983 The Bear Servant Belvoir Street Theatre with Nimrod Theatre Company
1984 1984 A.D. Main cast Sydney Festival & Arts Theatre, Adelaide for Adelaide Festival & Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust
1984 The Shifting Heart Leila Pratt Phillip Street Theatre
1986 The Man from Mukinupin Main cast Q Theatre Company
All the Black Dogs The Mother Griffin Theatre Company
1987 A Lie of the Mind Meg (Beth's mother) Belvoir Theatre Company with Company B[15]
1988 Capricornia Buller / Hollower / Aviatrix Australian national tour with Belvoir Street Theatre / with Company B
1989 After Dinner Dympie Griffin Theatre Company
Dreams of a Salesman Main cast School tour with Sydney Theatre Company
1989 Jigsaw Sister Q Theatre Company
Away Coral Q Theatre Company / Marian Street Theatre
The Painted Woman Molly Belvoir Street Theatre
1992 Pushin' Up Daisies Mum Stables Theatre with Griffin Theatre Company
The Cripple of Inishmaan Kate Sydney Theatre Company
Morning Sacrifice Miss Sole Sydney Theatre Company
1994 Breaststroke SWY Theatre, Perth / Perth Actors Collective
1995 That Christmas in '75 Theatre South, Coniston
1995 The Passion and its Deep Connection with Lemon Delicious Pudding Malthouse Theatre for Playbox Theatre Company
1996 Playgrounds Wharf Theatre, Sydney with Sydney Theatre Company
1997 Act One Ensemble Theatre
1997 Flexi-Time Ensemble Theatre
1997 Market Forces Ensemble Theatre
2001 Up the Creek Belvoir Street Theatre
2002 Earl Stables Theatre with Griffin Theatre Company
A Conversation Coral Australian national tour with Ensemble Theatre
2003 Wonderlands Cathy Andrews The Butter Factory Theatre, Wodonga, Riverina Playhouse & Stables Theatre with Griffin Theatre Company / HotHouse Theatre
2003 The Blue Roof The Woman The Street Theatre, Acton & Australian national tour with Jigsaw Theatre Company
2003 Eleanor and Eve Eve Q Theatre with Weatherboard Theatre Company
2004 The Vagina Monologues Footbridge Theatre, University of Sydney
2004 The Nargun and the Stars Edie Sydney Festival & Perth Festival with ERTH
2004 / 2006 Hedda Gabler Berta Wharf Theatre, Sydney & Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City with Sydney Theatre Company
2005 Bed Flo Wharf Theatre, Sydney with Sydney Theatre Company
2005 Nailed Dolly Stables Theatre with Griffin Theatre Company
2006 Embers Various characters The Butter Factory Theatre, Wodonga, Majestic Cinemas Sydney & Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company / HotHouse Theatre
2007 Parramatta Girls Gayle Belvoir Theatre Company for Company B
2007 The Small Things The Woman Belvoir Theatre Company with Splinter Theatre Company / B Sharp
2007 ALP Arts Election Launch Riverside Theatres Parramatta
2008 Yibiyung Teacher / Matron / Farmer's Wife Belvoir Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre & Riverside Theatres Parramatta
2009 The Nargun and the Stars Edie Regal Theatre, Perth with ERTH
2009-10 The Age I'm In Maggie (Grandmother) Sydney Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival with Force Majeure
2010 Calendar Girls Lady Cravenshire / Lady Catherine / Brenda Halse Comedy Theatre & Australian national tour with Gordon Frost Organisation
2010 Zero Tolerance Sundry / Main cast Q Theatre
2011 Before/After Sundry / Main Cast Wharf Theatre, Sydney with Sydney Theatre Company
2011 Dad and Dave: On Our Selection Mum Q Theatre
2011 / 2012 Boxing Day Nana / Poppy Old Fitzroy Theatre & Australian regional tour with Critical Stages
2011 / 2013 RU4ME Connie One woman show at Riverside Theatres Parramatta
2016 Never Did Me Any Harm Creative development Carriageworks with Force Majeure
2012 Biddies Beryl Australian national tour with CDP
2013 From Door to Door Bessie Sydney Jewish Museum with Blumenthal Productions
2014 Parramatta Girls Judi Lennox Theatre, Parramatta
2014 A Doll's House Helen Seymour Centre with SFI
2015 The Crucible Rebecca Nurse Leura Park Estate, Curlewis for Sport For Jove Theatre Company
2015 Head Full of Love Nessa Tavistock Australian tour with QTC
2016 Life Without Me Mrs Spence (Martin's mum) Seymour Centre with Illuminate Educate
2016 My Name is Asher Lev Mother / Art Dealer / Model Eternity Playhouse with Blumenthal Productions
2017 Babes in the Woods Auntie Avaricia / The Dame Old Fitzroy Theatre
Diving for Pearls Q Theatre Company
Inside the Island Belvoir Street Theatre with Company B
2016 Inner Voices Pet Old Fitzroy Theatre
2017 Neighbourhood Watch Lennox Theatre, Parramatta
2017 Kindertransport Lil Miller Darlinghurst Theatre with Eternity Playhouse
2017 You Will Not Play Wagner Esther Eternity Playhouse with Blumenthal Productions
2017 The Age I'm In Maggie (Grandmother) World Tour (Pavilion Theatre Dublin, Cinquieme Salle Montreal, ArKo Arts Theatre, South Korea) with Force Majeure
2019 Mosquitoes Karen (Mother) Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company
2019 The God of Isaac Mrs Adams Darlinghurst Theatre Company with Blumenthal Productions
2020 A Kind of Reunion (reading) ARA Darling Quarter Theatre with Blumenthal Productions
2020 Everybody Kings Cross Theatre with Cross Pollinate Productions[16]
2021 Two Sisters (reading) Edith Emanuel Synagogue[17]
2022 Her Brilliant Career (reading) Performer State Theatre with Blumenthal Productions
2023 Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge Miss Nancy Australian Chamber Orchestra

[18][19][13][12][20][21]

Awards

edit
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1985 Fran AFI Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Won[22]
1997 Doing Time for Patsy Cline AFI Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated[23]

References

edit
  1. ^ Cerabona, Ron (4 September 2013). "Date with destiny". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  2. ^ Media, Australian Community Media - Fairfax (26 October 2012). "Annie Byron returns". The Inverell Times. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  3. ^ FilmInk Digital July 2014 v9.31: Australia's Best Movie Magazine. FilmInk. 19 June 2014.
  4. ^ McFarlane, Brian; Mayer, Geoff (26 June 1992). New Australian Cinema: Sources and Parallels in American and British Film. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521387682.
  5. ^ "Curator's notes Fran (1985) on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online". aso.gov.au. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Fran | San Francisco Film Festival". history.sffs.org. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Fran (1985) - The Screen Guide - Screen Australia". www.screenaustralia.gov.au.
  8. ^ "Annie Byron | In the Company of Actors". In the Company of Actors. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  9. ^ Willis, John; Hodges, Ben (1 July 2008). Theatre World 2005-2006: The Most Complete Record of the American Theatre. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9781557837080. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  10. ^ Brantley, Ben (3 March 2006). "A Heroine in a Hurry, via Ibsen". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  11. ^ "Cate Blanchett to Be Hedda Gabler at BAM in 2006 | Playbill". Playbill. 8 December 2004. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  12. ^ a b McMicking, www.paramountgraphics.com.au, Rob. "CALENDAR GIRLS - AUSTRALIA". www.paramountgraphics.com.au. Retrieved 28 June 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ a b c "Liberty Artist Management". libertyartistmgt.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Australian Tour 1981-82". Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  15. ^ Evans, Bob (31 July 1987). "Bond of blood and bone". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 16. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com.  
  16. ^ "Everybody". kxt on broadway. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Two Sisters". City of Sydney - What’s On. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  18. ^ https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/251009 Archived 9 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine [bare URL]
  19. ^ "AusStage". www.ausstage.edu.au. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  20. ^ https://belvoir.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Parramatta-Girls_program.pdf Archived 16 August 2024 at the Wayback Machine [bare URL]
  21. ^ https://productionshowcast.blob.core.windows.net/actor-pdfs/54fcb5ed-27fd-4e4a-900d-9a82f5bf3d6a.pdf Archived 28 March 2024 at the Wayback Machine [bare URL]
  22. ^ "AFI | AACTA | Winners & Nominees | 1980-1989 | 1985". www.aacta.org. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  23. ^ "Australian Television: 1997 AFI Awards". www.australiantelevision.net. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
edit