Betty Helen Lucas (31 May 1924 – 7 April 2015),[1] also known as Betty Lucas Peterson, was an Australian character actress and theatre director, known for her numerous roles on stage and television, starting from the post-WWII years in 1945.

Betty Lucas
Born
Betty Helen Lucas

(1924-05-31)May 31, 1924
DiedApril 7, 2015(2015-04-07) (aged 90)
Other namesBetty Lucas Peterson
Occupation(s)Actress, theatre director
Years active1945–2011
SpouseRalph Peterson

Early life

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Lucas was born in the Sydney suburb of Coogee, New South Wales[2] to Walter Lucas and Marion Gibson. She trained with May Hollinworth at her Metropolitan Theatre.

Career

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She moved to London in the early 1950s and appeared in stage roles, returning to Australia in 1965, she featured in TV serials, including played prominent roles in Prisoner as Clara Goddard in 1979, Taurus Rising as Faith Drysdale in 1982, and Richmond Hill as Mavis Roberts in 1988,[3] Her numerous credits in TV roles in guest appearances in serials included Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police, Certain Women, A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors, Blue Heelers, All Saints, Always Greener. and Packed to the Rafters[4]

Personal life

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Lucas married in 1946 the actor, producer and writer Ralph Peterson, he died in 1996[5] and their son, Joel Peterson (1954–2017), became a cinematographer.[6]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1957 Three in One Freda Feature film (segment: "The City")
1971 3 to Go Mother (Segment "Michael") Short film
1971 Girl in Australia Train Passenger Feature film
1974 Between Wars Mrs. Trenbow Feature film
1980 Rat Race Regina Feature film, FRANCE
1983 Stanley (aka Stanley: Every Home Should Have One) Lady Dunstan Feature film
1984 My First Wife Helen's Mother Feature film
1990 Wendy Cracked a Walnut (aka ...Almost) Mrs. Taggart Feature film
1998 They Eight Short film
2005 Feed Janet Feature film
2006 Jindabyne Vanessa Feature film
2006 Pass Time Harriett Short film
2009 The Ballad of Betty & Joe The Fortune Teller Short film
2010 Herman and Marjorie Marjorie Short film
2011 Cupid Frida Short film

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1957 The Shadow of Doubt Teleplay
1961 Whiplash Guest lead role: Jo Acton TV series, episode: "The Legacy"
1962 ITV Play of the Week Guest role: Rose Jameson TV series, episode: "Lean Liberty"
1965 Dark Corridor Teleplay
1967, 1970–73 Homicide Barbara Mason / Lisa Walters / Elsie Roberts / Florrie / Margaret Belmont / Shirley Barrett / Sybil Reid TV series, 7 episodes
1968 The Queen's Bishop Queen Pauline Teleplay
1968 Fiends of the Family Virginia Teleplay
1969–73 Division 4 Rene Fisher / Mrs. McKenzie / Edie Suttle / Betty Parsons TV series, 4 episodes
1971 What For Marianne? Mrs. Malden TV film
1971, 1973 Matlock Police Nora Gould / Bess Anderson TV series, 2 episodes: "The End of the Road", "Poor Jacko"
1974 Things That Go Bump in the Night Irene TV series, episode: "I See a Dark Stranger"
1974 This Love Affair Guest role TV series, 1 episode
1974 Silent Number Guest role TV series, 1 episode
1974–75 Certain Women Heather TV series, 9 episodes
1975 The Seven Ages of Man Guest role TV series, 1 episode
1976 Do I Have to Kill My Child? Florence TV film
1976 The Alternative Melanie's Mother TV film
1978 Case for the Defence Fiona Malcolm TV series, episode: "A Plea of Insanity"
1978 Cop Shop Mary Reynolds TV series, 2 episodes: "1.205", "1.206"
1979 Prisoner Clara Goddard TV series, 10 episodes
1979 The Young Doctors Sophie Bertram TV series, 3 episodes
1980 Cop Shop Mary Reynolds TV series, 2 episodes: "1.205", "1.206"
1981 Bellamy Rose TV series, episode 9: "Hot Shot"
1981 Punishment Guest role TV series, 1 episode
1981 Homicide Squad Shirley Niven TV film
1981; 1984; 1991 A Country Practice Mrs. Bourke / Nancy Holt / Dot Dalton TV series, 6 episodes
1982 The Don Lane Show Guest TV series, 1 episode
1982 Taurus Rising Faith Drysdale TV series
1982 Silent Reach Sister Beatrix TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1983 The Body Corporate Joan Stelow TV film
1983 All the Rivers Run Janet Raeburn TV miniseries, 2 episodes: "Part 4", "Part 7"
1983 Skin Deep Betty Kennedy TV film
1984 Runaway Island The Hag TV series, 2 episodes: "The Treasure of the Conquistadores: Parts 1 & 2"
1987; 1989 The Flying Doctors Ethel Cameron / Phillipa TV series, 2 episodes: "Give a Dog a Bad Name", "A Rhyme for Reason"
1987 Willing and Abel Lead guest role: Maisie TV series, 1 episode
1988 Richmond Hill Mavis Roberts TV series, episodes: "1.11", "1.35", "1.90"
1988 The Last Resort TV series
1988 The Dirtwater Dynasty Land Lady TV miniseries, 1 episode
1989 The Family Business Regular role TV series, 13 episodes
1989 Tanamera – Lion of Singapore Lady Bradshaw TV miniseries, 7 episodes
1990 More Winners Mrs. Finkel TV film series, episode: "Mr Edmund"
1991; 1995 G.P. Elwyn Matthews / Miss Shepherd TV series, 2 episodes: "Darby & Joan", "Those Who Can't"
1993 Seven Deadly Sins TV series, 1 episode
1993 Hey Dad..! R.J. Thomas TV series, episode: "Fishy Business"
1993 Joh's Jury Evelyn TV film
1994 Mother and Son Mavis TV series, episode: "The Lamingtons"
1996 Pacific Drive Vonnie Wentworth TV pilot
1996 Water Rats Sybil Graham TV series, episode: "Goldstein & Son"
1996 Heartbreak High Violet Abernathy TV series, episode: "4.16"
1998 Murder Call Prudence Smith TV series, episode: "Mix 'n' Match"
1999, 2002, 2006, 2009 All Saints Sister Bernard / Hannah McNamara / Mae Mooney TV series, 6 episodes
2000, 2003 Blue Heelers Mary Barton / Dorothy Falcon-Price TV series, 2 episodes: "Welcome Back", "Father's Day: Part 2"
2001–02 Always Greener Florence Holiday TV series, 5 episodes
2002 Young Lions Grace Beaumont TV series, episode: "Asylum Seekers"
2005 The Surgeon Miriam Beck TV series, 2 episodes: "1.5", "1.7"
2010 Packed to the Rafters Mrs. Luscombe TV series, episode: "To Tell or Not to Tell"

References

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  1. ^ Betty PETERSON
  2. ^ "Betty Lucas". AusStage.
  3. ^ "Interview with Betty Lucas (actor)". 2004.
  4. ^ Betty Lucas at IMDb
  5. ^ Betty Lucas: Actor played many roles on and off stage, Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  6. ^ Joel Peterson, filmmaker whose career covered West Papua to Windsor Castle, Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 19 October 2017.
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