Diana McLean is an Australian stage and television actress and voice over artist, best known for her role as Sister Vivienne Jeffries in TV soap opera The Young Doctors in 618 episodes from 1978 and 1981.
Diana McLean | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 December 1941 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, voice artist |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Known for | The Young Doctors |
Acting career
editTelevision and film
editMcLean made guest appearances in the comedy series Good Morning Mr Doubleday (1969),[1] the classic Australian police series Division 4 (1970)[2] and Boney (1973).[3] She also appeared in a recurring role as Dorothy Dunlop in the Australian series Number 96.[4]
In 1975, she appeared as Helen McGuire in nine episodes of the miniseries Ben Hall.[5] She then starred in a regular role as Sister Vivienne Jeffries (from 1978 until 1982) in the series The Young Doctors.[6][7] In 1981, she also starred in both the miniseries Winner Take All, and the Ozploitation film, Early Frost.[8][9]
In 1999, McLean played the part of Bess O'Brien in Neighbours for 10 episodes.[6] She made further guest appearances in various TV series, and featured in several short films. Most recently, she has appeared in The End (2020) as Iris and North Shore (2023) as Marjorie Abbott.
Theatre
editMcLean's work in the theatre has included The Cold Child in 2006 and Love & Money in 2007.[10][11] In 2014, she reprised her role of Vera in 4000 Miles, for which she was nominated for the "Best Actress in a Leading Role in an Independent Production" Sydney Theatre Award in 2013.[12][13] She toured Australia in 2017 and 2018, playing Florence Foster Jenkins in the stage comedy Glorious.[14] She also appeared in the play Air in 2018.[15]
Other work
editIn 2010, she attended a book launch[16] by screen writer, director and producer Alan Coleman. His autobiography, "One Door Shuts" was launched at the Hotel Bondi, Sydney on 10 January 2010.
In 2014, McLean explained her voice techniques in a video called The Other Side of the Glass.[17]
In 2018, she appeared on the Australian programme The Daily Edition to discuss her career.[18]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Waiting ...for Lucas | Short film | |
| 1982 | Early Frost | Val Meadows | Feature film |
| 1998 | Paperback Hero | Harmony | Feature film |
| 2009 | A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne | Brenda Wood | TV movie |
| 2011 | The Happenstance | Attendant | Short film |
| 2013 | Stew | Grandmother | Short film |
| 2014 | The Other Side of the Glass | Herself | Film documentary |
| 2016 | Banana Boy | Doreen | Short film |
| 2016 | French Girls | Narrator | Short film |
| 2017 | Chapter One: Book Club | Boss Lady | Short film |
| 2023 | The Choice to Love | Short film |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Good Morning, Mr. Doubleday | Debbie | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1970 | Division 4 | Colleen Rankin | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1973 | Boney | Jessica Menzies | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1973 | Number 96 | Dorothy Dunlop | TV series, 11 episodes |
| 1975 | Ben Hall | Helen McGuire (new Walsh) | TV series, 9 episodes |
| 1978–1981 | The Young Doctors | Sister Vivienne Jeffries | TV series, 618 episodes |
| 1982 | Winner Take All | Margaret Coleman | TV miniseries, 10 episodes |
| 1997 | Murder Call | Adele Andriette | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1997 | The Adventures of Sam | Voice over character | Animated TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1998; 2001 | Water Rats | Elizabeth Cartland / Trish | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Neighbours | Bess O'Brien | TV series, 10 episodes |
| 2002 | All Saints | Mary Willard | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2013 | Wonderland | Celebrant | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2015 | How Not to Behave | Ensemble cast | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2020 | The End | Iris | TV series, 8 episodes |
| 2023– | North Shore | Marjorie Abbott | TV series, 3 episodes |
Television (as self)
edit| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 40 Years of TV Stars... Then and Now | Herself | TV special |
| 2001 | BackBerner | Herself | TV series |
| 2016 | Studio 10 | Guest (with The Young Doctors cast: Chris King, Judy McBurney, Karen Petersen & Tim Page) | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2017; 2018 | The Daily Edition | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
Theatre
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | A Bedfull of Foreigners | Helga Philby | Marian Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 2002 | Bench | Dolly | Darlinghurst Theatre, Sydney |
| 2004 | Howard the Arselicker | Seymour Centre, Sydney with 24HRRR | |
| 2006 | The Cold Child (Das Kalte Kind) | Mummy | Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company |
| 2006 | The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek | Gin Chance | Lock Up, Sydney with Alchemy Theatre Company |
| 2007 | Love & Money | Old Fitz Theatre, Sydney | |
| 2008 | Colder | Robyn | Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company & Pussycatomoko |
| 2010 | Three Sisters | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with Cry Havoc & ATYP | |
| 2011 | Julius Caesar | New Theatre, Sydney | |
| 2013; 2014 | 4000 Miles | Vera Joseph | Wharf Theatre, Sydney, Roundhouse Theatre, Brisbane with ATYP |
| 2014 | Other Desert Cities | Silda | Ensemble Theatre, Sydney |
| 2016 | 4000 Miles | Vera Joseph | Australian regional tour with ATYP |
| 2017–18 | Glorious | Florence Foster Jenkins | Australian national tour with HIT Productions |
| 2018 | Air | Mabel | The Old 505 Theatre, Sydney |
| 2018 | The Humans | Momo | Old Fitz Theatre, Sydney with Red Line Productions |
References
edit- ^ "Good Morning Mr Doubleday". www.classicaustraliantv.com. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Division 4 episodes". www.classicaustraliantv.com. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Boney episodes". www.classicaustraliantv.com. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Number 96 on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online". aso.gov.au. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ Webmaster. "Ben Hall | Nostalgia Central". Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ a b O'Hanlon, Paul (17 June 2016). "The Young Doctors: laughter medicine of yesteryear". Australian Times. Blue Sky Publications. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ^ The Young Doctors, archived from the original on 22 December 2021, retrieved 15 August 2019
- ^ "Early Frost (1982) | movie | videospace". www.videospace.fi. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ Early Frost (1982) Trailer, retrieved 16 October 2019[dead YouTube link]
- ^ Rose, Colin (17 July 2006). "The Cold Child". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
- ^ Dunne, Stephen (26 September 2007). "Slow unravelling of imperfect lives". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
- ^ "2013—Nominations and Winners". Sydney Theatre Awards. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
- ^ Gioia, Michael (20 December 2013). "Tim Minchin, Tony Sheldon, Cate Blanchett and More Among 2013 Sydney Theatre Award Nominees". Playbill. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
- ^ Blake, Elissa (30 August 2017). "How Diana McLean sings as amusingly as Florence Foster Jenkins in Glorious". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
- ^ Simmonds, Diana (24 June 2018). "Air". Stage Noise. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
- ^ Alan Coleman Book Launch Part 2 of 3 filmed by Doug Moody., archived from the original on 22 December 2021, retrieved 7 October 2019
- ^ DIANA McLEAN - The other side of the glass, archived from the original on 22 December 2021, retrieved 15 August 2019
- ^ Diana McLean's Latest Project, retrieved 14 August 2019
- ^ https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/227053