Jane Claire Allsop is an English Australian actress, best known for her role as Jo Parrish on Blue Heelers.

Jane Claire Allsop
Allsop in 2020
Born
Oxford, England
OccupationActress
SpouseDavid Serafin (m. 2014)
Children4
Websitewww.janeallsop.com.au

Personal life

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Allsop was born in the United Kingdom, and only a few months after her birth moved to the United States with her father, John Allsop and mother, Helen Allsop. When Allsop was two-and-a-half years old, her family settled in Mont Albert in Melbourne, Australia. She attended Strathcona Primary School and Melbourne Girls Grammar.

Jane Allsop is married to actor David Serafin, whom she met in acting class at age 13 but did not start dating until years later.[1] Serafin had guest roles on Blue Heelers during Jane's time on the show in 2001 and 2003.[2] In May 2006, Allsop had their first son, Indiana Zac Serafin, and in May 2008 had their second, Jagger Zed Serafin. They had twin girls in December 2016. The couple were married in July 2014.[3]

In 2021 Allsop founded and launched Zoe & Zara a makeup line focused on organic products free from palm oil. In 2024 Zoe & Zara was rebranded to Xoe and the Fox.[4]

Career

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She began drama classes at age nine in Box Hill, and at thirteen she starred in the Wedgewood Pie commercial, where she wore a bright green bikini and was only on screen for a small segment.[5]

Allsop began studying for an Arts Degree but dropped out. She was accepted into the Victoria College of the Arts in 1995 and studied for a visual and performing arts degree.

Whilst studying, Allsop guest starred on television series such as Neighbours (1995), Blue Heelers (1997) and Halifax f.p. (1998). After graduating in 1998, Allsop returned to Neighbours as a different character for several months.

In 1999 Allsop landed her break through role. She auditioned for Blue Heelers and won the lead role of Constable Jo Parrish. Over the next 5 years she would become one of Blue Heelers' all-time most popular characters, winning a Logie Award for the Most Popular New Female Talent in 2000, and receiving a nomination for a Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress in 2005. She played the role until 2004 when she left to pursue further career options. Her character was killed off in a bombing, this was used as part of a major revamp of the show.

After Blue Heelers, the next notable role for Allsop was a guest role in the ABC's MDA. Allsop played Lucy Morello, partner of Andrew Morello who have decided to use IVF to become pregnant.[6] In 2005, Allsop appeared in the children's TV show Holly's Heroes for one episode as Abby Dawson. Also during 2005, Allsop guest starred on Last Man Standing.[7][8]

In one of the first roles after the birth of her first son, Indiana, Allsop portrayed TV actress and comedian Noeline Brown in the 2007 tele-movie, The King: The Story of Graham Kennedy.[9] During the same year, Allsop guest starred on Neighbours as Diana Murray, a barrister working with Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) and Rosetta Cammeniti (Natalie Saleeba) on a legal case. Allsop appeared in ten episodes.

Allsop has been cast in Matching Jack. Allsop plays a character named Marianne.[10] The movie premiered at the 2010 Melbourne International Film Festival[11] before going on wide release in August 2010.

Allsop also had recurring roles in Rush and Tangle from 2010. She appeared in Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer was Here and The Slap in 2011. She had a supporting role in House Husbands and the mini series Devil's Dust in 2012. She joined House Husbands as a main cast member.

Allsop played Felicity in two seasons of the ABC series Rake. In 2018 she was in Underbelly Files: Chopper and True Stories with Hamish and Andy.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
1995 Neighbours Samantha Spry 2 episodes
1997 Kangaroo Palace Cecily TV film
Blue Heelers Angie Henderson Episode: "Fool For Love"
1998 Halifax f.p. Lauper's Girfrield Episode: "Afraid of the Dark"
State Coroner Kirsty Wilson Episode: "Sunday in the Country"
Driven Crazy Cinema Patron 2 Episode: "Noseweed"
1998–1999 Neighbours Shelley Harris/Hanson 2 episodes
1999–2004 Blue Heelers Jo Parrish Main cast (202 episodes)
1999 The Adventures of Lano and Woodley Teresa Episode: "The Pool"
2005 MDA Lucy Morello Four episodes
Last Man Standing Suzie Episodes: "1.3, 1.8, 1.18, 1.22"
Holly's Heroes Abby Dawson Episode: "Stop the Clock"
2007 Neighbours Diana Murray 11 episodes
The King Noeline Brown TV film
2009 City Homicide Jo Andrews Episode: "Rage"
2010 Matching Jack Marianne TV film
2011 Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer was Here Carmel Arthur TV film
2010–2011 Rush Tash Button 12 episodes
2010–2012 Tangle Tanya Hicks 12 episodes
2011 The Slap Tracey Episodes: "Connie", "Richie", "Aisha"
2012–2017 House Husbands Rachel Main cast (26 episodes)
2012 Devil's Dust Eva Francis Miniseries
2013 Underbelly: Squizzy Lady Margaret Stanley Episode: "Squizzy Cooks a Goose"
2014–2016 Rake Felicity Finnane 6 episodes
2014 INXS: Never Tear Us Apart Pat Hutchence Miniseries
2015 The Doctor Blake Mysteries Ruth Dempster Episode: "My Brother’s Keeper"
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Delores Episode: "Death & Hysteria"
The Divorce Police Officer Episode: "1.1"
2012–2017 House Husbands Rachel Main cast (26 episodes) [12]
2018 Underbelly Files: Chopper Detective Martin Episode: "Part One", "Part Two" [13]
True Story with Hamish & Andy Carol's Mum Episode: "Carol"
2019 Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries Shirley King Episode: "Seasoned Murder"
2020 Drunk History: Australia Sarah Episode: "1.1"
Metro Sexual 4 episodes
2020, 2022 Neighbours Lisa Rowsthorn Guest role
2023 Plausible Deniability Kelly O'Leary 1 episode [14]
Surviving Summer Loopy 4 episodes
Heat Louise Fisher 4 episodes [15]
2024 Human Error Bianca 2 episodes [16]

Film appearances

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Year Title Role Notes
2020 The Menkoff Method Nancy Meyer Film
2016 The Menkoff Method Nancy Mayer Film
2014 You Cut, I Choose Jill (27 years old) Short
Cherokee Linda Short
2012 FH2: FagHag2000 Mary the Talk Show Host Short
2011 Golden Girl Cilla's Mother Short
2011 Attack Carol Short
2006 The Deal Tina Short
2002 Guru Wayne Jane White Film

References

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  1. ^ 'Sassy Jane's Leading Man', Woman's Day, April 2000
  2. ^ "David Serafin". IMDb.
  3. ^ "Celebrity". Now To Love.
  4. ^ "About". ZOEY AND ZARA. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  5. ^ 'Tog Dog', New Weekly, 5 June 2000
  6. ^ Lucy Morello (via abc.net.au)
  7. ^ 'No Plain Jane', TV Week, 11–17 June 2005
  8. ^ 'Sassy Jane Turns Heads', TV Plus, 4–9 July 2005
  9. ^ Crowning glory (via smh.com.au) 14 May 2007
  10. ^ Matching Jack (via imdb.com)
  11. ^ Tass and Parker find Matching Jack (via if.com.au) 27 August 2009
  12. ^ Knox, David (23 May 2016). "Cameras roll on Season 5 of House Husbands | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  13. ^ Knox, David (21 August 2017). "More cast revealed for Underbelly Files: Chopper | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Plausible Deniability review: Australian web series is worth the buzz | ScreenHub Australia - Film & Television Jobs, News, Reviews & Screen Industry Data". www.screenhub.com.au. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  15. ^ Knox, David (7 November 2022). "10 Heats up new drama co-production | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  16. ^ Knox, David (2 February 2023). "Production begins on Human Error for Nine | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
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