Lorraine Daphne Bayly AM (born 16 January 1937) is an Australian actress of film, television and theatre, narrator, presenter, singer, dancer, pianist and theatre director, stage manager and writer.[1]
Lorraine Bayly AM | |
|---|---|
 Lorraine Bayly in 2012, at the premier of Annie (musical) | |
| Born | Lorraine Daphne Bayly 16 January 1937 Narrandera, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1954–2018[1] |
| Known for |
|
Bayly has been a performer since she was a child, and became a professional actress in 1954,[1] having started as a theatre performer. She is perhaps best known to small screen audiences for her soap opera roles, especially in the World War II period-piece drama The Sullivans as matriarch Grace Sullivan, as well as roles in legal drama Carson's Law as Jennifer Carson and briefly in serial Neighbours as Faye Hudson, the sister of patriarch Doug Willis played by Terence Donovan.[2]
She is well-known also for having been a presenter of children's television series Play School as an original presenter in 1966 until 1978.[3]
Early life
editBayly was born in Narrandera, New South Wales. Her first performance was at age 3, playing tambourine with the Salvation Army.[4][5] At ages 5–9, she wrote, directed and starred in plays in the local jail; her father being a policeman, amateur magician and ventriloquist.[6]
At age 9–10, she had her own ventriloquist act which 35 years later she performed on The Parkinson Show in 1983, using host Michael Parkinson as her dummy.[7]
At age 11–12, she played classical piano Saturday afternoons live on Radio 2UE.[6]
Career
editTheatre
editBayly was a founder witth Hayes Gordon of the Ensemble Theatre at Kirribilli. She has appeared in professional theatre since 1954, her roles including Chase Me Comrade with Stanley Baxter, playing Linda Loman in Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller's The Last Yankee, Sheila in John Misto's Shoehorn Sonata, Mrs Patrick Campbell in Dear Liar, Margaret in Rough Justice, D H Lawrence's The Daughter-in-Law, David Williamson's Travelling North and Birthrights, Bella in Gaslight and The Male of The Species with Edward Woodward. In 2010 Bayly starred in the well known play Calendar Girls and more recently in David Williamson's When Dad Married Fury and The Sound of Music[1]
Television
editlisted among Lorraine Bayly's many television credits: The miniseries 1915 (ABC), The Challenge playing Eileen Bond, in Grim Pickings (SAFC) as Betsy Tander and as Lindy Chamberlain's mother Avis Murchison in Through My Eyes: The Lindy Chamberlain Story. She was also a popular presenter and original cast member on the children's television show Play School from 1966 to 1978.
Bayly is perhaps best known to television audiences for her portrayal in the drama series The Sullivans (1976–1979), as the motherly Grace Sullivan dealing with life for an ordinary Australian family during the Second World War.
From 1982 to 1984, Bayly played the lead role of in another period television drama Carson's Law as progressive lawyer Jennifer Carson set in 1920s Melbourne. The episodes revolved around the cases taken on by Jennifer and the various personal intrigues of her family. The series also starred Kevin Miles as Jennifer's father-in-law Godfrey Carson and Gregg Caves, as Billy Carson. The series Carson's Law was written specifically for Bayly.
From 1991 to 1992, Bayly appeared in serial Neighbours as Faye Hudson. Faye was a "busybody" who moved in with her brother Doug Willis Terence Donovan and his family.[2]
Film
editLorraine Bayly's film roles include Fatty Finn (AFI nominated), Ride a Wild Pony for Disney and The Man From Snowy River alongside acting legend Kirk Douglas.
Retirement
editIn 2019 Bayly retired from acting due to numerous health problems.[8]
Honours & awards (selected)
edit| Association | Award | Year | Work | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Government | Member of the Order of Australia | 2001 | Honoured | |
| Australian Variety | Variety's 100 Entertainer of the Century | 2006 | Lifetime honour | Honoured |
| Logie Awards | Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress | 1978 | The Sullivans as Grace Sullivan | Won |
| Logie Awards | Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress | 1979 | The Sullivans as Grace Sullivan | Won |
| Logie Awards | Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress | 1983 | Carson's Law as Jennifer Carson | Won |
Bayly was made a Member of the Order of Australia by The Queen in the Australia Day Honours List 2001.
She has won 10 awards from 14 nominations including three Silver Logies in 1978, 1979 and 1983 for Most Popular Actress in The Sullivans and Carson's Law respectively. She was also named in "Australian Variety's 100 Entertainers of the Century" in 2006.
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Birth of Jesus | Role unknown | Film short |
| 1967 | Heaven Help Us | Role unknown | Film short |
| 1975 | Ride a Wild Pony (aka Born to Run) | Mrs. Ellison | Feature film |
| 1980 | Fatty Finn | Maggie McGrath | Feature film |
| 1982 | The Man From Snowy River | Rosemary Hume | Feature film |
| 2014 | Locks of Love | Doris | Feature film |
| 2015 | To My One and Only | Doris | Film short |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Diary of a Plastic Surgeon | Teleplay | |
| 1966 | The Interpretaris | Verna Balovna | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 1966–76 | Play School | Presenter | TV series, 147 episodes |
| 1967 | Owly's School | Presenter | TV series |
| 1967–71 | Homicide | Moira Simmons / Jennifer Tracy / Margaret Stevens / Audrey Shepherd | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 1967; 1968 | Hunter | Karen Savage / Sharon Reid / Diana Mannering | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1967 | Divorce Court | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1969 | Division 4 | Jenny Noble / Linda Szabo | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1969 | The Rovers | Virginia Shaw | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1970 | The Link Men | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1971 | Spyforce | Julia Carpenter | TV series, 1 episode: "The Bridge" |
| 1974 | Silent Number | Jackson | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1976–79; 1980 | The Sullivans | Grace Sullivan | TV series, 594 episodes |
| 1978 | Case for the Defence | Sister Barrett | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1979 | The Wonderful World of Disney | James' wife | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1982 | 1915 | Helen Gilchrist | TV miniseries, 4 episodes |
| 1982 | Smithy's Friends | TV pilot | |
| 1983–84 | Carson's Law | Jennifer Carson | TV series, 184 episodes |
| 1986 | The Challenge | Eileen Bond | TV miniseries, 6 episodes |
| 1988 | The Pandas | Narrator | Film documentary |
| 1988; 1990 | Rafferty's Rules | Gwen Forster / Audrey Shepherd | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1989 | A Country Practice | Jean Richmond | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1989 | Grim Pickings | Betsy Tender | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 1989 | Home Brew | Edna Eustace | TV film |
| 1991–92 | Neighbours | Faye Hudson | TV series, 48 episodes |
| 1992 | The Adventures of Snugglepot, Cuddlepie and Ragged Blossom | Narrator | TV special |
| 1995 | Toddlers and their Thinking | Narrator | Film documentary |
| 1995 | G.P. | Pat Stoppard | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2001 | Pizza | The Fairy | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2004 | Through My Eyes: The Lindy Chamberlain Story | Avis | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 2014 | When the Queen Came to Town | Narrator | TV documentary special |
| 2015 | The Jewel of the Mountains | Narrator | TV documentary |
Television (as self)
edit| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Be Our Guest | Host | TV series |
| 1968 | Marriage Confidential | Herself | TV series |
| 1977; 1978 | Sammy Awards | Guest | TV special |
| 1978 | The 20th Annual TV Week Logie Awards | Silver Logie Winner | TV special |
| 1978; 1979; 1984 | The Mike Walsh Show | Guest | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1978; 1983 | ABC News | Herself | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1979 | The 21st Annual TV Week Logie Awards | Silver Logie Winner | TV special |
| 1979; 1997 | This Is Your Life: Lorraine Bayly | Special guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1979 | Sammy Awards | Host | TV special |
| 1980 | Capriccio | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1980 | What'll They Think of Next? | Panelist | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1982; 1983 | Parkinson in Australia | Guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1988 | Life Education Television Appeal | Guest | TV special |
| 1989 | Accentuate the Positive | Herself | Film documentary |
| 1989; 1990 | In Melbourne Today | Guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1989 | The Bert Newton Show | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989 | The Great TV Game Show | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1990 | Burke's Backyard | Celebrity gardener | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1990 | Working Actor Series | Herself | Film documentary |
| 1991 | Play School 25th Anniversary | Guest | TV special |
| 1991 | The Midday Show | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1991 | Tonight Live With Steve Vizard | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | New Faces | Guest judge | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992; 2012 | The Morning Show | Guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1992 | In Sydney Today | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | What's Cooking | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | Review | Guest presenter | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1993 | Real Life | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | Midday with Derryn Hinch | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | Ernie and Denise | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994; 1995 | At Home | Guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1994 | Homicide... 30 Years On | Herself | TV special |
| 1995–2005 | Good Morning Australia | Guest | TV series |
| 1995 | Ten News | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1995 | Sale of the Century: Battle of the TV Classics | Contestant (with The Sullivans cast Paul Cronin, Andrew McFarlane & Susan Hannaford) | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1995 | The Crawford Story | Herself | TV special |
| 1996 | Play School 30th Anniversary | Guest | TV special |
| 1996; 1997 | Monday to Friday | Guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1996 | 40 Years of TV Stars... Then and Now | Guest | TV special |
| 1997 | The 7.30 Report | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1998 | Today | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2001 | People Dimensions | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2005 | Talking Heads | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2005 | 50 Years 50 Shows | Herself | TV special |
| 2005 | 50 Years 50 Stars | Herself | TV special |
| 2006; 2010 | Today Tonight | Guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2006-2010 | 20 to 1 | Herself | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 2007; 2008 | Susie | Guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2011 | A Current Affair | Guest (with The Sullivans cast Paul Cronin, Andrew McFarlane & Steven Tandy) | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2011 | Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation | Contestant | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2014; 2015 | The Daily Edition | Guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2015; 2016 | Today Extra | Guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Big Ted's Excellent Adventure: 50 Years of Play School | Guest | TV special |
| 2018 | Sunday Night | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2018 | Studio 10 | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
Stage
editSource[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Lorraine Bayly". AusStage.
- ^ a b Dempsey, Shelley (20 June 1992). "Airwaves". The Sun-Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- ^ "Presenters".
- ^ "Lorraine Bayly joins the cast of The Sound of Music with Cameron Daddo and Marina Prior". The Daily Telegraph. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ Lorraine Bayly interview for The Daily Show, Dec 2015, retrieved 20 December 2023
- ^ a b "Nostalgia Week: Lorraine Bayly | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Where are they now? Lorraine Bayly starring in The Sound of Music". WYZA. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ Duck, Siobhan (30 January 2021). "Lorraine Bayly on the health issues forcing her to retire from acting". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 December 2023.