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Ruth Winifred Cracknell AM (6 July 1925 – 13 May 2002) was an Australian character and comic actress, comedienne and author, her career encompassing all genres including radio, theatre, television and film. She appeared in many dramatic as well as comedy roles throughout a career spanning some 56 years. In theatre she was well known for her Shakespeare roles.[1]

Ruth Cracknell AM
Born
Ruth Winifred Cracknell

(1925-07-06)6 July 1925
Maitland, New South Wales, Australia
Died13 May 2002(2002-05-13) (aged 76)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
OccupationActress, author, comedienne
Years active1946–2002
SpouseEric Phillips† (3 children)

Early life


Cracknell was born in 1925 in Maitland, New South Wales to Charles and Winifred Cracknell. When she was four years old, the family moved to Sydney. She was educated at North Sydney Girls High School and, after graduating, worked at the Ku-ring-gai Council[2] as a clerk. At 17 she was taken to the theatre by a friend. She immediately wanted to become an actress and joined the Modern Theatre Players drama school.


Career



Radio and theatre


Cracknell's first acting jobs were in radio. By 1946, she was performing five episodes of radio plays a week. She also performed on stage with the Sydney-based companies the Independent Theatre and the Mercury Theatre. In 1948, she joined the John Alden Company and had roles in King Lear, Measure for Measure and The Tempest. In 1952, at the age of 27, she left Australia to work in London for two years.[3]


Screen


Cracknell appeared in many TV serial productions, and made for TV films. One of her first roles was Reflections in Dark Glasses, a one-off drama broadcast in 1960 and the 1973 award-winning ABC-TV dramatisation of Ethel Turner's Australian children's classic Seven Little Australians. She was a hostess of children television series Play School in the mid to late 1960s. In the 1980s she guest starred in A Country Practice.

Cracknell is best known for her role in the ABC television series Mother and Son. Written by Geoffrey Atherden, who previously had written The Aunty Jack Show, he based the series on the writer's own family experience. Mother and Son first screened on 16 January 1984; it continued for six seasons for over a decade and is often repeated. Cracknell played an elderly woman, Maggie Beare, who was slowly becoming senile. She was cared for by her long-suffering younger son Arthur (Garry McDonald), to whom she was often indifferent but on whom she was also dependent and whom she often cynically played off against her self-centred older son Robert (Henri Szeps)[4] and daughter-in-law Liz (played by Judy Morris).

Cracknell appeared in film productions including opposite Chips Rafferty in the 1958 classic Smiley Gets a Gun, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978), the 1983 The Night the Prowler in 1978 and The Dismissal as Margaret Whitlam in 1983. Later in 1996, she starred opposite Toni Collette in Lilian's Story as Sydney eccentric Beatrice Miles.


Theatre Companies


Cracknell acted for most of the major Australian theatre companies, especially the Sydney Theatre Company. She performed many different roles; Elaine in Williamson's

Emerald City (1987),[5] Grandma Kurnitz in Lost in Yonkers (1992),[6] Shafer's Lettice and Lovage[7] Her best known role was in the stage production of The Importance of Being Earnest as Lady Bracknell.[8] The production was so popular that it was an "ongoing" stage production from 1988 to 1992 and was televised by the ABC. She was also Patron of the Australian Theatre for Young People.

Filmography

FILM

Year Title Role Type
1958Smiley Gets a GunMrs. GaspenFeature film
1969That Lady from PekingFortune TellerFeature film released 1975
1976The Singer And The DancerMrs. BilsonFilm short
1978The Chant of Jimmie BlacksmithMrs. Heather NewbyFeature film
1978The Night the ProwlerDoris BannisterFeature film
1982The Best Of FriendsIrisFeature film
1983MollyMrs. ReachFeature film
1988Emerald CityElaine RossFeature film
1989Kokoda CrescentAliceFeature film
1993Tale Of A LampshadeNarratorFilm short
1994Spider and RoseRose DoughertyFeature film
1996Lilian's StoryLilian SingerFeature film
1997JoeySylviaFeature film
2004The ScreeNarrator (voice)Film short


TELEVISION

Year Title Role Type
1960 Reflections In Dark Glasses unknown role TV film
1960-1961 Ruth Cracknell Herself TV series
1962 The Patriots unknown role TV series, 10 episodes
1963 Smugglers Beware unknown role TV series, 4 episodes
1964 Split Level unknown role ABC Teleplay
1965 TV Spells Magic Herself TV special
1965 Moment Of Truth Sister Kenny TV series, 1 episode
1966 Australian Playhouse Miss Peach ABC TV series, 1 episode "The Lace Counter"
1967 Nice 'N' Juicy unknown role TV series, 1 episode
1967 Bellbird unknown role ABC TV series
1967 I'm All Right Now Herself TV series, 1 episode
1968 Fiends Of The Family Maggie ABC Teleplay
1969 I've Married A Bachelor unknown role TV series, 1 episode
1969 Tilley Landed On Our Shore Tilley ABC Teleplay
1969 Play School Herself - Presenter ABC TV series, 4 episodes
1969 Sex And The Australian Male Herself TV special
1969 The Rovers The Postmistress TV series, 1 episode
1970 Dynasty Biddy ABC TV series, 1 episode
1970 Chequerboard Jocasta ABC TV series, 1 episode
1970 The Long Arm Mrs. Stevens TV series, 1 episode
1971 Dead Men Running unknown role TV series, 6 episodes
1971 Mrs Finnegan Mrs. Evans TV series, 1 episode
1971 John Bluthal Herself TV special
1972 Carry On Spike In Australia Herself TV special
1972 The Cousin From Fiji unknown role TV series, 1 episode
1972 Division 4 Mrs. Harris TV series, 1 episode
1972 A Big Country Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode: 'The Long Distance Search'
1972 The Survivor unknown role ABC Teleplay
1972 The Man On The Ten Pound Note unknown role ABC Teleplay
1973 Catch Kandy Gladys Evans TV series, 1 episode
1973 Boney Elizabeth Campbell TV series, 1 episode
1973 Seven Little Australians Martha ABC TV miniseries, 10 episodes
1974 Mac And Merle unknown role TV pilot,
1975 Ben Hall Ma Walsh ABC TV series, 11 episodes
1975 The Last of the Australians unknown role TV series, 1 episode
1977 Sammy Awards Herself TV special
1977 Young Ramsay Hazel Barton TV series, 1 episode 7. "The Mystery Of The Bora Hills"
1979 Golden soak Prophesy ABC TV miniseries UK/Germany/Australia, 6 episodes
1979 The Oracle unknown role ABC TV series, 1 episode
1982 Spring & Fall Jessica Lambert ABC TV series, Season 2 episode 2. "Perfect Company"
1982 Island Trader Victoria TV film
1983-1994 Mother And Son Maggie Beare ABC TV series, 42 episodes
1983 The Dismissal Margaret Whitlam TV miniseries, 3 episodes
1984 A Country Practice Maisie Davis TV series, 2 episodes
1986 Face Of Australia Herself TV special
1986 The Nights Belong To The Novelist: Elizabeth Jolley, Australian Writer Herself ABC TV special
1986 Alice to Nowhere Mrs. Spencer TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1987 Butterfly Island unknown role TV series, 1 episode
1988 Women On Women Herself TV special
1989 Kakadu Man Narrator Film documentary
1989 Down To Earth Herself TV special
1989 The Maitland And The Morpeth String Quartet Narrator TV documentary
1990 The Importance Of Being Earnest Lady Bracknell ABC TV Teleplay
1991 'Til Ten Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1992 The World Tonight Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1992;1996 Seven-Thirty Report Herself - Guest ABC TV series, 1 episode
1992 The Morning Show Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1992 Photographers Of Australia: Dupain, Sievers, Moore Narrator ABC TV documentary
1992 In Sydney Today Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1992 Sydney Theatre Company 1978-1988 Herself Film documentary
1993 Tonight Live Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1993-1997 Good Morning Australia Herself - Guest TV series, 5 episodes
1993 World Series Debating Herself TV series, 1 episode
1993 Sydney Opera House Honours Television Gala Herself ABC TV special
1993 Where Were You The Day President Kennedy Was Shot? Herself TV documentary
1994;1997 60 Minutes Herself TV series, 1 episode
1994 Hey Hey It's Saturday Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1994;1995 Denton Herself - Guest TV series, 2 episodes
1994 Eleven A.M. Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1994 Today Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1994 A Current Affair Herself TV series, 1 episode
1994 Midday With Derryn Hinch Herself & Simon Bossell TV series, 1 episode
1994 The Movie Show Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
1994 It's Ruth Herself ABC TV special
1994 The People's Choice Awards Herself - Presenter TV special
1995 Creative Spirits Herself ABC TV series, episode Tall Tales But True - David Williamson
1995;1997 Today Tonight Herself TV series, 2 episodes
1995;1996 Review Herself - Guest Presenter ABC TV series, 2 episodes
1995 Ten News Herself TV series, 2 episodes
1995 The Web Narrator TV series
1995;1997 This Is Your Life Herself TV series, 2 episodes
1996 Sale of the Century Herself - Contestant TV series, 1 episode
1996-1998 Midday With Kerri-Anne Herself - Guest TV series, 3 episodes
1996 Sunday Afternoon Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
1996 Seven-Thirty Report Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
1997 Frontier Narrator (voice) ABC TV series, 3 episodes
1997 Sunday Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1997 60 Minutes Herself TV series, 1 episode
1997 McFeast: Portrait Of A Power Pussy Herself ABC TV special
1997 The Making Of Joey Herself TV special
1997 Monday To Friday Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1997 Today Tonight Herself TV series, 1 episode
1997 McFeast: Plastered And Legless Herself ABC TV special
1998 Laws Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1998 McFeast Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
1998 Australians Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998 Up Close And Personal Herself TV series
1998 Good News Week Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
2001 2001 TV Week Logie Awards Herself - Logie Hall Of Fame Inductee TV special
2001 From Vaudeville To Video - A Salute To Australian Comedy Herself ABC TV special
2002 Australian Story Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode

Personal life and memoirs


Cracknell married Eric Phillips on 25 June 1957 and they had three children, Anna, Jane and Jonathan. Unlike many women of the time, she did not retire, but continued to act. Pictures of her wedding and she and her son can be seen in the opening credits of Mother and Son.

In 1997 Cracknell published her autobiography, A Biased Memoir, which was a best seller in Australia. In 2000 she published her memoir, Journey from Venice, which related how she and her husband, Eric Phillips, were visiting Venice when he had a paralysing stroke; she did not speak a word of Italian but she had to organise medical treatment for him and have him returned to Australia in the face of significant obstacles. He later died in a Sydney hospital.

Cracknell died of a respiratory illness in a Sydney nursing home on 13 May 2002, aged 76, shortly after a visit from her children.[2] Paul McDermott's film The Scree, which was released in 2004, featured Cracknell's narration.


Honours and awards


In 1980, Cracknell was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). In 1998, the National Trust of Australia named her one of "100 National Living Treasures".[2] Cracknell received honorary doctorates from the University of Sydney.[9][10] and the Queensland University of Technology.


ARIA Music Awards


The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music.

Year Nominated works Award Result
1992 Paul Gallico's The Snow Goose ARIA Award for Best Children's Album Nominated

Helpmann Awards


The Helpmann Awards is an awards show, celebrating live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group Live Performance Australia (LPA) since 2001.[11] In 2001, Cracknell received the JC Williamson Award, the LPA's highest honour, for their life's work in live performance.[12]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2001HerselfJC Williamson Awardawarded

Logie Awards


In 2001, Cracknell was awarded the TV Week Logie Hall of Fame for her services to Australian television. Her appearance at the ceremony was the last before her death. She was the first (and for 15 years) only woman to be inducted.

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only
1993HerselfMost Outstanding ActressWon
1994HerselfMost Outstanding ActressWon
1994HerselfMost Popular Comedy PersonalityWon
2001HerselfLogie Hall of Fameawarded

References


  1. Lane, Richard (2000). The Golden Age of Australian Radio Drama Volume 2. National Film and Sound Archive. p. 171-121.
  2. Sydney Morning Herald obituary, 14 May 2002
  3. "Advice To Those Who Go To London To Work". Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954). 21 October 1954. p. 6. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  4. Zakharov, Jeannie (6 April 1989). "FILM GOOD TIMES Cracknell live". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). p. 24. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  5. "A change of character in Williamson's new play". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 2 July 1987. p. 2. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  6. Gordon, Sheldon (12 November 1992). "Grandma part specialty for Ruth Cracknell". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). p. 18. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  7. Daly, Mike (24 April 1994). "Specialist in long runs-like 40 years". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). p. 22. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  8. "Crowds see Cracknell in 'Earnest'". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 16 January 1989. p. 13. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  9. The University of Sydney – Awards and honours Archived 10 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Honorary doctorate for actress". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 4 March 1985. p. 8. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  11. "Events & Programs". Live Performance Australia. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  12. "JC Williamson Award recipients". Helpmann Awards. Live Performance Australia. Retrieved 17 August 2022.




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