Wendy Playfair (born 28 August 1926)[1] is an Australian radio, television and film character actress, known for her roles in TV serials.[2]
Wendy Playfair | |
---|---|
Born | (1926-08-28) 28 August 1926 (age 96) |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | Radio (c 1940s), theatre 1949–1960, television and film 1960-2013 |
Known for | Prisoner as Minnie Donovan |
Family | Thomas Playfair Thomas Alfred John Playfair (uncle) Judy Playfair (cousin) Kip Williams (grandson) |
Awards | Macquarie Radio Award |
Playfair started her career in radio serials, but became best known for her brief stint in TV serial Prisoner as inmate Minnie Donovan.[3] Other important roles were in the television series Home and Away and the film Accidents Happen starring Geena Davis.[3]
Playfair was born in Woollahra, Sydney, New South Wales to Edmund Strathmore Creer (Strath) Playfair (1894–1965) and Kathleen Ryrie (Babs) née Campbell (1899–1989).[4] She was the third of four sisters.[5] The Playfair family were well-to-do, socially prominent[6] and in the meat trade.[7] She married James Williams at All Saints Anglican Church on 6 July 1951.[8] She is a direct descendant of the famous Sydney butcher, politician and philanthropist Thomas Playfair, and the niece of politician Thomas Alfred John Playfair. Playfair is the cousin of Olympic silver medalist Judy Playfair and the grandmother of Kip Williams, who is the current Artistic Director of the Sydney Theatre Company.[9]
Playfair started her career in radio where she worked for the ABC and consistently in morning serials for Grace Gibson, as well as in many radio plays. Playfair received the radio Macquarie Award. Prior to television she had also appeared in a few stage roles, but was best known as a radio performer[10]
She has been a staple on the small screen in character roles since 1960, when she appeared in the TV adaptation of a production of the play The Slaughter of St Theresa's Day.[11]
Playfair has primarily appeared in cameo roles, with guesting roles in series starting from the late 1960s until 2013 such as Homicide, Hunter, The Young Doctors, Return to Eden, Spirited, Rake and Packed to the Rafters
However she has had several parts as different characters in serials A Country Practice (three roles), Home and Away (two roles) and All Saints (two roles).
She also has had parts in telemovies and film's her credits include Ride a Wild Pony, the only Walt Disney film ever produced in Australia and a pivotal role in the film Accidents Happen opposite Gina Davis in 2009.[3]
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1960 | The Slaughter of St. Teresa's Day (TV play) | |
1962 | Funnel Web (TV movie) | |
1967–1968 | Homicide (TV series) | 2 roles: -Jennifer Chandler -Ann Radford |
1968 | Hunter (TV series) | Mrs. West |
1971 | Three to Go | Mother (Segment: Judy) |
1973 | Matlock Police (TV series) | Ethel Parker |
1974 | The Evil Touch | |
1974 | Things That Go Bump in the Night (TV series) | Audrey |
1975 | Ride a Wild Pony | Mrs. Quayle |
1977 | Say You Want Me (TV movie) | |
1978 | Bit Part (TV movie) | Emma |
1978 | Shimmering Light (TV movie) | Gwen Stuart |
1978 | Father, Dear Father in Australia (TV series) | Mrs. Trown |
1979 | Glenview High (TV series) | |
1980 | The Young Doctors (TV series) | Mrs Steele |
1981 | Bellamy (TV series) | Milly |
1983–1984 | Prisoner (TV series) | Minnie Donovan |
1985 | Fortress | Old Woman |
1986 | Return to Eden (TV series) | Rena MCMaster |
1982–1992 | A Country Practice | 3 roles: -Gwen Bowman -Val Jackson -Lillian Palmer |
1993 | Terra Nullius (film short) | |
1994 | Cody: Bad Love (TV movie) | Mrs. Unwin |
1997 | Big Sky (TV series) | Mrs. Toohey |
2002 | Don't Blame the Koalas (TV series) | Mrs. Smythe |
2000–2003 | All Saints (TV series) | 2 roles: -Hannah "Bubba" Rosen -Gloria Mayberry |
2005–2009 | Home and Away (TV series) | 2 roles: -Mrs. Grey -Audrey Long |
2009 | Accidents Happen[3] | Mrs. Smolensky |
2010 | The Tree | Aunt Harriet |
2010 | Spirited (TV series) | Geisella McKenzie |
2010 | Rake (TV series) | Elspeth |
2011 | Laid (TV series) | Old Lady |
2013 | Packed to the Rafters (TV series) | Moira Beckett |
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