Anne Phelan

For the Irish politician, see Ann Phelan.

Anne Mary Phelan OAM (2 August 1948^[1] – 27 October 2019) was an Australian actress of stage and screen who appeared in many theatre, television and film productions as well as radio and voice-over.

Anne Phelan OAM
Born	Anne Mary Phelan (1948-08-02)2 August 1948[1] Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died	27 October 2019(2019-10-27) (aged 71) Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Years active	1968–2019
Notable credits	Bellbird Prisoner Neighbours Something in the Air

Her television soap opera roles included Bellbird as Kate Ashwood, Prisoner (1980–1985) as Myra Desmond, Something in the Air (2000–2002) as Monica Taylor, for which she won the 2000 AFI (AACTA) Award for Best Actress in a Television Drama, having previously won the 1988 AFI Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries for Poor Man's Orange.

She received the Equity Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. She was also an activist for humanitarian causes.

Early life

Phelan was raised in Fitzroy, Victoria.^[2] She was reported as saying that she had no formal study or qualifications for acting or singing, but instead had trained through 15 years work in amateur theatre.^[3] At age 16, she became pregnant and gave her daughter up for adoption, seeing her again for the first time 50 years later.^[4]

Career

Phelan began her television career in 1968.^[5] She had an ongoing role in the soap opera Bellbird as Kate Ashwood in the early 1970s.^[2][6][3]

In the late 1970s, she played guest roles in Prisoner. She took the role of Officer Manson, appearing in one episode of the series in 1979. This character had the sole purpose of threatening to resign over the favourable treatment afforded to prisoner Barbara Davidson in episode 17. Later in 1979, Phelan reappeared in the series, this time playing the role of dopey prisoner Bernadette in a number of episodes.

She first appeared in Prisoner on a recurring basis as Myra Desmond^[6] between 1980 and 1983; Myra was then reintroduced to the series in early 1984 as a regular character and Phelan continued in the role for a further 18 months.

Anne Phalan in her iconic role as Myra Desmond in Australian drama/soap opera Prisoner.

Phelan's other soap roles included Starting Out (1983), Family and Friends (1990) and Something in the Air (2000–2002).^[2][6] She made guest starring appearances in many drama series, including The Flying Doctors^[5] and Blue Heelers.^[2] She was also a regular on Marshall Law^[4] and appeared in the ABC comedy Mother and Son^[4] playing the role of a social worker who befriends Maggie Beare.

She also made two guest appearances in Neighbours.^[2][6] The first, in 1997, was as the character of Claudia Harvey and the second, in 2004, was as Doreen "Peace Dove" Cassidy.

In 2007, Phelan appeared in episode 6 of The Librarians^[4] as a prisoner with the Prisoner theme song.^{[clarification needed]}

In 2012, Phelan joined the cast of comedy drama Winners & Losers in the ongoing role of Dot Gross.^[2][7] Winners & Losers marked her first regular role in 10 years. Prior to this, she had appeared in several theatre productions and made various television guest appearances.^[7]

Community work

Phelan was a public speaker and a recipient of Regional Arts Victoria's Don Mackay Award (2006) for Outstanding Achievement in Regional Touring.

From 2000, she was the patron of Positive Women (Victoria), a support and advocacy group run by and for women living with HIV.^[2][6][4] She received the Oz Showbiz Cares / Equity Fights AIDS 2002 Activist of the Year Award for outstanding contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

She performed and sang with the Choir of Hard Knocks on Melbourne's streets in 2006, busking to raise money for a performance at the Melbourne Town Hall.^{[citation needed]} She was a member of Actors For Refugees, a group of performers who volunteer their time and talent to tell the stories of Australia's refugees and asylum seekers.^[2][4] She was an ambassador for Alzheimer's Australia Vic, educators, advocates and spokespeople for those living with dementia, their families and friends and those who support them.

Death

Phelan died of natural causes on 27 October 2019. She was 71 at her time of death,^[1] although, some sources have stated her age as 75.^[2][4] She was privately cremated.^[8]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1976	The Devil's Playground	Girl in pub	[4]
1980	Hard Knocks		[4]
1985	I Live with Me Dad	Mrs
1997	The Balanced Particle Freeway	Highest Tree (voice)
1998	Edithvale	Mrs Vale
1999	The Craic	Truck Driver	[2][4]
2009	Inanimate Objects	'Mum' Patterson
2009	Charlie & Boots	Female Truckie	[2][4]
2019	Ride Like a Girl		[2][6]

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1968	The Battlers	Ma Tyrell	TV series
1972	Matlock Police	Nurse / Policewoman Williams	TV series, 2 episodes[4]
1973	Ryan	Betty	TV series[4]
1973, 1974	Homicide	Waitress / Valmai Dunn	TV series, 2 episodes[4][5]
1973, 1974	Division 4	Mardi Campbell / Maria Ponti	TV series, 2 episodes[4]
1973, 1974	Matlock Police	Nancy Wells / WPC Winifred Drew / Molly	TV series, 3 episodes[4]
1974–77	Bellbird	Kate Ashwood	TV series[4][5]
1975	Matlock Police	Ellen	TV series[4][5]
1976	The Sentimental Bloke	Mabel	TV film
1979	Skyways	Joan Hailey	TV series, Episode: "We Can Face It Together"[4]
1979	Prisoner	Officer Manson	TV series, Episode: "Episode #1.17"
1980–85	Prisoner	Myra Desmond	TV series[5]
1981	Holiday Island		TV series, 1 episode[4]
1982	A Country Practice	Rita Parsons	TV series, 2 episodes[4][5]
1982	Sons and Daughters	Tenant	TV series[4]
1983	Carson's Law		TV series[4]
1983	A Descant for Gossips	Mrs. Lalor	Miniseries
1983	Starting Out	Mrs. De Soosa
1984	Special Squad		TV series
1986	The Fast Lane	Beth	TV series, Episode: "Following by Example"[4]
1987	The Harp in the South	Mumma Darcy	[4][5]
1987	Poor Man's Orange	Mumma Darcy	[5][9]
1988	Mother and Son	Wilma	TV series, Episode: "The Friend"[4]
1988	The Bartons	Mrs. Frawley	TV series, Episode: "Beautiful Beetroot"
1988	The Flying Doctors	Rosie	TV series[5]
1989	G.P.	Dulcie	TV series[4]
1989	Dearest Enemy	Mother
1989	Inside Running	Justine	[4]
1989	The Flying Doctors	Lorraine	TV series[5]
1990	Family and Friends	Dawn Rossi	TV series
1990	Skirts (TV series)	Mrs. Donovan	TV series
1991	The Flying Doctors	Beryl Horden	TV series[5]
1991	Kelly	Rosie	TV series, Episode: "The Bird Thieves"
1991	Col'n Carpenter	Mrs Fuller	TV series[4]
1992	Late for School	Mrs. Dicks
1992	Boys from the Bush	Betty	TV series, Episode: "Dancing in the Dark"
1994	Blue Heelers	Mrs. Brady	TV series, Episode: "Life After Death"
1994	Law of the Land	Mrs. Bickerton / Gracie Morrison	TV series[4]
1996–98	Blue Heelers	Jeannie O'Dwyer	TV series[4][5]
1996	The Man from Snowy River	Nell Frampton	TV series, Episode: "The Grand Duke"[4]
1997	Good Guys, Bad Guys	Maisie	TV series, Episode: "Gone to the Dogs"[4]
1997	Simone de Beauvoir's Babies	Postie	TV series, 2 episodes[4]
1997	Neighbours	Claudia Harvey	TV series[5]
1999	The Micallef Programme	Madame Pogg in 'Spiffington Manse'	TV series[4]
2000	Thunderstone	Proprietress	TV series,,2 episodes[4]
2000	Dogwoman	Joan Jarvis	TV series[4]
2000–2002	Something in the Air	Monica Taylor	TV series[2][6]
2002	Marshall Law	Esther Hirsh Q.C.	TV series[4]
2003	Good Morning Australia	Guest - Herself	TV series, 1 episode
2003	Welcher & Welcher	Mrs. Cohen	TV series, Episode: "Adam's Rib"
2004–05	Neighbours	Doreen Cassidy	TV series[5]
2007	The Librarians	Big Bertha	TV series, Episode: "And Nothing But the Truth"[4]
2010	Sleuth 101	Pat	TV series, Episode: "A Tan to Die For"
2012–15	Winners & Losers	Dot Gross	TV series[2][5]
2014	Worst Year of My Life Again	Aunt Ethel	TV series, Episode: "Christmas"
2015	Sammy J & Randy in Ricketts Lane	Mrs Tuppens	TV series, Episode: "Dances with Wolves"[4]

Television variety specials

Year	Title	Role	Notes
	Something Special	Solo singing
	Frankie Howerd Specials	Comedy sketches
	The Glitter Sisters	Singing group

Stage

Year	Title	Role	Producer
2010	Do Not Go Gentle	Wilson	fortyfivedownstairs
2010	Dirty Dusting	Olive	Ellis Productions
	Guys and Dolls	General Cartwright	Shows Management
	Fiddler on the Roof	Yente	Fiddler on the Roof P/L
	In the Family (return season)	Marion	Positive Women
	An Accidental Actress (biographical)	Herself	Hothouse Theatre
	Faith	Grace	The Torch Project
	Tune in Tomorrow (return season)	Music Revue	Don Mckay Productions
	If I Should Die Before I Wake	Joan	Auspicious Arts Projects
	Embers	(Play reading)	Hothouse Theatre
	I Do, In Caroline Springs	Joy	Chapel off Chapel
	In the Family	Marion	Positive Women
	Tune in Tomorrow	Music Revue	Don McKay Productions
	Mavis goes to Timor	Mavis Taylor	Deckchair Theatre
	Over There	Workshop	Playbox Theatre
1999	Wonderful Ward	Vera	Melbourne Comedy Festival
1998	Mechtron	Lou Jade	Community Theatre[10]
	A Hard God	Aggie Cassidy	State Theatre Co of SA
	Romeo and Juliet	Nurse	Melbourne Theatre Co
	Sweeney Todd	Mrs Lovett	Queensland Theatre Co
	Aftershocks	Lyn	Melbourne Theatre Co
	Gigi	Inez Alvarez	Queensland Theatre Co
	A Hard Act to Follow	One woman show	La Mama
1994	The Grapes of Wrath	Ma Joad	Melbourne Theatre Co[11]
	Meekatharra	Abbie	Black Swan, WA
	Diving for Pearls	Barb	State Theatre Co of SA
	Dream Kitchen	One woman show	La Mama
	This Old Man Comes Rolling Home	Laurie	Melbourne Theatre Co
	A Family Affair	Agrafena	Northside Theatre Co[12]
1988	Dinkum Assorted	Grace	STC / MTC[13]
	Away	Gwen	Playbox / Vic Arts Council
	Season's Greetings	Rachael	Melbourne Theatre Co[5]
	On Our Selection (& return season)	Mum	Melbourne Theatre Co
	Stevie	Stevie Smith	Vic Arts Council
	A Cuckoo in the Nest	Gladys	Melbourne Theatre Co
	The Good Person of Setzuan	Mrs Young	Melbourne Theatre Co
1980	Flexitime	Beryl	Vic Arts Council[3][14][15]
	Gentlemen Only	Freddi	Playbox Theatre
1978	Cabaret	Sally Bowles	Actors Company[3][16]
	Let Me In		Playbox Theatre
	Flash Jim Vaux	Nell	Melbourne Theatre Co
	All My Sons		Melbourne Theatre Co
	Salad Days		St Martins Theatre Co
	Twelve Angry Women		St Martins Theatre Co
	The Patrick Pearce Motel	Niamh	St Martins Theatre Co
	Cabaret	Frau Kost	Commercial Theatre (SA)
	I Do, I Do	Agnes	Cottage Theatre (SA)

Other work

Radio and voice

• ABC Book readings include: Down by the Dockside and The Harp in the South
• Serials and plays including the production of the one-woman-play Dream Kitchen
• Narrator for Visions of Yankalilla, a documentary for Flaming Star Pictures and the documentary series Grey Voyagers, for SBS
• TV monologue – The Agony and the Ecstasy, for the ABC

Theatre restaurant, live variety, revue

• Cinderella – An Adult Pantomime (Capers Dinner Theatre)
• Sweet Fanny Adams
• Tikki and John's Theatre Restaurant
• The Glitter Sisters (original 14-month Melbourne season)^[3][14]

Corporate

• Anti-Cancer Council Breast Health Video

Awards and honours

Honours

• Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours list for service to the arts as an actress, and to the community, particularly through support for women living with the HIV virus and for asylum seekers and refugees.^{[2][6][17][18]}
• Inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2008.^[19]
• Included in Who's Who in Australia since 2006.

Awards and nominations

Year	Association	Category	Work / nominee	Result	Ref
1984	Penguin Award	Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Serial	Prisoner	Won	[4][5]
1985	Penguin Award	Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Serial		Won	[4][5]
1987	Australian Film Institute Awards	Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini Series	The Harp in the South	Nominated
	Penguin Award	Performance by a Female Actor in a Principal Role in a One-off Drama		Won	[20]
	Variety Club Heart Awards	Variety Club Television Actress of the Year	—	Won
1988	Australian Film Institute Awards	Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini Series	Poor Man's Orange	Won	[21]
	Penguin Award	Best Actress in a One-off Drama		Won	[22]
	Green Room Award	Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Drama)	Season's Greetings	Won	[5]
2000	Australian Film Institute Awards	Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama	Something in the Air Episode: "We Will Remember Them"	Won	[5][2][21]
2002	Oz Showbiz Cares / Equity Fights AIDS	Activist of the Year	—	Won
2006	Regional Arts Victoria Don Mackay Award	Outstanding Achievement in Regional Touring	—	Won
2016	Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance	Equity Lifetime Achievement Award	—	Won	[2][23]

References

1. "Anne Phelan exclusive". The Australian Women's Weekly. 1 February 2017. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020 – via pressreader.
2. Moran, Robert (28 October 2019). "One of the Best Humans: Prisoner actress Anne Phelan dies aged 75". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
3. O'Sullivan, Margaret (12 November 1978). "From Bellbird to Cabaret". The Sun-Herald. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. p. 179. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
4. Knox, David (28 October 2019). "Vale: Anne Phelan". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
5. "Anne Phelan, Australian actor best known as star of Prisoner, dies aged 75". The Guardian. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
6. "Anne Phelan, acclaimed actor on Australian stages and screens, dies aged 71". ABC News. Australia. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
7. Knox, David (29 June 2012). "Annie Phelan joins Winners & Losers". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
8. "Phelan.— Anne Mary OAM". Weekly Times Now.
9. Oliver, Robin (7 September 1987). "Poor Man's Orange". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. p. 66. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
10. Thomson, Helen (11 August 1998). "Community counts the cost". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. p. 13. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
11. Larkin, John (22 May 1994). "Game attempt at a hard act to follow". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. p. 43. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
12. Evans, Bob (17 February 1989). "Miscarriage can't find right track". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. p. 12. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
13. Kippax, H.G. (3 June 1988). "Assorted dinkum delights". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. p. 18. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
14. Gibson, Mike (29 June 1980). "Flexitime's a big laugh". The Sun-Herald. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. p. 135. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
15. Hogan, Christine (24 June 1980). "At home with hound and hearth". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. p. 12. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
16. Costantino, Romola (22 November 1978). "Pocket Version". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. p. 8. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
17. "Phelan, Anne Mary". Australian Honours. Commonwealth of Australia. 11 June 2007. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
18. "Queen's birthday honours". Herald Sun. News Limited. 11 June 2007. Archived from the original on 3 April 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
19. "Victorian Honour Roll Booklet 2008" (PDF). Office of Women's Policy, Department for Victorian Communities. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
20. Hooks, Barbara (2 November 1987). "No yawns at the '87 Penguins". The Age. p. 19. Retrieved 31 January 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
21. "AFI Award Winners – Television Categories (1986–2009)". AFI Awards. Australian Film Institute. 2009. Archived from the original on 20 September 2009. Retrieved 2010-11-21.
22. Hook, Barbara (21 November 1988). "Doogue aside, Penguins look good". The Age. Retrieved 4 February 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
23. "2016: the year in review". Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2019.

External links

• Anne Phelan at IMDb