# Anne Phelan

Anne Mary Phelan OAM (2 August 1948 – 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.
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. 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. At age 16, she became pregnant and gave her daughter up for adoption, seeing her again for the first time 50 years later.

## Career

Phelan began her television career in 1968. She had an ongoing role in the soap opera Bellbird as Kate Ashwood in the early 1970s.
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 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.
Phelan's other soap roles included Starting Out (1983), Family and Friends (1990) and Something in the Air (2000–2002). She made guest starring appearances in many drama series, including The Flying Doctors and Blue Heelers. She was also a regular on Marshall Law and appeared in the ABC comedy Mother and Son playing the role of a social worker who befriends Maggie Beare.
She also made two guest appearances in Neighbours. 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 as a prisoner with the Prisoner theme song.
In 2012, Phelan joined the cast of comedy drama Winners & Losers in the ongoing role of Dot Gross. 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.

## 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. 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. 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. 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, although, some sources have stated her age as 75. She was privately cremated.

## Filmography
### Film

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

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1968 | The Battlers | Ma Tyrell | TV series |
| 1972 | Matlock Police | Nurse / Policewoman Williams | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1973 | Ryan | Betty | TV series |
| 1973, 1974 | Homicide | Waitress / Valmai Dunn | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1973, 1974 | Division 4 | Mardi Campbell / Maria Ponti | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1973, 1974 | Matlock Police | Nancy Wells / WPC Winifred Drew / Molly | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1974–77 | Bellbird | Kate Ashwood | TV series |
| 1975 | Matlock Police | Ellen | TV series |
| 1976 | The Sentimental Bloke | Mabel | TV film |
| 1979 | Skyways | Joan Hailey | TV series, Episode: "We Can Face It Together" |
| 1979 | Prisoner | Officer Manson | TV series, Episode: "Episode #1.17" |
| 1980–85 | Prisoner | Myra Desmond | TV series |
| 1981 | Holiday Island | | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1982 | A Country Practice | Rita Parsons | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1982 | Sons and Daughters | Tenant | TV series |
| 1983 | Carson's Law | | TV series |
| 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" |
| 1987 | The Harp in the South | Mumma Darcy | |
| 1987 | Poor Man's Orange | Mumma Darcy | |
| 1988 | Mother and Son | Wilma | TV series, Episode: "The Friend" |
| 1988 | The Bartons | Mrs. Frawley | TV series, Episode: "Beautiful Beetroot" |
| 1988 | The Flying Doctors | Rosie | TV series |
| 1989 | G.P. | Dulcie | TV series |
| 1989 | Dearest Enemy | Mother | |
| 1989 | Inside Running | Justine | |
| 1989 | The Flying Doctors | Lorraine | TV series |
| 1990 | Family and Friends | Dawn Rossi | TV series |
| 1990 | Skirts (TV series) | Mrs. Donovan | TV series |
| 1991 | The Flying Doctors | Beryl Horden | TV series |
| 1991 | Kelly | Rosie | TV series, Episode: "The Bird Thieves" |
| 1991 | Col'n Carpenter | Mrs Fuller | TV series |
| 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 |
| 1996–98 | Blue Heelers | Jeannie O'Dwyer | TV series |
| 1996 | The Man from Snowy River | Nell Frampton | TV series, Episode: "The Grand Duke" |
| 1997 | Good Guys, Bad Guys | Maisie | TV series, Episode: "Gone to the Dogs" |
| 1997 | Simone de Beauvoir's Babies | Postie | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Neighbours | Claudia Harvey | TV series |
| 1999 | The Micallef Programme | Madame Pogg in 'Spiffington Manse' | TV series |
| 2000 | Thunderstone | Proprietress | TV series,,2 episodes |
| 2000 | Dogwoman | Joan Jarvis | TV series |
| 2000–2002 | Something in the Air | Monica Taylor | TV series |
| 2002 | Marshall Law | Esther Hirsh Q.C. | TV series |
| 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 |
| 2007 | The Librarians | Big Bertha | TV series, Episode: "And Nothing But the Truth" |
| 2010 | Sleuth 101 | Pat | TV series, Episode: "A Tan to Die For" |
| 2012–15 | Winners & Losers | Dot Gross | TV series |
| 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" |

### Television variety specials

| Title | Role |
| 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 |
| | 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 |
| | 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 |
| 1988 | Dinkum Assorted | Grace | STC / MTC |
| | Away | Gwen | Playbox / Vic Arts Council |
| | Season's Greetings | Rachael | Melbourne Theatre Co |
| | 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 |
| | Gentlemen Only | Freddi | Playbox Theatre |
| 1978 | Cabaret | Sally Bowles | Actors Company |
| | 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)

### 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.
* Inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2008.
* Included in Who's Who in Australia since 2006.

### Awards and nominations

| Year | Association | Category | Work / nominee | Result |
| 1984 | Penguin Award | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Serial | Prisoner | Won |
| 1985 | Penguin Award | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Serial | Prisoner | Won |
| 1987 | Australian Film Institute Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini Series | The Harp in the South | Nominated |
| 1987 | Penguin Award | Performance by a Female Actor in a Principal Role in a One-off Drama | The Harp in the South | Won |
| 1987 | 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 |
| 1988 | Penguin Award | Best Actress in a One-off Drama | Poor Man's Orange | Won |
| | Green Room Award | Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Drama) | Season's Greetings | Won |
| 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 |
| 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 |