# Gerda Nicolson

Gerda Maureen Nicolson (11 November 1937 – 12 June 1992) was an Australian actress, who worked across all major forms of media, including theatre, television and films, she was best known for several long-running television roles, and was a constant presence on the small screen since the early 60s until her death. Nicholson's roles included the rural series Bellbird police detective series Bluey and soap opera Prisoner.

## Early life

Gerda Nicolson was born in Hobart, Tasmania, and as a child moved to Geelong in Melbourne where her parents were both involved in reportory theatre. In 1959, she travelled to London with her parents and attended many stage performances. She initially studied architecture, but decided instead on a performing career, attaining her dramatic training at the St Martins Theatre, before travelling to London where she worked as a draftsperson.
On returning to Australia in 1961, Nicolson joined Melbourne University's Graduate Society and acted in a number of its amateur stage plays. A year later, she was spotted by a director who encouraged her to audition for a stage play, A Woman in a Dressing Gown. Scoring one of the main roles, she joined the ensemble on its tour of Australia and New Zealand. Nicolson later said that the producer awarded her with the role on account of her stunning legs.

## Career
### Television roles

Nicholson featured in a TV production titled The Proposal and the Bear for ABC TV, although she first reached wider audiences through her regular roles on television serials firstly with Crawford Productions long-running rural series Bellbird as Fiona Davies. After leaving that series she had a regular role as Sgt Monica Rourke in the police detective drama Bluey (1976) opposite Lucky Grills and also featured briefly in The Sullivans (1976) and had a small guest role in Cop Shop, she later in 1989 appeared in a small role in Neighbours as Robyn Taylor, who almost has an affair with Harold Bishop.

## Prisoner

She became most widely recognised locally and internationally for her role in the cult soap opera drama series Prisoner (internationally also known as Prisoner: Cell Block H) as Prison Governor Ann Reynolds, joining the cast in 1983 after Patsy King left the series and she assumed the role of the new governor. This was her second role in the show — she had already played a minor guest part as a corrupt officer at another prison in earlier episodes. Nicolson played the role until the series ended in 1986. Prisoner found huge international cult success in the 1990s and 2000s. In 2019, it was announced that Jane Hall would take on the role of Ann Reynolds in the Prisoner reimagining series Wentworth.

## Death and legacy

Nicholson collapsed in her dressing room prior to going to stage for theatre performance in Mary Lives! in 1992. Although she was rushed to hospital, she never regained consciousness and died on 12 June. The cause of death was a brain-related haemorrhage. Actress Pat Bishop assumed the role.
Green Room Award: The Gerda Nicolson Award (for an Emerging Actress) was instituted in her name to commemorate her work in Australian theatre, as she is recognised as one of Victoria's finest female actors. This award, protected by The Green Room Awards Association, was presented to the recipient by her widower until his death in 2006. Recipients included; Alison Whyte, Peta Brady and Kat Stewart.
Gerda Nicolson Award for Indigenous female students studying at the Victorian College of the Arts in the areas of performing arts. This award was hosted through the Willan Centre for an undergraduate student.

## Filmography
### Film

| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
| Country Town | 1971 | Fiona Davies | Feature Film adaptation of the television series Bellbird |
| The Devil's Playground | 1976 | Mrs. Allen | Feature film |
| The Getting of Wisdom | 1977 | Minor role | Feature film |
| The Quick Brown Fox | 1980 | Mrs. Flint | Film short |
| Gallipoli | 1981 | Rose Hamilton | Feature film |
| Next of Kin | 1982 | Connie | Feature film |
| The Clinic | 1982 | Linda | Feature film |
| Belinda | 1987 | Belinda's Mother | Feature film |
| In Too Deep | 1989 | Mrs. Lyall | Feature film |

### Television

| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
| Consider Your Verdict | 1964 | Minor Role | Seven Network • "Queen Versus Grainger" |
| Homicide | 1965 | Carol Barwick | Seven Network • "One Man Crime Wave" (#2.16) |
| Hunter | 1967 | Marion Tolhurst | Nine Network • 4 episodes |
| Homicide | 1967 | Anne Elliot | Seven Network • "One Last Wish" (#4.41) |
| Homicide | 1968 | Policewoman Reed | Seven Network • "Valley of Silence" (#5.34) |
| Homicide | 1968 | Tess Barker | Seven Network • "Objection Sustained" (#5.37) |
| Hunter | 1968 | Janet McGregor | Nine Network • 1 episode |
| Bellbird | 1968–1974 | Fiona Davies | ABC • 1,064 episodes |
| Division 4 | 1969 | Ellen Finch | Nine Network • "The Victim" (#1.28) |
| Matlock Police | 1971 | Kate Maddern | Network Ten • "The Big Gun" (#1.2) |
| Boney | 1972 | Clare Joyce | "Boney and the Monster" (#1.10) |
| Ryan | 1974 | Mary | Seven Network • "Give Them the World" (#1.34) |
| Division 4 | 1975 | Mrs. Laston | Nine Network • "Take No for an Answer" (#7.20) |
| Homicide | 1975 | Julie Edwards | Seven Network • "A Quiet Place" (#12.28) |
| Quality of Mercy | 1975 | Minor role | ABC TV series, 1 episode 6: "We Should Have Had a Uniform" (#1.6) |
| The Sullivans | 1976 | Mrs. Turnbull | Nine Network • Season 1, unknown episode(s) |
| Bluey | 1976–1977 | Monica Rourke | Seven Network • Season 1 (all 39 episodes) |
| Cop Shop | 1978 | Marion O'Reilly | Seven Network • 13 episodes |
| Chopper Squad | 1979 | Enid Paramor | Network Ten • "No Strings" (#2.11) |
| Skyways | 1979 | Joan Fitzgerald | Seven Network • Episode: "The Legend" |
| Young Ramsay | 1980 | Beth Emery | Seven Network • "Dyed in the Wool" (#2.13) |
| Prisoner | 1981 | Mrs. Roberts | Network Ten • Season 3 (2 episodes) |
| Prisoner | 1983–1986 | Ann Reynolds | Network Ten • Seasons 5–8 (317 episodes) |
| Neighbours | 1989 | Robyn Taylor | Network Ten • Season 5 (10 episodes) |
| Bangkok Hilton | 1989 | Lady Faulkner | Network Ten • Miniseries (all 3 episodes) |
| Skirts | 1990 | Guest role: Caroline | TV series, 1 episode 6: "Parents Ain't What They Used To Be" |
| Boys from the Bush | 1991 | Betty | BBC One • "Mateship" (#1.8) |
| Golden Fiddles | 1991 | Miss Birrell | Nine Network • Miniseries (2 episodes), (final role) |

### Television film

| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
| Nude with Violin | 1964 | Jane Sorodin | ABC movie |
| Everyman | 1964 | Cousin | ABC movie |
| The Physicists | 1964 | Minor Role | ABC movie |
| Ashes to Ashes | 1966 | Barbara Manson | ABC movie |
| Out of Love | 1974 | Minor Role | Story 3: "Separate Ways" |

## Awards & nominations

| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
| 1977 | Bluey | Logie Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
| 1985 | Prisoner | Logie Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
| 1985 | Prisoner | Penguin Award for Best Sustained Performance | Won |