# Ruth Cracknell

Ruth Winifred Cracknell AM (6 July 1925 – 13 May 2002) was an Australian character and comic actress, comedienne and author. Her career encompassed 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.

## Early life and education

Ruth Winifred Cracknell was born on 6 July 1925 in Maitland, New South Wales to Charles and Winifred Goddard (nee Watts). 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 as a stenographer.
In 1943 she joined the Modern Theatre Players drama school, run by Edna Spilsbury. She resigned from the council in 1945 to become a professional actress.

## Career
### Radio and theatre

Cracknell's first acting jobs were in radio, starting at AWA recording studios in 1945. 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.

### 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. She was a hostess of children television series Play School in the mid to late 1960s. She also played in the 1973 award-winning ABC-TV dramatisation of Ethel Turner's Australian children's classic Seven Little Australians. 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, the series was based 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) 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 (1978), and The Dismissal (1983) as Margaret Whitlam. 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 David Williamson's Emerald City (1987), Grandma Kurnitz in Lost in Yonkers (1992), and Shafer's Lettice and Lovage.
Her best-known role was in the stage production of The Importance of Being Earnest as Lady Bracknell. 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.

## Personal life and memoirs

Cracknell married Eric Phillips in 1957 and they had three children. Phillips was an engineer.
In 1997 Cracknell published her autobiography, A Biased Memoir, which was a bestseller 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. Her children had visited her a short time before.

## Honours and awards

In the 1980 Australia Day Honours, Cracknell was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), "in recognition of service to the performing arts".
She received honorary doctorates from the University of Sydney (1985) and the Queensland University of Technology (1995).
In 1995, Cracknell received a lifetime achievement award at the Glugs Theatrical Awards in Sydney.
In 1998, the National Trust of Australia named her one of "100 National Living Treasures".

### 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 | 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. In 2001, Cracknell received the JC Williamson Award, the LPA's highest honour, for their life's work in live performance.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2001 | Herself | JC Williamson Award | awarded |

### 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 in public before her death. She was the first (and for 15 years) only woman to be inducted.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
| 1993 | Herself | Most Outstanding Actress | Won |
| 1994 | Herself | Most Outstanding Actress | Won |
| 1994 | Herself | Most Popular Comedy Personality | Won |
| 2001 | Herself | Logie Hall of Fame | awarded |

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1958 | Smiley Gets a Gun | Mrs. Gaspen | Feature film |
| 1960 | Reflections in Dark Glasses | Psychiatrist | TV film |
| 1969 | That Lady from Peking | Fortune Teller | Feature film (released 1975) |
| 1976 | The Singer and the Dancer | Mrs. Bilson | Film short |
| 1978 | The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith | Mrs. Heather Newby | Feature film |
| 1978 | The Night the Prowler | Doris Bannister | Feature film |
| 1982 | The Best of Friends | Iris | Feature film |
| 1982 | Island Trader | Victoria | TV film |
| 1983 | Molly | Mrs. Reach | Feature film |
| 1988 | Emerald City | Elaine Ross | Feature film |
| 1989 | Kokoda Crescent | Alice | Feature film |
| 1989 | Kakadu Man | Narrator | Film documentary |
| 1993 | Tale of a Lampshade | Narrator | Film short |
| 1994 | Spider and Rose | Rose Dougherty | Feature film |
| 1996 | Lilian's Story | Lilian Singer | Feature film |
| 1997 | Joey | Sylvia | Feature film |
| 2004 | The Scree | Narrator (voice) | Film short |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1960-61 | Ruth Cracknell | Herself | TV series |
| 1962 | The Patriots | | TV miniseries, 10 episodes |
| 1963 | Smugglers Beware | | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 1964 | Split Level | Alison | Teleplay |
| 1965 | The Mavis Bramston Show | Guest - Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1965 | TV Spells Magic | Guest - Herself with Max Meldrum, Ron Shand, Evie Hayes, Wendy Blacklock, David Copping, Kevin Miles, Gwen Plumb, Chips Rafferty & Keith Petersen | TV special |
| 1965 | Moment of Truth | Sister Kenny | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1966 | Australian Playhouse | Miss Peach | TV series, 1 episode: "The Lace Counter" |
| 1967 | Nice 'n Juicy | | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1967 | Bellbird | | TV series |
| 1967 | I'm Alright Now | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1968 | Fiends of the Family | Maggie | Teleplay |
| 1969 | I've Married A Bachelor | | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1969 | Tilley Landed On Our Shore | Tilley | Teleplay |
| 1969 | Play School | Presenter | 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 | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1970 | Chequerboard | Jocasta | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1970 | The Long Arm | Mrs. Stevens | TV series, 1 episode 1: "The Lion Was First To Know" |
| 1971 | Dead Men Running | | TV miniseries, 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 | | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1972 | Division 4 | Mrs. Harris | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1972 | A Big Country | Herself | TV series, 1 episode: "The Long Distance Search" |
| 1972 | The Survivor | | Teleplay |
| 1972 | The Man on the Ten Pound Note | | Teleplay |
| 1973 | Catch Kandy | Gladys Evans | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1973 | Boney | Elizabeth Campbell | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1973 | Seven Little Australians | Martha | TV miniseries, 10 episodes |
| 1974 | Mac and Merle | | TV pilot |
| 1975 | Ben Hall | Ma Walsh | TV series, 11 episodes |
| 1975 | The Last of the Australians | | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1977 | Sammy Awards | Herself | TV special |
| 1977 | Young Ramsay | Hazel Barton | TV series, episode 7: "The Mystery of the Bora Hills" |
| 1978 | The Mike Walsh Show | Guest - Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1979 | Golden Soak | Prophesy | TV miniseries, 6 episodes |
| 1979 | The Oracle | | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1982 | Spring & Fall | Jessica Lambert | TV series, Season 2 episode 2: "Perfect Company" |
| 1983-94 | Mother and Son | Maggie Beare | TV series, 42 episodes |
| 1983 | The Dismissal | Margaret Whitlam | TV miniseries, 3 episodes |
| 1984 | A Country Practice | Maisie Davis | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1984 | The Mike Walsh Show | Guest - Herself & Garry McDonald | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1985 | 1985 Australian Film Institute Awards | Presenter | TV special |
| 1986 | Face of Australia | Herself | TV special |
| 1986 | The Nights Belong to the Novelist: Elizabeth Jolley, Australian Writer | Herself | TV special |
| 1986 | Alice to Nowhere | Mrs. Spencer | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 1987 | Butterfly Island | | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1988 | Women on Women | Herself | TV special |
| 1989 | Down to Earth | Herself | TV special |
| 1989 | The Maitland and the Morpeth String Quartet | Narrator | TV documentary |
| 1989 | The Bert Newton Show | Guest - Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1990 | The Importance Of Being Earnest | Lady Bracknell | Teleplay |
| 1991 | 'Til Ten | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | The World Tonight | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | The 7.30 Report | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | The Morning Show | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | Photographers of Australia: Dupain, Sievers, Moore | Narrator | TV documentary |
| 1992 | In Sydney Today | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | Sydney Theatre Company 1978-1988 | Herself | Film documentary |
| 1993 | Tonight Live | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1993-97 | Good Morning Australia | Guest | TV series, 5 episodes |
| 1993 | World Series Debating | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1993 | Sydney Opera House Honours Television Gala | Herself | TV special |
| 1993 | Where Were You the Day President Kennedy Was Shot? | Herself | TV documentary |
| 1994 | 60 Minutes | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | Hey Hey It's Saturday | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994; 1995 | Denton | Guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1994 | Eleven A.M. | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | Today | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | A Current Affair | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | Midday with Derryn Hinch | Herself (with Simon Bossell) | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | The Movie Show | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | It's Ruth | Herself | TV special |
| 1994 | The People's Choice Awards | Presenter | TV special |
| 1995 | Creative Spirits | Herself | TV series, episode: Tall Tales But True - David Williamson |
| 1995 | Today Tonight | Herself | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1995; 1996 | Review | Guest Presenter | 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 | Contestant | TV series, 1 episode: "Logies Super Challenge" |
| 1996-1998 | Midday with Kerri-Anne | Guest | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1996 | Sunday Afternoon | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1996 | The 7:30 Report | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1997 | The 1997 Annual TV Week Logie Awards | Guest - Herself/Presenter | TV Special |
| 1997 | Frontier | Narrator | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1997 | Sunday | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1997 | 60 Minutes | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1997 | McFeast: Portrait Of A Power Pussy | Herself | TV special |
| 1997 | The Making of Joey | Herself | TV special |
| 1997 | Monday to Friday | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1997 | Today Tonight | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1997 | McFeast: Plastered and Legless | Guest | TV special |
| 1998 | Laws | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1998 | McFeast | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1998 | Australians | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1998 | Up Close and Personal | Herself | TV series |
| 1998 | Good News Week | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2001 | 2001 TV Week Logie Awards | Logie Hall of Fame Inductee | TV special |
| 2001 | From Vaudeville to Video - A Salute to Australian Comedy | Herself | TV special |
| 2002 | Australian Story | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |