# Carole Skinner

Carole Skinner (born 8 May 1944) is an Australian retired actress, particularly known for her performances in theatre and television, although she has had small parts in films. She is perhaps best known internationally for her soap opera role's as Nola McKenzie in the soap opera, Prisoner, and Sons and Daughters, as Doris Hudson, as well as miniseries, The Harp in the South, and its sequel, Poor Man's Orange, as Delie Stock.

## Biography
### Early career

Skinner began her acting career in 1966, and first rose to prominence as an established theatre performer. Her performance as Olive in a production of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll for the Melbourne Theatre Company in 1977 was met with high regard.
She became well known for her screen roles, particularly in television, making her debut in 1971, when she made a guest appearance in the Australian series, Dynasty, (not related to the American series of the same title) before going on to play a regular in Lane End (a spin-off series to the serial, Bellbird), and further guest roles in Certain Women, The Evil Touch, Ryan, Behind the Legend, and The Young Doctors.

## Television soap opera
### Prisoner, Sons and Daughters and Neighbours

Skinner became best known locally and internationally for her six-month stint as Nola McKenzie in the Network 10 soap opera, Prisoner (known outside of Australia as Prisoner: Cell Block H), during its fifth season in 1983. She later admitted that it was her choice to leave the series after producers offered to extend her contract to continue playing Nola. The character was killed-off in one of the series most iconic scenes, when she was shot in the forehead with a zip gun. This was followed by guest roles in soap operas and drama series', including Sons and Daughters, as Doris Hudson, a house-keeper obsessed with her boss, in which she attempted to smother toddler Robert Palmer in the series' 1985 season cliffhanger episode, as Laura Dennison in Neighbours in 1986, and briefly appearances in The Flying Doctors and A Country Practice.

## Miniseries and later roles

She is also known for her role as Delie Stock in the miniseries, The Harp in the South, based on the novel by Ruth Park, and the sequel miniseries, Poor Man's Orange, also based on Park's second novel of the same name.
She continued to appear in high-profile drama series', including, two different roles in the Seven Network soap opera, Home and Away, as Mary O'Brien during the show's eighth season in 1995, and as Annie Matthews in the twelfth season in 1999, E Street, Minder (when episodes were filmed in Australia), Murder Call, All Saints, and McLeod's Daughters.

## Film appearances

Skinner is also a credited film actress, having appeared in several minor roles, including, her feature debut in the sex comedy, Alvin Purple, which spawned two sequels, and a short-lived television series. She continued with roles during the 1970s, in Eliza Frazer, co-starring with Susannah York and John Waters, and the critically acclaimed, My Brilliant Career, with Judy Davis and Sam Neill, before going on to appear in films, such as, Heatwave, Monkey Grip, Goodbye Paradise, The Umbrella Woman, Howling III, the second sequel to the classic 1981 film, and the 2001 blockbuster, Moulin Rouge! starring Nicole Kidman.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1973 | Maybe Tomorrow | | TV movie |
| 1973 | Alvin Purple | Mother Superior | Feature film |
| 1974 | Parent Teacher Interviews | Parent | Short film (segment: "A Stranger") |
| 1976 | Eliza Fraser | Mrs. Shortland | Feature film |
| 1979 | My Brilliant Career | Mrs. McSwatt | Feature film |
| 1980 | Going Home | Molly | TV movie |
| 1982 | Deadline | Sybil | TV movie |
| 1982 | Heatwave | Mary Ford | Feature film |
| 1982 | Monkey Grip | Waitress | Feature film |
| 1982 | The Mystery at Castle House | Aunt Josephine | Feature film |
| 1982 | A Most Attractive Man | Frances | Short film |
| 1982 | Goodbye Paradise | Landlady | Feature film |
| 1983 | The Weekly's War | Nurse | TV movie |
| 1984 | On the Loose | Mrs. Jones | Feature film |
| 1985 | After Hours | Mother | Short film |
| 1987 | The Umbrella Woman | Mrs. Gibson | Feature film |
| 1987 | Howling III: The Marsupials | Yara | Feature film |
| 1991 | Gotcha | Wilma | Short film |
| 1993 | Don't Touch Wood! | Scott's Mum | Film (developed by ANZ Bank and Small Business Victoria) |
| 1994 | Unacceptable Behaviour | Angela | Short film |
| 1995 | Napoleon | The Cat (voice) | Feature film |
| 1996 | Passion | | Short play |
| 1996 | Whipping Boy | Sex Store Wife | TV movie |
| 1998 | Never Tell Me Never | Dusty | TV movie |
| 2001 | Moulin Rouge! | Landlady | Feature film |
| 2002 | Hetty | Hetty | Short film |
| 2008 | The View from Greenhaven | Bonny | Feature film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1971 | Dynasty | Mavis Patterson | TV series, S2E13 |
| 1972 | Lane End | Peggy Dunlop | TV series, 7 episodes |
| 1973 | Certain Women | | TV series |
| 1973; 1974 | The Evil Touch | Hortense / Madge | TV series, S1E4 & S1E18 |
| 1974 | Ryan | Jane Moore | TV series, S1E31 |
| 1975 | Behind the Legend | | TV series, S3E10 |
| 1979 | Ray Lawler's The Doll Trilogy Other Times Kid Stakes Summer of the Seventeenth Doll | Olive Leech | TV production (filmed 1977) |
| 1980 | Trial by Marriage | | TV series |
| 1980 | Spring & Fall | Jamie's Mother | TV series, S1E6 |
| 1980 | The Young Doctors | Dr Judith Ann Napier | TV series, episodes 846-878 |
| 1983 | Prisoner | Nola McKenzie | TV series, S5, 40 episodes |
| 1984 | The Cowra Breakout | Mrs. Davidson | Miniseries |
| 1985–1986 | Sons and Daughters | Doris Hudson | TV series, S4–5, 14 episodes |
| 1986 | A Fortunate Life | Shalagh Phillips | Miniseries, 1 episode |
| 1986 | The Flying Doctors | Joan Morgan | TV series, S1E20 |
| 1986 | Neighbours | Laura Dennison | TV series, S2, 19 episodes |
| 1987 | The Harp in the South | Delie Stock | Miniseries, 3 episodes |
| 1987 | Poor Man's Orange | Delie Stock | Miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 1987 | A Country Practice | Jean Brown | TV series, S7E59–60 |
| 1990 | G.P. | Pat Kennedy | TV series, S2E36: "Crossover" |
| 1992 | E Street | Cathy Norman | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1993 | Minder | Mary Maguire | TV series, S9E13 |
| 1993 | A Country Practice | Betty Birchgrove | TV series, S13E65–66 |
| 1995 | Home and Away | Mary O'Brien | TV series, S8, 6 episodes |
| 1998 | Murder Call | Mickey Lane | TV series, S2E10–11: Deadline (parts 1 & 2) |
| 1999 | Home and Away | Annie Matthews | TV series, S12, 9 episodes |
| 1999 | All Saints | Sandra Gillespie | TV series, S2E40 |
| 2000 | Bondi Banquet | Judy Trembath | TV series |
| 2002 | Don't Blame Me | Weird Wanda | TV series, S1E5 & 15 |
| 2003 | White Collar Blue | Mrs. Simms | TV series, S1E6 |
| 2006 | HeadLand | Supervisor | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 2009 | McLeod's Daughters | Helga | TV series, S8E14 |
| 2015 | Catching Milat | Margaret Milat | Miniseries |

### Television (as self)

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1995 | At Home | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1996 | Good Morning Australia | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |

## Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1966 | Mother Courage and Her Children | | New Theatre, Sydney |
| 1968 | Sam, The Highest Jumper of Them All, or the London Comedy | | New Theatre, Sydney |
| 1968 | This Old Man Comes Rolling Home | | UNSW with Old Tote Theatre Company |
| 1968 | America Hurrah | | New Theatre, Sydney |
| 1968 | The Rimers of Eldritch | | Ensemble Theatre, Sydney |
| 1969 | Triple Passion British Fashion | | University of Sydney |
| 1969 | The Serpent | | New Theatre, Sydney |
| 1970 | Let’s Get a Divorce | Concierge / Madame de Valfontaine / First Waitress | National Theatre, Launceston, Devonport Town Hall, Theatre Royal, Hobart |
| 1971 | The Recruiting Officer | | Southern Highlands Festival Theatre, Mittagong |
| 1971 | A Streetcar Named Desire | | Southern Highlands Festival Theatre, Mittagong |
| 1971 | Doctor Faustus | | Southern Highlands Festival Theatre, Mittagong |
| 1971 | Duke of Edinburgh Assassinated or The Vindication of Henry Parkes | | Nimrod Theatre Company, Sydney |
| 1971 | After Magritte | | Nimrod Theatre Company, Sydney |
| 1971 | The Removalists | | Nimrod Theatre Company, Sydney |
| 1972 | Listen Closely | | Independent Theatre Sydney |
| 1972 | Housey | | Nimrod Theatre Company, Sydney |
| 1972 | The Last Supper Show | | Nimrod Theatre Company, Sydney |
| 1972 | Bigotry V.C. | | Nimrod Theatre Company, Sydney |
| 1973 | Jumpers | | Russell Street Theatre with MTC |
| 1973 | Long Day's Journey Into Night | | Union Hall, Adelaide, St Martins Theatre, Melbourne with South Australian Theatre Company |
| 1973; 1974 | The Comedy of Errors | | Arts Theatre, Adelaide, Arts Theatre, Adelaide with South Australian Theatre Company for Adelaide Festival |
| 1974 | The Bride of Gospel Place | | Arts Theatre, Adelaide with South Australian Theatre Company for Adelaide Festival |
| 1974; 1975 | The Three Cuckolds | | Playhouse, Adelaide with South Australian Theatre Company |
| 1974; 1975; 1977 | The Department | Myra | Playhouse, Adelaide, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, UNSW Old Tote Parade Theatre, Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre & South Australian Theatre Company |
| 1975 | Chez Nous | | UNSW with Old Tote Theatre Company |
| 1976; 1977 | Going Home | Molly | St Martins Youth Arts Centre with MTC, Greenroom Theatre, Perth with National Theatre |
| 1976 | Old Flames | | VCA with MTC |
| 1976 | Other Times | Olive Leech | Russell Street Theatre with MTC |
| 1976; 1977 | Kid Stakes | Olive Leech | Theatre Royal, Sydney, Russell Street Theatre with MTC |
| 1977; 1978; 1979 | Summer of the Seventeenth Doll | Olive | Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with MTC, Playhouse, Adelaide |
| 1977 | The Doll Trilogy | | Russell Street Theatre with MTC |
| 1977 | Absent Friends | Diana | Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre |
| 1977 | Yesterday's News | Journalist | Greenroom Theatre, Perth |
| 1977 | Otherwise Engaged | Beth | Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre |
| 1977 | Double Edge | Helen | Playhouse, Perth |
| 1977 | A Happy and Holy Occasion | | Playhouse, Adelaide with South Australian Theatre Company |
| 1978 | Curse of the Starving Class | Ella | Nimrod Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 1979 | You Never Can Tell | Mrs Clandon | SGIO Theatre, Brisbane with Queensland Theatre |
| 1979 | The Golden Oldies | Robbie / Nora | Jane Street Theatre, Sydney with Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust |
| 1980 | The Adventures of a Bear Called Paddington | Mrs Bird | Regent Theatre, Sydney |
| 1981 | Roses in Due Season | Lil Marriott / Sally | Nimrod Theatre Company, Sydney |
| 1981 | On Our Selection | Mother | SGIO Theatre, Brisbane with Queensland Theatre |
| 1981 | The Cocky of Bungaree | Diamond Lil | Clark Island, Sydney with Nimrod Theatre Company for Sydney Festival |
| 1981 | The Suicide | | Nimrod Theatre Company, Sydney |
| 1982 | The Struggle of the Naga Tribe | | Nimrod Theatre Company, Sydney |
| 1983 | Morning's at Seven | | Marian Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 1983 | The Kid | | Nimrod Theatre Company, Sydney |
| 1984 | The Golden Oldies | | Seymour Centre, Sydney |
| 1985 | The Removalists | | Phillip Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 1987 | Shepherd on the Rocks | Lily Thripp / Pink Lady / Sonia Slitzkin / Tilda Strutt | Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA |
| 1987 | The Merry Wives of Windsor | | Albert Park Amphitheatre, Brisbane with Queensland Theatre for Warana Festival |
| 1987 | Away | Gwen | Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA |
| 1987; 1988; 1989 | A Month of Sundays | | Marian Street Theatre, Sydney for Sydney Festival, Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA, Cremorne Theatre Brisbane with Queensland Theatre & Northside Theatre Company |
| 1988 | Dinkum Assorted | | Sydney Opera House, Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC & STC |
| 1988 | The 16th Australian National Playwrights' Conference | | NIDA Parade Theatre |
| 1989 | Romeo and Juliet | | Sydney Opera House with STC |
| 1989 | All My Sons | | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC |
| 1989; 1990 | How the Other Half Loves | | Glen Street Theatre, Sydney, Laycock Street Theatre, Gosford, University of Sydney, Twelfth Night Theatre, Brisbane, Gold Coast Arts Centre with Peter and Ellen Williams |
| 1991 | A Hard God | | UNE |
| 1991 | Sailor Beware! | | Marian Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 1992; 1994 | A Cheery Soul | Miss Docker | Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane with Queensland Theatre, Her Majesty's Theatre Adelaide for Adelaide Festival |
| 1993; 1995; 1996 | Barmaids | | Lion Theatre, Adelaide with STCSA Bridge Theatre, Sydney with New England Theatre Company, Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company, Sorlies Restaurant, Sydney & Riverina Playhouse, Wagga Wagga with Theatre South |
| 1994 | Diving for Pearls | | Newcastle Civic Theatre with Hunter Valley Theatre Company |
| 1994 | Waiting Rooms | | Ensemble Theatre, Sydney |
| 1994 | Love Seen in Laundromat | | Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company |
| 1994 | Barefoot | | Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company |
| 1995 | The Floating World | | Subiaco Theatre Centre, Perth, Playhouse, Adelaide, Glen Street Theatre, Sydney with STCSA & Black Swan Theatre Company |
| 1996 | Night on Bald Mountain | | Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA, Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 1998 | Henry IV | Mistress Quickly / Bullcalf | Sydney Opera House, Canberra Theatre, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Monash University, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2000 | The Marriage of Figaro | | Sydney Opera House |
| 2001 | The Oldest Profession | | Ensemble Theatre, Sydney |
| 2001 | King Ubu | | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 2003 | Black Milk | | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney with Splinter Theatre Company |
| 2004 | Our Lady of Sligo | | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 2006 | Breathing Corpses | | Darlinghurst Theatre, Sydney |
| 2007 | Parramatta Girls | | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 2007 | The Estimator | | Bille Brown Studio, Brisbane with Queensland Theatre |