# Maggie Dence

Margaret Helen Dence AM (born 1 February 1942) is an Australian actress of stage and screen, with a career spanning some seven decades. She is equally at home in both comedy and drama roles.
Dence is best known to early audiences for her roles in the satirical TV comedy The Mavis Bramston Show, and also serving as that series' mascot (originally portrayed in the pilot by Noeline Brown).
Dence featured in comedy Kingswood Country with stars Ross Higgins and Judi Farr as snobbish Merle Bullpit.
Her dramatic roles she is known for were in TV series The Sullivans as Rose Sullivan, Prisoner as Bev Baker and Neighbours as school headmistress Dorothy Burke.

## Professional career
### TV and film
#### Mavis Bramston and Kingswood Country

Dence played various characters influential Australian satirical sketch comedy program The Mavis Bramston Show from 1966 and 1968. One of her characters was the title character Mavis Bramston – the joke being that Mavis appeared in only the opening segment of each episode and was not seen again thereafter. She was also a recurring guest in the popular 1980s sitcom Kingswood Country, playing the snobbish Merle Bulpitt.

#### Soap opera: The Sullivans, Prisoner and Neighbours

Her best-known soap opera roles are The Sullivans as the sweet-natured Rose Sullivan between 1976 and 1978, Prisoner in a darker role in 1984 as an evil psychopath and serial killer called Bev 'The Beast' Baker, and Neighbours as stern school headmistress Dorothy Burke in the early 1990s.

#### Other roles

Dence also had smaller cameo roles in TV serials A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors, All Saints and Heartbreak High.
In 2005 she appeared in the award-winning Australian film Look Both Ways.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1971 | Wake in Fright | Receptionist | Feature film |
| 1982 | The Best of Friends | Shop assistant | Feature film |
| 1982 | The Return of Captain Invincible | Italian Lady | Feature film |
| 1988 | Cherith | | Film short |
| 1989 | Luigi's Ladies | Shandra | Feature film |
| 2003 | Danny Deckchair | Meredith Butcher | Feature film |
| 2003 | Peter Pan | Lady Quiller Couch | Feature film |
| 2005 | Look Both Ways | Joan | Feature film |
| 2009 | Grace | Nona | Film short |
| 2015 | The Witching Hour | Old Witch | Film short |
| 2015 | The Widow | Elaine | Film short |
| 2016 | The Mother Situation | | Film short |
| 2016 | Setaceous | | Film short |
| 2018 | Granny | Granny | Film short |
| 2018 | Inside Water | Yabby | Film short |
| 2019 | Strangers | Bibi | Film short |
| 20?? | Dirt Cheap | Irene | Feature film |
| 2021 | The Drover's Wife | Mrs. Shirley McGuiness | Feature film |
| 2023 | The Appleton Ladies' Potato Race | Miss Vaughn | Feature film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1966–1968 | The Mavis Bramston Show | Mavis Bramston | TV series (regular lead role) |
| 1967; 1975 | Homicide | Elaine Fleming | TV series, 1 episode: "The Legacy" |
| 1968–1969 | I've Married a Bachelor | | TV series, 3 episodes "You Tell Me Your Dreams, I'll Tell You My Dreams", "Into the Breach" |
| 1969 | Skippy the Bush Kangaroo | Soprano | TV series, 1 episode: "El Toro" |
| 1970 | The Link Men | Edie Whitman | TV series, 1 episode 11: "Somebody's Kid Is Missing" |
| 1972 | A Nice Day at the Office | Mrs. Quiggley | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1973 | Boney | Mrs. Coutts | TV series, 1 episode: "Boney and the Emu Man" |
| 1973 | Division 4 | Marion Evans | TV series, 1 episode: "Willie" |
| 1974 | Silent Number | Nurse Janet Kay | TV series, 1 episode: "Bang, Bang, You're Dead" |
| 1975 | Homicide | Anne Carson / Elaine Fleming | TV series, 1 episode: "Brick Veneer" |
| 1976–1979 | The Sullivans | Aunty Rose Sullivan | TV series, 250 episodes |
| 1979 | Doctor Down Under | Mrs. Peabody | TV series, 1 episode: "A Bird in the Hand" |
| 1980 | Trial by Marriage | | TV series |
| 1980–1984 | Kingswood Country | Merle Bullpit | TV series, 18 episodes; |
| 1981 | A Town Like Alice | Mrs. O'Connor | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 1981 | Daily at Dawn | | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1981 | A Country Practice | Jan Hardy | TV series, 2 episodes: "Secrets: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 1981 | Holiday Island | Mrs Brandon | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1982 | A Country Practice | Courtney Fraser | TV series, 2 episodes: "Show Down: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 1984 | A Country Practice | Blanche Mitchell | TV series, 2 episodes: "Ships in the Night: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 1984 | Prisoner | Bev Baker | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 1985 | The Perfectionist | Rosie Peters | TV film |
| 1985 | Possession | Lady Shannon | TV series |
| 1985 | Winners: The Other Facts of Life | Psychiatrist | TV film |
| 1987 | Willing and Abel | | TV series, 1 episode: "Miss September" |
| 1987 | The Flying Doctors | Helen Manning | TV series, 1 episode: "Sapphire" |
| 1988 | Act of Betrayal | Dorothy | TV film |
| 1989 | A Country Practice | Victoria Fleming | TV series, 2 episodes: "Bel Canto: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 1989 | Rafferty's Rules | Vanessa Pearce | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989 | Edens Lost | Producer | TV miniseries, 4 episodes |
| 1989 | Home Brew | Marjorie Daley | TV film |
| 1990 | More Winners: The Big Wish | Lady Mikeevil | TV film |
| 1990–1993 | Neighbours | Dorothy Burke | TV series, 356 episodes |
| 1994 | G.P. | Judith Marr | TV series, 1 episode: "Coitus Interruptus" |
| 1995 | Correlli | Maureen Barnes | TV series, 1 episode: "An Early Release" |
| 1997 | Heartbreak High | Mrs. Mac | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1998 | Blue Heelers | Elizabeth Schulz | TV series, 1 episode: "Letting Go" |
| 1998 | Driven Crazy | Granny Rose | TV series, 1 episode: "Mousechap" |
| 1998–2007 | All Saints | Lyn Brown / Maggie Cooper / June Markham | TV series, 5 episodes |
| 2000 | Water Rats | Joy Turner | TV series, 1 episode: "Mummy Dearest" |
| 2000 | Grass Roots | Ellen Leonard | TV series, 1 episode: "The Whole Year" |
| 2000 | Stingers | Celia Jones | TV series, 1 episode: "Organised Crime" |
| 2002 | Fairy Tale Police Department | Voice | TV series, 26 episodes: "Pinocchio: Puppet in Peril" |
| 2002 | Always Greener | Sister Stern | TV series, 1 episode: "Understanding the Cry" |
| 2002–2003 | All Saints | June Markham | TV series, 3 episodes: "Chemistry", "Trust", "Friend in Need" |
| 2006 | Small Claims: The Reunion | Roma | TV film |
| 2008 | Milly, Molly | Voice | TV series |
| 2008 | Out of the Blue | Olive Hammond | TV series, 17 episodes |
| 2013 | The Very Trevor Ashley Show | Old Lady | TV series, 1 episode: "Pilot" |
| 2013–2015 | Wonderland | Ruth MacPherson | TV series, 9 episodes |
| 2014; 2016 | Black Comedy | | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Ready for This | Mabel | TV series, 1 episode: "Fresh Meat" |
| 2016 | Rake | Janet | TV series, 1 episode: "4.3" |
| 2017 | Attack! Attack! Art? | Gran | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 2019 | The Commons | Janice | TV miniseries, 1 episode |
| 2019 | Frayed | Mrs Atkins | TV series, 7 episodes |
| 2022–2023 | Heartbreak High | Nan | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 2022 | Significant Others | Pam | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 2023 | The Messenger | Milla Roseby | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 2023 | Queen of Oz | June | TV series, 1 episode: "Ginger Eyebrows" |

### Television (as self)

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1966 | In Perth Tonight | Guest | TV series |
| 1979 | The Mike Walsh Show | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1981 | The World Around Us: Stress - It Wasn't Meant to be Easy | Herself | TV documentary |
| 1994 | The Mavis Bramston 30th Anniversary | Herself | TV special |
| 1995 | Neighbours: A 10th Anniversary Celebration | Herself | TV special |
| 1996 | 40 Years of TV Stars... Then and Now | Herself | TV special |
| 2001 | Good Morning Australia | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2012; 2015 | The Morning Show | Guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2013; 2016; 2019 | Today Extra | Guest | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 2016 | The Daily Edition | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2022 | Pushing The Boundaries: The Mavis Bramston Show | Herself | Film documentary |

## Theatre

| Year | Production | Venue |
| 1959 | Volpone | Independent Theatre |
| 1960 | The Crucible | Independent Theatre |
| 1960 | Clerambard | Independent Theatre |
| 1960 | Inherit the Wind | Independent Theatre |
| 1962 | Rhinoceros | Independent Theatre |
| 1962 | What's New? | Phillip St Theatre |
| 1962 | The Rose and the Ring | Independent Theatre |
| 1963 | The Rage | Copenhagen Downstairs Revue |
| 1963 | Twenties Spectacular | Independent Theatre |
| 1963 | Abousir and Aboukir | Independent Theatre |
| 1966 | Muriel's Virtues | Independent Theatre |
| 1967 | Hail Gloria Fitzpatrick | Phillip St Theatre |
| 1968 | Breath of Spring | Independent Theatre |
| 1969 | The Women | Independent Theatre |
| 1970 | Oh, Sir Henry! | Melbourne Athenaeum |
| 1972 | Blop Goes the Weazel | University of NSW, Parade Theatre 1 |
| 1973 | Bonbons and Roses for Dolly | Jane Street Theatre |
| 1974 | Kookaburra | Nimrod Theatre |
| 1975 | Girl's Night Out | Jools Theatre Restaurant |
| 1975 | Balance of Payments | Tregear Community Centre & AMP Theatrette, Sydney (2 performances) |
| 1976 | Still Life with Apples | Bankstown Town Hall & AMP Theatrette, Sydney (2 performances) |
| 1976 | Kennedy's Children | Nimrod Theatre |
| 1976 | The Shoemaker's Holiday | Sydney Opera House |
| 1978 | The Comedy of Errors | Nimrod Theatre |
| 1978 | The Lady from Maxim's | Sydney Opera House |
| 1979 | Last of the Red Hot Lovers | Ensemble Theatre |
| 1979 | The Sea | Nimrod Theatre |
| 1980 | Has He Anyone | Ensemble Theatre |
| 1981 | The Man from Mukinupin | Sydney Ooera House |
| 1982 | Annie | Canberra Theatre |
| 1982 | The Provok'd Wife | University of NSW, Parade Theatre |
| 1982 | Camino Real | University of NSW, Parade Theatre |
| 1982 | Four Lady Bowlers in a Golden Holden | Kinselas, Darlinghurst & Canberra Theatre |
| 1983 | Sweeney Todd | Q Theatre, Penrith |
| 1984 | The Season at Sarsaparilla | The Playhouse, Adelaide |
| 1985 | The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui | Seymour Centre |
| 1985 | Arms and the Man | Seymour Centre |
| 1986 | Having a Ball..! | Canberra Theatre |
| 1987 | The One Day of the Year | Ensemble Theatre |
| 1987 | See How They Run | Northside Theatre, Killara, |
| 1988 | Steel Magnolias | Seymour Centre & Melbourne Athenaeum |
| 1988 | A Small Family Business | Northside Theatre, Killara |
| 1989 | Curtains | Northside Theatre, Killara |
| 1993 | Away | Riverside Theatres, Parramatta |
| 1994 | Goodworks | Q Theatre, Penrith |
| 1996 | The Shoe-Horn Sonata | Playhouse Theatre, Perth |
| 1996 | Virtual Unreality | Tilbury Hotel, Woolloomooloo |
| 1996 | Good Works | The Space, Adelaide & Wharf 2 Theatre, Sydney |
| 1997 | Mongrels | Wharf 1 Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company |
| 1998 | After the Ball | Sydney Opera House |
| 2001 | Noises Off | Sydney Opera House |
| 2003 | Uncle Vanya | Darlinghurst Theatre |
| 2003 | The Kid | Theatre Royal, Hobart |
| 2005 | Close to Home | Stables Theatre |
| 2008 | Attack of the Granny Boomers | Parade Theatre |
| 2014 | Once in Royal David's City | Belvoir Street Theatre |
| 2015 | Seventeen | Belvoir Street Theatre |
| 2016 | The Turquoise Elephant | Stables Theatre |
| 2017 | Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo | Old Fitzroy Theatre |
| 2018 | Marjorie Prime | Ensemble Theatre |
| 2019 | Baby Doll | Ensemble Theatre |

## Awards and recognition

Dence was named (on 29 September) the 2011 recipient of the Equity Awards Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding services to the performing arts – both stage and screen – and her longstanding involvement with the NSW Actors' Benevolent Fund. The award, presented by Foxtel, is from Maggie's peers and members of her union, the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance Equity (Performers) Section, which she joined in 1962.
Dence was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours "for service to the performing arts".