# Olivia Hamnett

Olivia Jane Hamnett (13 February 1943 - 2 November 2001) was an English actress known for numerous television roles in Australia, primarily in soap operas and miniseries. including The Sullivans as Meg Fulton in 1979, in Prisoner as Dr. Kate Peterson, who was a supporting cast member in 1981–82 and in Return to Eden 1983 and 1985 as Joanna Randall.

## Early life

Hamnett was born in 1943, in St Helens, Lancashire, England.

## Career

Hamnett started her acting career in theatre, before moving into television in the early 1960s, with guest roles on series, including Department S and Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) in 1969.
After emigrating to Australia in the 1970s, she found even greater onscreen success. She initially secured minor roles in series such as Bellbird and a number of the Crawford Production staples, before being cast in more significant roles. She was best known for her performances in cult series Prisoner as Dr. Kate Peterson and The Sullivans as Meg Fulton, as well as both the original miniseries and the regular series of Return to Eden.
Hamnett also played major roles on such series as Rush, The Power, The Passion, Chances, Pacific Drive, Neighbours and Blue Heelers.
She portrayed Richard Chamberlain's wife in The Last Wave (1977), and played Ricky Schroder's character's mother in The Earthling (1980).

## Personal life

Hamnett married actor Peter Regan in 1973. She passed away in November 2001 in Malvern, Victoria from a brain tumour at the age of 58.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1966 | The Spy with a Cold Nose | Uncredited | Feature film UK |
| 1977 | The Last Wave | Annie Burton | Feature film |
| 1980 | The Earthling | Bettina Daley | Feature film |
| 1994 | Ebbtide | Committal Judge | Feature film |
| 1999 | Joe Wilkinson | Mrs Wilkinson | Feature film UK |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1963 | Drama 61-67 | Sue | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1964 | Compact | Billie | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1964 | Taxi! | Waitress | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1964 | World of His Own | unknown role | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1969 | Department S | Anita | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1969 | Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) | Anne Soames | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1971 | Bachelor Father | Vicki | TV series |
| 1972-1975 | Division 4 | Lindy / Charlene Boucher / Sue Miller | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1973 | Boney | Diana Rockwell | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1973 | Son of the Bride | Angela | TV series UK, 6 episodes |
| 1973 | New Scotland Yard | Rosalind | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1973 | The Gentlemen of Titipu | Voice | Animated TV movie |
| 1973 | The Comedy Game | | TV series, 1 episode: "Fat Max" |
| 1974 | Matlock Police | Roberta Hughes | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1974 | This Love Affair | Nadine Rourke | Anthology TV series, 1 episode |
| 1974-1976 | Homicide | Rosalind Clayton / Mrs. Lovejoy / Bernice Anderson / Interviewer | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 1974 | Out of Love | | Anthology TV series, episode: "Where Did All The Love Go?" |
| 1974 | Rush | Sarah Lucas | TV series, 12 episodes |
| 1975 | Quality of Mercy | Helen | TV series, 1 episode: "Sally Go Round The Moon" |
| 1975 | The Last of the Australians | Receptionist | TV series, season 2, episode: "Stars Trek" |
| 1976 | Bellbird | | TV series |
| 1976 | Bobby Dazzler | Della McDermott | TV series, 14 episodes |
| 1976 | Obsession - Error of Judgement | | Teleplay |
| 1977 | Ripkin | Ruth Clifford | TV movie |
| 1978 | Plunge Into Darkness | Pat Keating | TV movie |
| 1979 | The Sullivans | Meg Fulton | TV series, episodes 594–632 |
| 1979 | The John Sullivan Story | Captain. Meg Fulton | TV movie |
| 1981–1982 | Prisoner | Dr. Kate Petersen | TV series, 39 episodes |
| 1982 | Cop Shop | Audrey Mason | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1983 | Return to Eden | Joanna Randall | TV miniseries, 3 episodes |
| 1984 | The Young Wife | Patricia Barwing | TV movie |
| 1986 | Return to Eden | Joanna Randall | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1986 | A Country Practice | Barbara Sajinovic / Jessie Kershaw | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1986 | Tusitala | Lady Jersey | TV miniseries, 3 episodes |
| 1987 | Coda | Det. Sgt. Turner | TV movie |
| 1989 | The Power, The Passion | Ellen Bryne Edmonds | TV series, 167 episodes |
| 1990 | The Paper Man | Irene Hampden | TV miniseries |
| 1990 | G.P. | Dr. Peg Chisholm | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1990 | Skirts | | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1991 | Chances | Rhonda | TV series, 12 episodes |
| 1992 | A Country Practice | Jessie Kershaw | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1994 | Blue Heelers | Gwen Burton | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | Law of the Land | Blanche Avery | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1997 | Pacific Drive | Mara de Villenois / Devlin #2 | TV series |
| 1997 | The Ripper | Lady Margaret | TV movie, US |
| 1998 | Neighbours | Hilary Grant | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Blue Heelers | Dr. Ellen McCarthy | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2000 | The Games | Sponsor | TV series, 1 episode |

## Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1963–1964 | Monsieur Blaise | Genevieve | Bristol Hippodrome, Winter Gardens, Blackpool, Theatre Royal, Brighton, Royal Court Theatre, London, Phoenix Theatre, London with Marcellus Productions |
| 1965–1972 | Charlie Girl | | Adelphi Theatre, London, St. James Theatre, Auckland, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne with J. C. Williamson |
| 1987–1988 | Wife Begins at Forty | Betty Dixon | Playhouse, Adelaide, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen, Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Theatre Royal, Brighton, Theatre Royal, Norwich, Theatre Royal, Lincoln |
| 1993 | M. Butterfly | Helga | Playhouse, Melbourne, Canberra Theatre, Seymour Centre, Sydney with MTC & Harry M. Miller |
| 1995 | The Best of British: Rookery Nook / When We Are Married | | Mietta's Melbourne for Melbourne International Comedy Festival |