# Arianthe Galani

Arianthe Galani (born 9 April 1940), is an Australian character actress born in New Zealand of Greek descent. She is known for her roles in TV soap operas and serials, TV commercials, as well as films. Galani is primarily known for guest roles and cameos, in particular most commonly playing fiery Italian or Greek mothers.

## Career

Galani worked in opera and sang professionally before she became known as an actor. She worked as a singer in England for four years in the 1960s, then joined the Australian Opera for five years between 1967 and 1972.
Galani played a regular role in soap opera, Number 96 as Maria Panucci, the aunt of Harry Michaels' character Giovanni from late 1976 until the end of the series in August 1977, and then took a regular role in Australian Broadcasting Corporation situation comedy series Home Sweet Home in 1980. Both roles were as fiery Italians.
Between these roles she made appearances in the first season of cult TV series Prisoner as Mrs. Bentley, a woman who had buried a baby alive, a crime later blamed on Lynn Warner (Kerry Armstrong, whom was wrongly incarcerated and continued to protest her innocence. Though her appearances were brief, the character played a crucial role in one of the show's original storylines, and with the program's international success, it is probably Galani's most widely seen portrayal.
Other television credits include: Matlock Police, Homicide, The Young Doctors, A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors, Home and Away, Police Rescue, Murder Call, Something in the Air, All Saints and Blue Heelers.

## TV advertisements

Galani also features in a series of television adverts for Jalna Greek Yoghurt and Mortein.

## Acting credits
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | Melvin: Son of Alvin | Mrs. Giannis | Feature film |
| 1985 | A Street to Die | Dr. Walsea | Feature film |
| 1987 | Dear Cardholder | Antoinette | Feature film |
| 1992 | Resistance | Mother | Feature film |
| 1993 | Love in Limbo (aka Touch Me, Kiss Me, Love Me) | Mrs. Costanides | Feature film |
| 1995 | Billy's Holiday | Anna | Musical feature film |
| 1998 | The Picture Woman | Woman (voice) | Short film |
| 1999 | Threaded | Donna | Short film |
| 2000 | Dogwoman: A Grrrl's Best Friend | Mrs. Jayasinge | TV movie |
| 2001 | Like Mother Like Son: The Strange Story of Sante and Kenny Kimes | Beatrice | TV movie |
| 2001 | Bowl Me Over | Flora | Short film |
| 2008 | Bella | Bella's Mom | Short film (2 parts) |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1974 | Matlock Police | Angela | TV series (episode: Dennis) |
| 1976 | Homicide | Angela Farella | TV series (episode: Wrong End of the Gun) |
| 1976–1977 | Number 96 | Maria Panucci | TV series (51 episodes) |
| 1977 | Pig in a Poke | | TV series (episode: Theo's Story) |
| 1979 | Prisoner | Mrs. Bentley | TV series (2 episodes) |
| 1980 | The Young Doctors | Mother Superior | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1980–1982 | Home Sweet Home | Maria Pacelli | TV series (26 episodes) |
| 1982 | A Country Practice | Rhonda Shaw | TV series (episode: A Sign of Affection Part 1 and Part 2) |
| 1986 | The Great Bookie Robbery | Mrs. Davis | TV miniseries (1 episode) |
| 1988 | Melba | Melika | TV miniseries (2 episodes) |
| 1988 | The Flying Doctors | Connie Porter | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1988 | A Dangerous Life | Josephine Reyes | TV miniseries (2 episodes) |
| 1990 | Come in Spinner | | TV miniseries (2 episodes) |
| 1990 | Home and Away | Gina Lucini | TV series (6 episodes) |
| 1991 | G.P. | Raffaella Graziano | TV series (4 episodes) |
| 1991 | A Country Practice | Bunica Enescu | TV series (episode: A Brief Encounter Part 1 and Part 2) |
| 1991 | E Street | Maggie | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1992 | Six Pack | Anna | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1995 | Heartbreak High | Yaya | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1991–1995 | Police Rescue | Sophia Angelopoulos | TV series (4 episodes) |
| 1999–2000 | All Saints | Gilda Poletti | TV series (3 episodes) |
| 2000 | Murder Call | Antoinette de Bono | TV series (1 episode) |
| 2000 | Something in the Air | Nanny Sofia | TV series (2 episodes) |
| 1994–2002 | Blue Heelers | Helena Hasham | TV series (6 episodes) |
| 2002 | The Angel Files | Alexandra Lucini | TV series |
| 2003 | Marking Time | Mrs. Spiro | TV miniseries |
| 2007 | Satisfaction | Mrs. G | TV series (2 episodes) |
| 2010 | Dance Academy | Julianna | TV series (1 episode) |
| 2015 | The Principal | Mrs. Bashir | TV miniseries (2 episodes) |
| 2017 | Pulse | Arianna Koutoufides | TV series (1 episode) |
| 2019 | Secret City | Chrissy Ropolous | TV series (1 episode) |
| 2019 | Lambs of God | Abess | TV series (4 episodes) |
| 2021 | Amazing Grace | Yia Yia | TV series (1 episode) |

### Stage

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1969 | Iolanthe | Leila | Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide with J. C. Williamson's & AETT |
| 1972 | La bohème | | Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide with Opera Australia & Williamson-Edgley Theatres |
| 1972 | Cavalleria Rusticana / Pagliacci | | Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane with Opera Australia |
| 1972 | Rigoletto | Countess Ceprano | Opera Australia |
| 1976 | Saturday Sunday Monday | | Independent Theatre, Sydney |
| 1980 | The Oresteia | Klytemnestra - Agamemnon / Klytemnestra - Elektra / Klytemnestra's Ghost - Orestes | Nimrod Theatre, Sydney |
| 1985 | La Cage aux Folles | Jacqueline | Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, Palais Theatre, Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's |
| 1986 | The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant | | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC |
| 1989 | Salome | | Crossroads Theatre, Sydney with Pasolini Playhouse |
| 1991 | Phaedra | Oenome | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC |
| 1992 | The Crucible | Anne Puttnaur | STC |
| 1994 | The Gift of the Gorgon | | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC |
| 1996 | Medea | Nurse | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC |
| 2002 | Same, Same But Different | Mature Woman | Sydney Opera House, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane with Force Majeure & Performing Lines |