Vivean Gray
Jean Vivra Gray (20 July 1924 – 29 July 2016), known professionally as Vivean Gray, also credited as "Vivian Gray" and "Viven Gray", was an English-born Australian television and film actress. She starred in the films "Picnic at Hanging Rock" and "The Last Wave", but her best-known roles were in TV soap operas, after having appeared in numerous roles for "Crawford Productions", she had regular roles in serials "The Sullivans" as Ida Jessup, in "Prisoner" as Edna Pearson and in "Neighbours" as Nell Mangel. Gray left the acting profession in 1988, and returned to her native England  to Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, where she lived a quiet and private life. Early life. Gray was born in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England on 20 July 1924. Gray was the daughter of Allan Gray and Doris Gray, who had been married the previous year in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. She was the eldest of four children. The family later moved to Surrey where her father became a fish merchant at the Grimsby Docks. She initially worked as a local reporter, photographer's assistant and as a sales assistant in a department store, and later became a nurse, and served with the Women 's Land Army. In 1952 she emigrated to Australia to pursue a career as an actress. Career. In the 1970s, Gray appeared in a number of television dramas produced by Crawford Productions including "Solo One", "Bluey", "Homicide", "Division 4", "Matlock Police", and "Carson's Law". She also appeared in film portraying mathematics teacher Miss Greta McCraw in Peter Weir's adaptation of "Picnic at Hanging Rock" (1975) and in the television mini-series "Anzacs" and "All the Rivers Run". She worked with Weir again in 1977 in his film "The Last Wave", playing the role of Aboriginal history expert Dr.  Whitburn. Section::::"The Sullivans". Gray played Ida Jessop in the soap opera "The Sullivans" for its 16-season run from 1976 to 1983, winning two Logie Awards for her portrayal of the gossipy neighbour. Section::::"Prisoner". She appeared in serial "Prisoner" (known internationally as "Prisoner: Cell Block H"), as genteel poisoner Edna Pearson in 1984, in a seven-episode arc. After the initial showing of her episodes in Australia, a woman from South Australia named Emily Gertrude Phyllis Perry claimed the story was based on her real life experience of being accused of poisoning her husband Kenneth Warwick Henry Perry, by putting  small doses of arsenic in his food and threatened to sue the producers, Grundy Television stating defamation. Perry became the central figure in allegations by the Crown that she attempted to poison her husband, during a trial lasting 72 days in 1981, her husband had also maintained that his wife was innocence during the trial, however Perry was initially sentenced to serve 15 years, but the following year the decision was overturned by the High Court, an the Government did not seek a retrial. Grundy's had stated in media reports the story line was actually based on a 1953  case and not the Perry case. She subsequently decided not to sue the company, despite the story bearing many similarities to her case, even down to the character's initials. As a result, any material that coincided with the woman's story was removed for subsequent episode screenings, including the full Australian DVD release of "Prisoner". In 2010 a special DVD release of the full uncut "Edna" story was released, but only in the United Kingdom. Section::::"Neighbours". In 1986, Gray was cast for three weeks in the role of "Nell" Mangel, better known as Mrs Mangel in the soap opera  Neighbours. However, the character proved so popular that she remained on the show until 1988, appearing in 292 episodes. The character was known for her constant feuding with Madge Bishop, played by Anne Charleston, and vying for the affections of Harold Bishop, played by Ian Smith. Gray left the role after receiving abuse from fans who disliked the character, with producers relocating Mangel to St. Albans, with a retired dentist, to live a happy retirement. This was Gray's last acting role and she retired, returning to her native land and settling in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. Later life  and recognition. Gray won two Logie Awards for her role as Ida Jessup in "The Sullivans": in 1978 for Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, and in 1981 for Best Support Actress in a Series. In 1995, Gray was featured on an Australian postage stamp, depicting her role in "Picnic at Hanging Rock". Gray died on 29 July 2016, nine days after her 92nd birthday. She never married or had any children.