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Michele Fawdon

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Michele Fawdon
Born(1947-12-15)15 December 1947
Harrow, London, England
Died23 May 2011(2011-05-23) (aged 63)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
OccupationActress
Years active1967–2010

Michele Fawdon (1947–2011) was an English-born Australian actress and singer. She is known for her roles in TV serials Matlock Police (1971–1974), The Unisexers (1975) and A Country Practice (1980, 1985, 1992). In 1979 she won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Cathy's Child (1979) and Australian Film Institute Award for Best Lead Actress for a Telefeature for The Fish Are Safe (1986) in 1987. She died of an unspecified cancer.

Early life

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Michele Fawdon was born on 15 December 1947 in Harrow, London, as the oldest of three children of Yvonne and John Fawdon, a bomber pilot for BOAC.[1][2] She had polio as a child and took ballet lessons to strengthen her leg.[1] Some of Fawdon's childhood was spent based in Hong Kong and Singapore and Ghana.[2]

Fawdon attended Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts, a theatrical boarding school in Sussex[3] from the age of 12, and completed an examination by London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.[2] The Fawdons emigrated to Sydney in August 1964.[1] She studied at the Ensemble Theatre for three years.[2]

Her father had been a bomber pilot in WWII and trained pilots after the war until the family settled in Tamworth where he worked for the CSIRO cloud seeding.

Career

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Fawdon's first television role was an appearance in the fourth episode of the drama series, You Can't See 'Round Corners, which was broadcast from July 1967.[2][4] In August of that year she took the role of Deanne in the comedy play, All Things Bright and Beautiful, at Ensemble Theatre.[5][6] The Australian Jewish Times reviewer felt her performance was "outstanding" showing "certainty was matched by most of the other characters."[5] She took the role of Elizabeth Green, a miner's wife, in the musical feature film, Stockade (December 1971), which is set in the era of the Eureka Stockade.[7] From March to May of that year she acted in the play of the same name at the Independent Theatre.[2][6]

The artist's breakthrough musical theatre role was as Mary Magdalene in the original Australian stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar from March to May 1972, which toured to Adelaide, West Melbourne, Launceston, Brisbane and Haymarket.[1] According to Patricia Morgan of The Australian Women's Weekly, Fawdon is "a green-eyed blonde, aged 24. She is 5ft. 3in. [= 5.25 feet (160 cm)], ideally proportioned, and of pearl-cream complexion. In short, she's a stunner. She is also a singing actress who hasn't been out of work one day since she arrived from England."[2] W. L. Hoffmann of The Canberra Times caught the premiere in Adelaide, "Fawdon was an appealing and musically excellent Mary Magdalene."[8] She was recorded for the soundtrack album, Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Australian Cast Recording) (late 1972).[9] In the following year Fawdon was replaced as Magdalene by Marcia Hines.[9]

Fawdon's various television roles were in Matlock Police (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974), The Unisexers (1975), The Sullivans (1979), Cop Shop (1979, 1980), Young Ramsay (1980), and A Country Practice (1980, 1985, 1992).[10] In the drama feature film, Cathy's Child (1979), she performed the theme song.[10] For the role, the actress met and spoke with the Maltese-born, Australian resident Cathy Baikas, whom she portrays.[11] She then "mixed with the Maltese community, working for a while in a clothing factory to get the feeling of the accent and the day-to-day concerns."[11] At the 1979 Australian Film Institute Awards Fawdon won Best Actress in a Leading Role for Cathy's Child.[10][12]

Fawdon played the role of Australian 19th-century painter Jane Sutherland in the July 1985 ABC-TV mini-series, One Summer Again, which focusses on the Heidelberg School of artists of the 1880s.[10][13] Also in that year she starred in the feature film, Unfinished Business as Maureen, who is trying to get pregnant by her ex-boyfriend (John Clayton) as her husband (Norman Kaye) is sterile.[14] It was directed by Bob Ellis. At the 1985 Australian Film Institute Awards she was nominated for Best Lead Actress for her role.[10][15] Australian film critic, David Stratton, who first saw the film in 2012, observed, "I don't see [Clayton] as having been quite as good as [Ellis] thinks, but [Fawdon] was worthy of her AFI nom. And that's about it..."[16]

In 1986 she portrayed Lena Ranger in the ABC-TV telemovie, The Fish Are Safe, which was directed by Noni Hazelhurst.[10][17] For the role of Lena, Fawdon won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Lead Actress for a Telefeature in 1987.[10][18] In 1990 Fawdon appeared as Rose Peterson in the New Zealand film, The Rogue Stallion. She played Judge Cath in four episodes of Marshall Law (2002).[10] Her last screen appearance was as Lorna Shanks in three episodes of Killing Time (2011).[19]

Personal life

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Fawdon met her domestic partner, Geoff Jenkins, when both appeared in Manning Clark's History of Australia: The Musical in 1988.[1] They had a child together in 1995.[1] Michele Fawdon died on 23 May 2011, from cancer, aged 63.[1]

Filmography

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Film

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Title Year Role Notes Ref.
1971 Stockade Elizabeth Green Feature film (previously acted in the play version) [7][10]
1975 The Golden Cage Guitar Player Feature film [20]
1975 They Don't Clap Losers Kay Lodge Telemovie [10][21]
1978 Cass Cass Willis Telemovie. Wrote and sang "Compliments" [10]
1979 Cathy's Child Cathy Baikas Feature film. Sang theme song [10]
1980 ...Maybe This Time Margo Feature film [22]
1985 Unfinished Business Maureen Feature film [10]
1986 The Fish Are Safe Lena Ranner Telemovie [10]
1987 Travelling North Helen Feature film [10]
1987 The Place at the Coast Aunt Helen Feature film [23]
1988 Captain Johnno Kathleen Telemovie [10]
1990 The Rogue Stallion Rose Peterson Telemovie
2005 The Glenmoore Job Beverley Telemovie [24][25]

Television

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Title Year Role Notes Ref.
1967 You Can't See 'Round Corners TV series, 1 episode [2]
1972 Snake Gully with Dad and Dave Mabel Smith TV series, 1 episode [26]
1973–1974 Ryan Susan Morrison / Mia Sinclair TV series, 2 episodes [10]
1971–1974 Matlock Police Lindy Smith / Mary / Toni Black / Betty Lee TV series, 4 episodes [10]
1975 Homicide Pam Dunn TV series, 1 episode [10]
1975 The Unisexers Monica Parry TV series, all episodes [10]
1978 Loss of Innocence TV miniseries [10]
1979–1980 Cop Shop Heather Kendall / Cindy Carter TV series, 5 episodes [10]
1980 Young Ramsay Toni Fields TV series, 1 episode [10]
1980–1992 A Country Practice Barbara Walsh / Marge Owens / Dianne Klein TV series, 6 episodes [10]
1981 Punishment Susan Morrison TV series [10]
1982 Spring & Fall Laurie TV series, 1 episode [10]
1984 Special Squad Maggie TV series, episode 36: "Return of the Cat" [10]
1985 One Summer Again Jane Sutherland TV miniseries, 3 episodes [10]
1985 Winners Mrs. Doyle TV series, 1 episode [10]
1987 The Flying Doctors Ann Larson TV series, 1 episode [10]
1988 Rafferty's Rules Narelle Saxon TV series, 1 episode [10]
1988 Australians Melena Longford TV miniseries, episode: "Lottie Lyell"
1988 Joe Wilson Hilda TV miniseries, 3 episodes [10]
1989 Fields of Fire III Iris TV miniseries, 2 episodes [10]
1990 All the Rivers Run II Ruth TV miniseries, 2 episodes [10]
1992–1996 G.P. Sister Bernice Eagan / Jean Taylor TV series, 2 episodes [10]
1998–1999 All Saints Paula Marchetti / Denise Baumann TV series, 2 episodes [10]
1998; 2000 Water Rats Joan Curtis / Mary Tully TV series, 3 episodes [10]
2001 Blue Heelers Shirley Wilkie TV series, 1 episode [10]
2002 Marshall Law Judge Cath TV miniseries, 4 episodes [10]
2003 Stingers Fran Hadley TV series, 1 episode [10]
2003 MDA Cynthia Morice TV series, 2 episodes [10]
2004 Fergus McPhail Mrs. Mobbs TV series, 2 episodes [10]
2007 Bastard Boys Lyn Tully TV miniseries [10]
2009 City Homicide Beverley Cowles TV series, 1 episode [10]
2011 Killing Time Lorna Shanks TV miniseries, 3 episodes [10]

Theatre

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Year Title Role Notes
1967 All Things Bright and Beautiful Deanne Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1967; 1968 Generation Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
1970 The Crucible Mercy Lewis Parade Theatre, Sydney
1971 Stockade Elizabeth Green Independent Theatre, Sydney
1972 Jesus Christ Superstar Mary Magdalene Australian tour with Harry M. Miller
1973 Flash Jim Vaux Various roles Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC
1973; 1974 All My Sons Juvenile lead St Martins Theatre, Melbourne with MTC
1973; 1974 The Time is Not Yet Ripe Miss Perkins Comedy Theatre, Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's & MTC
1975 The Travelling Kind Marian St Theatre, Sydney
1975 The Cool Duenna Marian St Theatre, Sydney
1976 Othello Emilia Princess Theatre, Launceston, Theatre Royal, Hobart with Tasmanian Theatre Company
1976 A Toast to Melba Gladys Moncrieff / Madam Marchesi / Cockney Girl / The Little Boy Tasmanian Theatre Company
1976 Kennedy's Children Rona Tasmanian Theatre Company
1976 The Season at Sarsaparilla Mavis Knott Sydney Opera House with Old Tote Theatre Company
1977 Obsessive Behaviour in Small Spaces Maureen Macdonald UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney
1978 The Lady from Maxim’s Clementine Sydney Opera House
1979 The Golden Oldies Esme / Dr Ellie Jane St Theatre, Sydney
1980 Traitors Anna Nimrod, Sydney
1980 Backyard Dorothy Nimrod, Sydney
1980 Beauty and the Beast Beauty Sydney Opera House with STC
1981 Three Sisters Irina Sergeyevna Prozorov Nimrod, Sydney
1981 Teeth ‘n’ Smiles Laura Nimrod, Sydney
1981 Cloud Nine Ellen / Lin Nimrod, Sydney
1981 Tales from the Vienna Woods Alfred's Grandmother / Others Nimrod, Sydney
1982 Welcome the Bright World Fay Ayalti / Gabriele Nimrod, Sydney
1982 Burn Victim Michele Nimrod, Sydney
1982 Tristram Shandy Nimrod, Sydney
1983 Uncle Vanya Nimrod, Sydney
1983 Michele Fawdon in Cabaret Solo performer Kinselas Late Night Theatre
1983 The Pack of Women Seymour Centre, Sydney, Universal Theatre, Melbourne, Space Theatre, Adelaide, ANU Canberra
1984 The Blind Giant is Dancing Louise Krause Sydney Opera House with STC
1985; 1986 Jonah Jones Clara Grimes Wharf Theatre, Sydney, Playhouse, Adelaide with STC & STCSA
1987 A Chorus of Disapproval Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane with QTC
1987 Away Vic Sydney Opera House with STC
1988 Manning Clark's History of Australia – The Musical Dymphna Clark / Rose / Miss Macarthur Princess Theatre, Melbourne
1988 Summer of the Seventeenth Doll / Away Olive / Vic Pepsico Summerfare, New York with STC
1989 Lost Weekend Zelda Space Theatre, Adelaide with STCSA
1990 Mrs Klein Paula Marian Street Theatre, Sydney with Northside Theatre Company
1990 Development Site Various roles Sydney Theatre Company
1990 Hot Fudge and Icecream Ruby / Various roles Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
1990 Beach Blanket Tempest Regine Q Theatre, Penrith
1991 Twelfth Night Maria Q Theatre, Penrith
1991 Summer of the Seventeenth Doll Olive Seymour Centre, Sydney
1991 Kenny's Coming Home Q Theatre, Penrith
1992 Carnival in Kingaroy Mrs Highfields Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane with QTC

[27][28]

Awards

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Year Work Award Category Result
1979 Cathy's Child AFI Award Best Actress in a Leading Role Won
1979 Cathy's Child Sammy Award Best Actress Won
1980 The Silent Cry Sammy Award Best Actress Won
1980 Maybe This Time AFI Award Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated
1985 Unfinished Business AFI Award Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominated
1987 The Fish are Safe AFI Award Best Lead Actress in a Telefeature Won

[29]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Taylor, Greg (4 June 2011). "AFI-winning actor also sang for supper". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Morgan, Patricia (26 January 1972). "The Stars of Superstar". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 39, no. 35. p. 4. Retrieved 25 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Star mourned by many". Star Mail. 19 July 2012.
  4. ^ "You Can't See 'Round Corners – Review – Photos". Ozmovies. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  5. ^ a b W. B. (17 August 1967). "All Things Bright and Beautiful". The Australian Jewish Times. Vol. 74, no. 47. Sydney. p. 2. Retrieved 25 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ a b "Contributor: Michele Fawdon". AusStage. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Australia's Little War". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 39, no. 9. 28 July 1971. p. 8. Retrieved 25 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ Hoffmann, W. L. (17 March 1972). "An unforgettable premiere". The Canberra Times. Vol. 46, no. 13, 072. p. 3. Retrieved 26 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ a b Kimball, Duncan (2004). "Stage Shows 1964-75 – Jesus Christ Superstar". MilesAgo. Archived from the original on 16 June 2005. Retrieved 26 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as "RIP Michele Fawdon". IF Magazine. 23 May 2011. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  11. ^ a b * Page 34: Munday, Rosemary (20 June 1979). "Cathy's Child". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 47, no. 3. p. 34. Retrieved 26 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
    • Page 35: Munday, Rosemary (20 June 1979). "Cathy's Child". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 47, no. 3. p. 35. Retrieved 26 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Winners & Nominees". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  13. ^ "One Size Fits All to The Oz Game". memorabletv.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "Australian Films – Feature Films" (PDF). ScreenSound. pp. 18, 74. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 August 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Winners & Nominees". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  16. ^ Stratton, David (19 October 2012). "Unfinished Business". Australian Cinema. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Australian Telemovie". Victor Harbour Times. Vol. 74, no. 3, 464. South Australia. 7 November 1986. p. 11. Retrieved 26 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "Winners & Nominees". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  19. ^ Zuk, Tony. "Australian Television: Killing Time: Episode Guide". Australian Television Information Archive. Archived from the original on 23 November 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "The Golden Cage – Review – Photos". Ozmovies. Archived from the original on 6 May 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ Zuk, Tony. "Australian Television: Telemovies and Miniseries: 1975". Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  22. ^ "(...maybe this Time) – Review – Photos". Ozmovies. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "The Place at the Coast – Review – Photos". Ozmovies. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ Williams, Greg; Coombs, Melanie; Burmeister, Saskia; Lyndon, Simon; Australian Film Commission; SBS-TV; Film Victoria; Melodrama Pictures (2006), The Glenmoore Job, retrieved 26 July 2022
  25. ^ "The Glenmoore Job (2005) – The Screen Guide". Screen Australia. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "Snake Gully". Classic Australian TV. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ^ "Michele Fawdon". AusStage.
  28. ^ "RIP Michele Fawdon". IF Magazine. 23 May 2011.
  29. ^ "Star mourned by many". Star Mail. 19 July 2012.
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