Noni Hazlehurst

Noni Hazlehurst AM
Hazlehurst on Balance with Deborah Hutton in 2016
Born	Leonie Elva Hazlehurst (1953-08-17) 17 August 1953 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupations	Actress voice actress director writer presenter broadcaster
Years active	c. 1973–present
Known for	Play School (TV series) as presenter (1978–2001) Better Homes and Gardens (TV series) as presenter 1995–2005
Notable work	Film: Monkey Grip Fatty Finn Fran Little Fish Television: The Box The Sullivans Nancy Wake City Homicide A Place to Call Home
Spouses	Kevin James Dobson ​ ​ (m. 1975; div. 1978)​ John Jarratt ​ ​ (m. 1988; div. 1999)​
Partner	Ian Marden (2003–2013)
Children	2

Leonie Elva "Noni" Hazelhurst AM, (born 17 August 1953) is an Australian actress, director, writer, presenter and broadcaster who has appeared on television and radio, in dramas, mini-series and made for television films, as well also on stage and in feature films since the early 1970s. Hazlehurst has been honoured with numerous awards including Australian Film Institute Awards, ARIA Awards and Logies, including being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

Early life

Hazlehurst was born in Melbourne. After attending St Leonard's College in Brighton East, Victoria, Hazlehurst studied Drama at Flinders University in South Australia from 1971 to 1973, where she resided at Flinders University Hall and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1974. She has studied ballet, singing, piano, speech and drama. In the 1980s and 1990s, much of her work concentrated on children's television.

Both her parents were English, and they migrated to Australia in 1951.

Career

Television

Along with roles at the ABC, her first television work was in guest lead roles in television serials produced by Crawford Productions. She played the regular role of Sharon Lewis in The Box in 1975 before joining the original cast of The Sullivans as Lil Duggan in late 1976. She was a Play School presenter from 1978 to 2001, and has been a National Ambassador or Patron for many children's events and charities, including Children's Week (1991-2007) and Barnardos. She has worked extensively for children. Hazlehurst has recorded several music and spoken word albums, including the children's music album Shout and Whisper (1988).

Hazlehurst appeared in the miniseries Nancy Wake (played the title role), as well as such films and miniseries as The Shiralee, Ride on Stranger, and Waterfront in the 1980s.

From 1995 to 2005, she hosted the Seven Networks Better Homes and Gardens, a lifestyle show which is affiliated with the monthly magazine of the same name.

In 2006, she starred in ABC's telemovie Stepfather of the Bride. From 2007 to 2011, she played Detective Superintendent Bernice Waverley on Channel Seven crime drama City Homicide. In 2010, she was a guest on The 7pm Project on Network Ten. In July 2011, as part of a rapidly growing internet meme, she read the book Go the Fuck to Sleep to camera in the style she formerly used on Play School. She immediately offered to record a reading of the book after being sent a copy by the publisher.,

Beginning in 2013, she appeared as Elizabeth Bligh in the 1950s-set Australian melodrama A Place to Call Home on the Seven Network, playing the wealthy matriarch of the family. The show was renewed for a second series which premiered in 2014, following the second series the show was briefly cancelled yet the show was unexpectedly commissioned for a third series which came in 2015. The show then went into production for a fourth series which aired in 2016 and a fifth season airing in 2017 with the final sixth season airing in 2018. She played "Ambrose" in ABC TV's The Letdown (2017–2019) and as Pamela in a new series The End (2019).

Film

Hazlehurst has had starring roles in Australian films since the 1980s, including roles in Fatty Finn, Fran and Australian Dream. Her most prominent role during this decade was as the lead, Nora, in Monkey Grip (1982), based on Helen Garner's novel of the same name. The film, concerning the relationship between a single mother and a heroin addict, was a modest box-office success in Australia and received generally favourable reviews from critics. She later starred in Little Fish in 2005, Candy in 2006, and Bitter & Twisted in 2008. Recent film roles include The Mule, Truth, The Broken Shore and Ladies in Black.

Radio

Hazlehurst is a regular freelance presenter on 774 ABC Melbourne.

Theatre

Credits include The Man from Mukinupin, On Our Selection, Traitors, Hamlet, No Names, No Packdrill, Cut and Thrust, Frankie & Johnny in the Claire De Lune, for the STC: Navigating (Dir: Marin Potts) The Breath of Life, Woman in Mind, for the MTC: Grace, (Dir: Marion Potts), Madagascar, (Dir: Sam Strong) and The Heretic, (Dir: Matt Scholten). In 2014 she appeared in a critically acclaimed production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Dir: Declan Eames) for the Kin Collective at 45 Downstairs. In 2015 and 2016 Noni performed in a one-woman play, Mother, (Dir: Matt Scholten), written for her by Daniel Keene, on a national tour produced by If Theatre & Regional Arts Victoria. Mother received two Helpmann Awards nominations for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Play and Best Regional Touring Production for If Theatre. Mother was performed at Belvoir Street Theatre in early 2018 and was presented at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in August 2018. Hazlehurst won the 2018 Matilda Award for Best Female Actor in a Leading Role for Mother.

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1973	Emergency Line	Regular role	TV series
1974	Bellbird	Guest role	TV series, 1 episode
1974	Division 4	Helen Jenkins / Jan Kennedy / Sarah Carr / Tania Clarke	TV series 4 episodes: What Will my Friends Say? (Season 7, episode 12) 1956 and All That (Season 7, episode 27) Just for Kicks (Season 7, episode 29)
1975	The Last of the Australians	Joanna	TV series Season 1 episode 6: The Hypocondriac
1975	The Box	Sharon Lewis	TV series
	Homicide	Linda Williams	TV series Season 12, episode 23: Long Weekend
	Matlock Police	Karen Simpson	TV series Season 5, episode 187: Forget Me Not, Episode 194: A Dangerous Sort of Man
	The Ernie Sigley Show	Herself	TV series, 2 episodes
1976-77; 1981	The Sullivans	Lil/Lill Duggan	TV series, 132 episodes
1978; 1979	The Mike Walsh Show	Guest - Herself	TV series, 1 episode
1978	Case for the Defence	Julia	TV series Season 1 episode 5: "Without Consent"
1978-2002	Play School	Presenter	TV series, 186 episodes
1979	Ride on Stranger	Beryl	TV miniseries, 4 episodes
	Jokes	Various characters	TV series
	The Mike Walsh Show	Guest	TV series, 1 episode
	Patrol Boat		TV series, 1 episode
	TV Follies	Silver Le Bow	TV series Episode: Chicago
1980	The 22nd Annual TV Week Logie Awards	Herself	TV special
	The Mike Walsh Show	Guest	TV series, 1 episode
	Think Tank	Herself	TV series
1981	And Here Comes Bucknuckle	Lil	TV series, 6 episodes
	A Sporting Chance		TV series Episode: One More Chance
	The Sullivans	Lil Duggan	TV series, 140 episodes
1982	A Creative Partnership – The Actor and the Director	Herself	Film documentary
	The Mike Walsh Show	Guest	TV series, 1 episode
	Parkinson in Australia	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	The 1982 Australian Film Institute Awards	Presenter with Bill Kerr	ABC TV Special
1983	For Love or Money	Narrator	Film documentary
	The Power of Stations	Narrator	Film documentary
1984	The Mike Walsh Show	Guest	TV series, 1 episode
	Waterfront	Maggie	TV miniseries, 3 episodes
1985	Anyone Can Be a Genius	Narrator	Film documentary
	Image Makers	Narrator	Film documentary
	A Country Practice	unknown role	TV series, 2 episodes
1995; 1996	Carols in the Domain	Presenter	TV special
1987	The Shiralee	Lily	TV miniseries, 2 episodes
	Nancy Wake	Nancy Wake	TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1988	Rafferty's Rules		TV series, 1 episode
	Life Education Television Appeal	Herself	TV special
1989	The Bert Newton Show	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	Naked Under Capricorn	Monica	TV miniseries, 2 episodes
	Fields Of Fire III	Dawn	TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1990	Working Actor Series	Herself	Film documentary
1990	In Melbourne Today	Guest - Herself	TV series, 1 episode
1991	Land of the Apocalypse	Herself	TV documentary
	Paper Trail – Life and Times of a Woodchip	Narrator	TV documentary
	Play School's 25th Anniversary	Herself	TV special
1991; 1994	The Midday Show	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
1991	Tonight Live with Steve Vizard	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
1992	Clowning Around	Sarah Gunner	TV miniseries, 2 episodes
	Asthma in Under 5's	Herself	TV documentary
	Baby Crazy (aka Look Who's Talking)	Narrator	Film documentary
	The Morning Show	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	The World Tonight	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	What's Cooking?	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	In Sydney Today	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	My Special Place	Narrator	TV special
	A Tribute to Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge	Narrator	TV special
	The People's Choice Awards	Host	TV special
1993	How to Raise Happy Kids	Herself	Film documentary
	Ernie and Denise	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	The Great Outdoors	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
1994	A Current Affair	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	Under the Skin		TV series, 1 episode: Grandma's Teeth
	Canberra – A Capital Idea	Narrator	TV documentary
	The Cause of Mary MacKillop	Narrator	Video
	When The Honeymoon Is Over	Narrator	Film documentary
	Midday with Derryn Hinch	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
1994; 1995	TVTV	Herself	TV series, 2 episodes
1995	Lizzie's Library	Narrator	TV series
1995-2004	Better Homes and Gardens	Host	TV series
1995	1995 TV Week Logie Awards	Herself	TV special
	Midday	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	Good Morning Australia	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	Home Improvement Behind Closed Doors	Herself	TV special (US)
	Superbowl Fever	Herself	TV special US
	Monday to Friday	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	Sydney Weekender Summer Special	Presenter	TV special
1996	Gateway to the Future	Narrator	TV documentary
	Midday With Kerri-Anne	Guest	TV series, 1 episode
	Great Aussie Bloopers	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	Twisted Tales	Anne Martin	TV series, season 1, episode 6: Dancing Partners
	Stars and their Mum	Herself	TV special
	Play School 30th Birthday	Herself	TV special
	The Edge of Instinct	Herself	TV documentary
1996; 1997	Carols in the Domain	Host	TV special
1997	Better Homes and Gardens: Great Australian Homes	Host	TV special
	Ripsnorters	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
1998	Eleven A.M.	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	Budget Makeovers	Presenter	TV special
	Today	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
2005	The Movie Show	Guest	TV series, 1 episode
2005	Good Morning Australia	Guest	TV series, 1 episode
2006	Today Tonight	Herself with Play School cast: John Hamblin, John Waters, Lorraine Bayly	TV series, 1 episode
2006	Mornings with Kerri-Anne	Guest	TV series, 1 episode
2007-2011	City Homicide	Bernice Waverley	TV series, 84 episodes
2008	Doing Dungog	Herself	TV special
2009	The Librarians	Jan the midwife	TV series, 1 episode
2010	Ten News	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	Q&A	Panel	TV series, 1 episode
	The Project	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	Things My Mother Taught Me	Herself	TV series
2011	Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
2012	Adam Hills In Gordon St Tonight	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	Pictures of You	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	Kane & Disabled	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
2013	Redfern Now	Margaret	TV series, 1 episode
2013-2018	A Place to Call Home	Elizabeth Bligh / Elizabeth Goddard	TV series, 67 episodes
2015	Australia: The Story of Us	Herself - Actor	TV series, 1 episode
2015; 2022	Studio 10	Guest	TV series, 1 episode
2015	The Daily Edition	Guest	TV series, 1 episode
2016	2016 TV Week Logie Awards	Herself – Logies Hall of Fame	TV special
	Screen	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	Big Ted's Excellent Adventure: 50 Years of Play School	Herself	TV special
	Balance	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
The Feed	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
2019	Balance	Herself	Webseries, 1 episode
2017-19	The Letdown	Anbrose	TV series, 9 episodes
2017	7th Annual AACTA Awards	Herself	TV special
2018; 2021	News Breakfast	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
2018	Who Do You Think You Are?	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	One Plus One	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
2019-2023	Every Family Has a Secret	Presenter	TV series, 10 episodes
2020	The End	Pamela Hardy	TV series, 10 episodes
	Winding Road	Rachael	Podcast series
2021; 2024	News Breakfast	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
2021; 2022	Sunrise	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
2021	Jabba's Movies	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	Today Extra	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	What Does Australia Really Think About?	Presenter	TV series, 1 episode
	Fires	Caris Mazzeo	TV miniseries, 1 episode
2022	Sunrise	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	Studio 10	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	Upright	Squirrel	TV series, 1 episode
	Today Extra	Guest	TV series, 1 episode
2024	The Sunday Project	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
2024	News Breakfast	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
2024	The Project	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
2024	Today Extra	Herself	TV series, 1 episode

Television film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1976	The Judging Ring
1978	Bit Part	Zelda	Teleplay
1983	The Weekly's War	Dorothy Drain	TV film
1986	The Fish Are Safe	Director	TV film
2000	Waiting at the Royal	Eloise	TV film Australian Film Institute Awards 2000: Won – Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Telefeature or Mini-Series
2006	Stepfather of the Bride	Sophie	TV film
2007	Curtin	Elsie Curtin	TV film
2012	The 100+ Club	Narrator	TV film
2013	The Broken Shore	Sybil Cashin	TV film

Short films

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1974	Parent Teacher Interviews	Miss Stevens	29 minutes
1977	Ruby
1980	The Search For Harry Allway
	The Wedding
1983	Stations
1990	Breaking Through	Therapist	52 minutes
1994	Aesop's Fables
1995	Grimm's Fairy Tales	Narrator
2008	Seven Seven Seven	Jess	32 minutes
2009	A Parachute Falling in Siberia	Katherine	14 minutes
2010	Tegan the Vegan	Mrs. Poodle / Mother (voice)	13 minutes
2018	Della Mortika	Mrs. Crotchett Smythe	17 minutes

Feature films

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1977	The Getting of Wisdom		Feature film
1980	Fatty Finn	Myrtle Finn	Feature film Australian Film Institute Awards ***1981: Nominated – Best Actress in a Lead Role Feature film
1982	Monkey Grip	Nora	Feature film
1985	Fran	Fran	Feature film Australian Film Institute Awards ***1982: Won – Best Actress in a Lead Role Feature film
1987	Australian Dream	Dorothy Stubbs	Feature film
1991	Waiting	Claire	Feature film
2005	Little Fish	Janelle Heart	Feature film Won: AFI Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 2005 Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards ***2005 Best Actress in a Supporting Role
2006	Candy	Elaine Wyatt	Feature film Nominated: AFI Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 2006
2008	Bitter & Twisted	Penelope Lombard	Feature film Nominated: AFI Award for Best Actress in 2008 Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards ***2009 Best Actress
2014	The Mule	Judy Jenkins	Feature film
2015	Truth	Nicki Burkett	Feature film
2018	Ladies in Black	Miss Cartwright	Feature film
2020	June Again	June	Feature film
	Wedding of the Year	Barb	Feature film
2021	Long Story Short	The Stranger	Feature film
2024	Sting	Helga	Feature film

Awards and nominations

Year	Association	Category	Work	Result
1980	Logie Awards	Best Supporting Actress in a Series	Ride on Stranger	Won
1981	Australian Film Institute Awards	Best Actress in a Lead Role	Fatty Finn	Nominated
1982			Monkey Grip	Won
1985			Fran	Won
	Logie Awards	Best Supporting Actress in a Single Series	Waterfront	Nominated
1989	ARIA Awards	Best Children's Album	Shout and Whisper	Nominated
	Logie Awards	Most Popular Actress in a Miniseries/Telemovie	The Shiralee	Nominated
1990	ARIA Awards	Best Children's Album	Peter and the Wolf/Carnival of the Animals	Nominated
1992			Noni Sings Day and Night Songs and Rhymes from Play School	Nominated
2000	Australian Film Institute Awards	Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Telefeature or Mini-Series	Waiting at the Royal	Won
2005	AACTA Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Little Fish	Won
	Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards	Best Actress in a Supporting Role		Won
2006	AACTA Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Candy	Nominated
	Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards	Best Actress in a Supporting Role		Nominated
2008	Australian Film Institute Awards	Best Actress	Bitter & Twisted	Nominated
2009	Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards	Best Actress		Won
2014	Equity Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast: Drama Series	Redfern Now	Won
2015	Australian Film Critics Association Awards	Best Actress in a Supporting Role	The Mule	Nominated
	Helpmann Awards	Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Play	Mother	Nominated
2018	AACTA Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Ladies in Black	Nominated
	Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards	Best Actress in a Supporting Role		Won
	The Matilda Awards	Best Female Actor in a Leading Role	Mother	Won

Other awards

Year	Association	Achievement
1991	Variety Club of Australia	'Top Hat' Achievement Award
1995	National Honours	Member of the Order of Australia for her services to children and the performing arts
2016	Logie Awards	Logie Hall of Fame

Hazlehurst has also been an ambassador for Barnardo's Mother of the Year, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by her alma mater Flinders University in 2007.

Cultural references

In 1994 a painting of Hazlehurst by artist Rosemary Valadon titled Noni Hazlehurst – Summer '94 Waiting Again was a finalist in the Archibald Prize.

Personal life

Hazlehurst married director Kevin Dobson, and she subsequently married John Jarratt in circa 1987. She and Jarratt have two sons. After separating from Jarratt in August 1999, she dated cameraman Ian Marden.

Her son, William, is the former vocalist for Melbourne death pop band Storm The Sky.

Noni released her autobiography "Dropping The Mask" on 2 October 2024 and promoted it with personal appearances and book signings through the month of October.

External links

• Noni Hazlehurst at IMDb