Jill Perryman
Jill Perryman | |
|---|---|
 Perryman in 1966 | |
| Born | 30 May 1933 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1936–2006 |
| Known for | Work with J. C. Williamson theatre, musical theatre performer |
| Notable work | Film and TV ...Maybe This Time Bellbird Changi Stage [1] |
| Spouse | Kevan Johnston |
| Children | Tod Johnston, Trudy Dunn[1] |
| Parent(s) | William Perryman, Dorothy Perryman Duvall |
| Family | Diana Perryman (sister) Bill Perryman (brother) |
Jill Perryman AM, MBE[2] (born 30 May 1933) is an Australian former stage and screen actress and singer. Combining both her stage acting and her singing, she featured in numerous musical theatre roles, over eight decades and spanning 70 years of performing, starting from the age of three in a local production of Austrian operetta White Horse Inn[3]
She toured twice with a production of Hello Dolly! firstly in 1965, as a member of the ensemble cast as character Irene Molley and again almost thirty years later in 1994 in the leading role.[1]
Perryman, is exceptional in local theatre, when many productions featured internationally imported stars, even whom had not commonly performed the leading roles on Broadway and the West End. Alongside her contemporaries Toni Lamond and Nancye Hayes, has been called one of the three Grand Dame of Musical Theatre. [4]
Perryman although a staple of theatre, has appeared in numerous guest roles in television series and briefly in film making her debut in Maybe This Time in 1980.
Personal life
Perryman was born in Melbourne, Victoria to a family notable for its achievements in theatre and entertainment. Her father, William Thomas Perryman, was an actor and performer, with notable credits from 1919 until 1938[5] and her mother Dorothy Eileen (formerly Duvall), born in Adelaide was an actress and singer, who appeared in a few productions from 1923 until 1932.[6]
Her older sister, Diana Perryman (1925–1979), was prominent in Australian theatre and also appeared in television roles.[7] Her husband is Western Australian dancer-choreographer Kevan Johnston, and they have a son Tod Johnston, who is a media personality, radio and television presenter, and musician. Diana Perryman was posthumously awarded an MBE.[8]
Her daughter Trudy Dunn is also a performer[1]
Career
Perryman in 1952, then aged 19, joined the company of J. C. Williamson Theatres Ltd as a member of the chorus and in the following year was understudying leading roles in stage musicals, under Evie Hayes in a local production of Call Me Madam.[9]
Perryman was strong in voice and personality, and a long series of understudy and small roles eventually led her, through the recommendation of John McCallum (who was then joint managing director of J. C. Williamson Theatres Ltd), to take the lead in the key Australian production of Funny Girl, a performance that won her an Erik Award for Best Actress and led to major roles in other productions.
These included I Do! I Do! in 1969; The Two of Us in 1971. No, No, Nanette in 1972 won her another Erik Award for Best Actress for her role as Lucille Early, then in 1973 she starred in A Little Night Music.[10] In 1976 she played Gladys Zilch in Leading Lady, a musical production created especially for her. She also toured during 1977 in Side by Side by Sondheim. She played Miss Hannigan in Annie in 1978.
Perryman won the A.F.I. (Australian Film Institute) Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1980.[11]
She toured in the musicals Chicago in 1988 and The Boy From Oz in 1998[1]
Stage roles
source= AusStage[1]
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| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Call Me Madam | Ensemble (u/s Mrs Sally Adams) | Australian tour starring Evie Hayes |
| 1954 | Paint Your Wagon | Elizabeth Woodling | Australian tour |
| 1955 | Can-Can | Celestine | Australian tour |
| 1957 | The Pajama Game | Mabel | Australian tour starring Toni Lamond |
| 1962 | Carnival! | Rosalie | Australian tour |
| 1965 | Hello, Dolly! | Irene Molloy | Australian tour starring Carole Cook as Dolly Levi |
| 1966 | Funny Girl | Fanny Brice | Australian tour |
| 1969 | I Do! I Do! | Agnes | Australian tour |
| 1972 | No, No, Nanette | Lucille Early | Australian tour starring Cyd Charisse |
| 1973 | A Little Night Music | Countess Malcolm | Australian tour |
| 1977 | Side by Side by Sondheim | Herself | Australian tour |
| 1978 | Annie | Miss Hannigan | Australian tour |
| 1983 | Noises Off | Dotty Ottley | Australian tour |
| 1983 | Chicago | Mama Morton | Playhouse Theatre, Perth |
| 1984 | ‘night, Mother | Jessie Cates | Australian tour |
| 1985 | Brighton Beach Memoirs | Blanche | Australian tour |
| 1994 | Hello, Dolly! | Dolly Levi | Australian tour |
| 1998 | Follies | Carlotta Champion | Sydney Opera House concert |
| 1998 | The Boy from Oz | Marion Woolnough | Australian tour |
Filmography
FILM
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | ...Maybe This Time | Mother | Feature film |
| 1986 | Windrider | Miss Dodge | Feature film |
| 1990 | The Swan | Role unknown | Film short |
| 1993 | Love in Limbo | Aunt Dorry | Feature film |
| 2006 | Hidden Creatures | Doris | Film short |
TELEVISION
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Pantomime Quiz | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1962 | The Good Oil | Bunny | TV film |
| 1966 | BP Super Show | Herself - Singer | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1966 | The Mavis Bramston Show | Herself - Various Characters | TV series |
| 1969 | Sydney Tonight | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1970 | The Mike Walsh Show | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1971 | Dynasty | Guest role: Jenny Farmer | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1972 | Matt Flinders | Herself | TV series |
| 1972 | Kamahl | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1972 | Perryman On Parade | Herself | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 1973 | Jill | Herself | TV special |
| 1974 | The Firm | Role unknown | Film documentary |
| 1974 | The Ernie Sigley Show | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1975 | The Graham Kennedy Show | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1975 | Bellbird | Regular role: Cheryl Turner | ABC TV series |
| 1976 | Homicide | Guest role: Kate Holsworth | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1976 | This Is Your Life | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1976 | Quest | Herself | ABC TV series |
| 1977 | Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal | Herself | TV special |
| 1978 | Cappriccio | Herself - Guest | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1978-1984 | The Mike Walsh Show | Herself - Guest / Singer | TV series |
| 1978 | Tickled Pink | Guest role: Vera | ABC TV series, 1 episode 4: "Palace Of Dreams" |
| 1978 | The Peter Couchman Show | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1979 | The Jill Perryman Show | Herself | TV special |
| 1979 | Saturday Special | Herself - Guest | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1980;1982 | Parkinson In Australia | Herself - Guest | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1980 | Home Sweet Home | Guest role: Mother Superior | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1980 | 1980 Australian Film Awards | Herself - Winner Best Actress in Support Role 'Maybe This Time' | ABC TV special |
| 1982 | Parkinson In Australia | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1980 | John Singleton Show | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1981 | The 1981 Australian Film Institute Awards | Herself - Performer | ABC TV special |
| 1985 | Flight into Hell | Role unknown | ABC TV miniseries |
| 1985-1993 | The Midday Show | Herself - Guest / Singer | TV series |
| 1987 | Have A Go | Herself - Guest Judge | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 1989 | The Bert Newton Show | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989 | The Flying Doctors | Guest role: Josie Sterling | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989-1990 | A Country Practice | Recurring Guest role: Lois Gardiner | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 1992 | In Sydney Today | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | Clowning Around | Recurring role: Miss Gabhurst | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 1992 | Legends In Cabaret | Herself - Singer | ABC TV special |
| 1993 | At Home | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994;1995;1998;1999 | Good Morning Australia | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1995;1998 | Good Morning Australia | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1997 | Hey Hey It's Saturday | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1998;1999 | Good Morning Australia | Herself - Guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1998;1999 | Denise | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1999 | Denise | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1999 | Good Morning Australia | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2001 | Changi | Recurring role: Older Kate | ABC TV miniseries, 1 episode |
| 2008 | Talking Heads | Herself - Guest | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 2011 | The Helpmann Awards | Herself - Honouree JC Williamson Award with Nancye Hayes & Toni Lamond | TV special |
Selected appearances
| Title | Year | Role |
| Pantomime Quiz (TV series) | 1957 | Self |
| BP Super Show (TV series) | 1966 | Self-Singer |
| Sydney Tonight (TV series) | 1969 | Self |
| The Mike Walsh Show (TV series) | 1970 | Self |
| Matt Fllinders (TV series) | 1972 | Self |
| Kamahl (TV series) | 1972 | Self |
| Jill (TV special) | 1973 | Herself |
| The Ernie Sigley Show (TV series) | 1974 | Self as performer |
| The Graham Kennedy Show (TV series) | 1975 | Self as performer |
| Parkinson in Australia (TV series) | 1980 | Self-Singer |
Honours and awards
| Association | Award | Year | Results |
| Australian Government | Order of the British Empire (MBE).[12] | 1979 | Honoured |
| Australian Government | Order of Australia (AM).[13] | 1992 | Honoured |
| AACTA Awards | AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role | 1980 | Won |
| Erik Award | Best Actress for Funny Girl | 1971 | Won |
| Erik Award | Best Actress for No, No Nanette | 1972 | Won |
| Helpmann Awards | JC Williamson Award[14] | 2011 | Honoured |
| Mo Awards[15] | Female Musical Theatre Performer of the Year | 1995 | Won |
| Equity | Lifetime Achievement Award | 2013 | Honoured |
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Jill Perryman". AusStage.
- ^ "Jill Perryman Biography (1933-)".
- ^ "Three-year-old Jill Perryman 1936".
- ^ "Back to the 50's? international actors take prized roles in Australian musical productions".
- ^ "William Perryman". AusStage.
- ^ "Dorothy Perryman". AusStage.
- ^ "Diana Perryman". AusStage.
- ^ "Perryman, Diana (-1979)".
- ^ "Jill Perryman (transcript of interview with Peter Thompson)". Talking Heads, ABC Television. 25 August 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2008.
- ^ "Jill Perryman, interview with Simon Plant". The Arts Centre. May 2003. Archived from the original on 24 May 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2008.
- ^ Jill Perryman at IMDb
- ^ It's an Honour: MBE
- ^ It's an Honour: AM
- ^ Wright, Maryann (2 August 2011). "Mary's a perfect Poppins - musical scoops annual Helpmann Awards". News.com.au. News Limited (News Corporation). Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- ^ "MO Award Winners". Mo Awards. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
External links
- 1933 births
- Actresses from Melbourne
- Australian stage actresses
- Australian women singers
- Helpmann Award winners
- Living people
- Members of the Order of Australia
- Australian Members of the Order of the British Empire
- Musicians from Perth, Western Australia
- Singers from Melbourne
- Best Supporting Actress AACTA Award winners