Wendy Playfair
Wendy Playfair | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 August 1926 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | Radio (c 1940s), theatre 1949–1960, television and film 1960-2013 |
| Known for | Prisoner as Minnie Donovan |
| Family | Thomas Playfair Thomas Alfred John Playfair (uncle) Judy Playfair (cousin) Kip Williams (grandson) |
| Awards | Macquarie Radio Award |
Wendy Playfair (born 28 August 1926)[1] is an Australian radio, television and film character actress, best known for her roles in television serials.[2]
Playfair started her career in radio serials, but became best known for her brief stint in TV serial Prisoner as inmate Minnie Donovan.[3] Other important roles were in the television series Home and Away and the film Accidents Happen starring Geena Davis.[3]
Family
Playfair was born in Woollahra, Sydney, New South Wales to Edmund Strathmore Creer (Strath) Playfair (1894–1965) and Kathleen Ryrie (Babs) née Campbell (1899–1989).[4] She was the third of four sisters.[5] The Playfair family were well-to-do, socially prominent[6] and in the meat trade.[7] She married James Williams at All Saints Anglican Church on 6 July 1951.[8] She is a direct descendant of the famous Sydney butcher, politician and philanthropist Thomas Playfair, and the niece of politician Thomas Alfred John Playfair. Playfair is the cousin of Olympic silver medalist Judy Playfair and the grandmother of Kip Williams, who is the current Artistic Director of the Sydney Theatre Company.[9]
Career
Playfair started her career in radio where she worked for the ABC and consistently in morning serials for Grace Gibson, as well as in many radio plays. Playfair received the radio Macquarie Award. Prior to television she had also appeared in a few stage roles, but was best known as a radio performer[10]
She has been a staple on the small screen in character roles since 1960, when she appeared in the TV adaptation of a production of the play The Slaughter of St Theresa's Day.[11]
Playfair has primarily appeared in cameo roles, with guesting roles in series starting from the late 1960s until 2013 such as Homicide, Hunter, The Young Doctors, Return to Eden, Spirited, Rake and Packed to the Rafters
However she has had several parts as different characters in serials A Country Practice (three roles), Home and Away (two roles) and All Saints (two roles).
She also has had parts in telemovies and films including Ride a Wild Pony, the only Walt Disney film ever produced in Australia, and a pivotal role in the film Accidents Happen opposite Geena Davis in 2009.[3]
In 2022 Playfair gave a rare interview with the podcast series Talking Prisoner.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | The Slaughter of St. Teresa's Day (TV play) | Wilma Cartwright |
| 1962 | Funnel Web (TV movie) | Nina Godfrey |
| 1971 | Three to Go (short film) | Mother (Segment: Judy) |
| 1975 | Ride a Wild Pony | Mrs. Quayle |
| 1977 | Say You Want Me (TV movie) | |
| 1978 | Bit Part (TV movie) | Emma |
| 1978 | Shimmering Light (TV movie) | Gwen Stuart |
| 1985 | Fortress | Old Woman |
| 1993 | Terra Nullius (short film) | |
| 1994 | Cody: Bad Love (TV movie) | Mrs. Unwin |
| 2009 | Accidents Happen[3] | Mrs. Smolensky |
| 2010 | The Tree | Aunt Harriet |
Television
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1967–68 | Homicide | 2 roles: -Jennifer Chandler -Ann Radford |
| 1968 | Hunter | Mrs. West |
| 1973 | Matlock Police | Ethel Parker |
| 1974 | The Evil Touch | |
| 1974 | Things That Go Bump in the Night | Audrey |
| 1978 | Father, Dear Father in Australia | Mrs. Trown |
| 1979 | Glenview High | |
| 1980 | The Young Doctors | Mrs Steele |
| 1981 | Bellamy | Milly |
| 1983–84 | Prisoner | Minnie Donovan |
| 1986 | Return to Eden | Rena McMaster |
| 1982–92 | A Country Practice | 3 roles: -Gwen Bowman -Val Jackson -Lillian Palmer |
| 1997 | Big Sky | Mrs. Toohey |
| 2002 | Don't Blame the Koalas | Mrs. Smythe |
| 2000–03 | All Saints | 2 roles: -Hannah "Bubba" Rosen -Gloria Mayberry |
| 2005–09 | Home and Away | 2 roles: -Mrs. Grey -Audrey Long |
| 2010 | Spirited | Geisella McKenzie |
| 2010 | Rake | Elspeth |
| 2011 | Laid | Old Lady |
| 2013 | Packed to the Rafters | Moira Beckett |
| 2022 | Talking Prisoner[12](Podcast - 1 episode) |
References
- ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 August 1926. p. 10. Retrieved 27 June 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Lane, Richard (2000). The Golden Age of Australian Radio Drama Volume 2. National Film and Sound Archive. pp. 70–72.
- ^ a b c d "Accidents Happen".
- ^ Playfair Family Retrieved 27 June 2014.
- ^ "MANY FAMILY PARTIES YESTERDAY". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 December 1940. p. 2. Retrieved 27 June 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Sydney's Talking About—". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 December 1946. p. 8. Retrieved 27 June 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Playfair estate to family". The Canberra Times. 26 October 1966. p. 13. Retrieved 27 June 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "They're Set Their Wedding Dates". The Sunday Herald. Sydney. 27 May 1951. p. 18. Retrieved 27 June 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Family Matters by Evan Williams Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Wendy Playfair". AusStage.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (19 October 2020). "Forgotten Australian TV Plays – The Slaughter of St Teresa's Day". Filmink.
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOczgQYLg5E
External links
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