Carol Burns facts for kids

Carol Ann Burns (born October 29, 1947 – died December 22, 2015) was a talented Australian actress and theatre director. She had a long career that lasted 50 years! Carol worked a lot in theatre and on TV shows in both Australia and the United Kingdom. She was also one of the people who helped start the Queensland Theatre Company.

Many people remember Carol for her role as Franky Doyle in the TV show Prisoner. Even though she was only in the first 20 episodes in 1979, her character became super popular and gained a special "cult status" among fans.

Early Life and Learning to Act

Carol Burns was born and grew up in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Her mom, Mary, was a receptionist, and her dad, William, managed car parts. Carol started acting when she was just 11 years old! She took speech and drama classes in 1958.

She acted with groups like the Brisbane Arts Theatre and Twelfth Night Theatre. There, she learned a lot from a theatre director named Joan Whalley. Carol even helped teach younger kids in drama workshops.

Carol's Acting Career

Carol Burns was a very busy actress, working in TV, movies, and especially theatre.

TV and Film Roles

Carol's most famous TV role was playing Frieda "Franky" Doyle in the popular show Prisoner. Her character was so loved that Carol won a Logie Award for Best Lead Actress in a Series! This is a big award in Australian TV.

Carol decided to leave the show because the pay was low and the work was very demanding. She even asked for her character to be written out of the show so she wouldn't be tempted to come back later. After she left, the show even made a special TV movie called The Franky Doyle Story using clips of her character.

After Prisoner, Carol moved to the UK. She acted in many plays in London's famous West End theatre district. She also appeared in British TV shows like The Bill, Taggart, and Heartbeat.

Carol also acted in several films. Some of her movies include The Mango Tree (1977), Bad Blood (1981), Starstruck (1982), and Strikebound (1984).

Theatre Work

Before she became famous on TV, Carol spent ten years acting only in theatre plays in Brisbane. She loved the stage!

In 2005, she performed in a very popular play called The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? for the Queensland Theatre Company. In 2007, she was in The Glass Menagerie. She also performed for La Boite Theatre and in a play by Italian writer Dario Fo.

Her very last performance was in 2015. She played the main role of Winnie in a play called Happy Days for the Queensland Theatre Company.

Carol also directed plays! She directed The Road to Mecca (2002) and A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (2003). She even adapted the book Picnic at Hanging Rock into a play and directed it in 2013.

Personal Life

Carol Burns was married to Alan Lawrence, a musician and composer, for 36 years. She passed away on December 22, 2015, at the age of 68. She had been ill with cancer for a short time.

Awards and Recognition

Carol Burns was recognized for her amazing talent throughout her career.

• She won a Logie Award in 1979 for Best Lead Actress in a Series for her role in Prisoner.
• She was nominated for several Australian Film Institute awards for her acting in films like The Mango Tree and Strikebound, and for TV shows like Blue Heelers.
• In 2003, she received the Alan Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award.
• She was also honored with the Gold Matilda award in 2015, after she passed away, for her contributions to theatre.