Lorraine Bayly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lorraine Bayly
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Lorraine Bayly in 2012, at the premiere of Annie (musical)
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Lorraine Daphne Bayly
16 January 1937 Narrandera, New South Wales, Australia
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| Years active | 1954–2018 |
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Lorraine Daphne Bayly is a famous Australian actress who has worked in movies, TV shows, and theatre. She was also a presenter, singer, dancer, and pianist. She was even a theatre founder and director! Lorraine Bayly was given the Order of Australia award, which is a very special honour.
She started performing when she was just a child and became a professional actress in 1954. Many people know her from her roles in popular TV shows. She played Grace Sullivan in the World War II drama The Sullivans, Jennifer Carson in Carson's Law, and Faye Hudson in Neighbours. She was also one of the first presenters on the children's TV show Play School from 1966 to 1978.
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Early Life and Talents
Lorraine Bayly was born in Narrandera, New South Wales, Australia, on January 16, 1937. She started performing very young, playing the tambourine with the Salvation Army when she was only three years old.
When she was between five and nine years old, she was very creative. She wrote, directed, and starred in plays! Her father was a policeman, and also an amateur magician and ventriloquist.
By the time she was nine or ten, Lorraine had her own ventriloquist act. Years later, in 1983, she even performed this act on The Parkinson Show, using the host, Michael Parkinson, as her "dummy"!
She was also a talented musician. When she was 11 or 12, she played classical piano live on Radio 2UE every Saturday afternoon.
A Look at Her Career
Lorraine Bayly had a long and busy career in entertainment. She was involved in many different types of performances.
Theatre Performances
Lorraine Bayly helped start the Ensemble Theatre in Kirribilli with Hayes Gordon. She has been in many professional theatre shows since 1954. Some of her roles include:
- Linda Loman in Death of a Salesman
- Sheila in Shoehorn Sonata
- Mrs Patrick Campbell in Dear Liar
- Margaret in Rough Justice
- Bella in Gaslight
- She also starred in the popular play Calendar Girls in 2010.
- More recently, she appeared in David Williamson's When Dad Married Fury and The Sound of Music.
Television Roles
Lorraine Bayly is well-known for her many TV roles.
- She was a popular presenter and one of the first cast members on the children's TV show Play School from 1966 to 1978.
- She is perhaps most famous for playing Grace Sullivan in the drama series The Sullivans (1976–1979). This show was about an ordinary Australian family living during World War II.
- From 1982 to 1984, Lorraine played the main character, Jennifer Carson, in the TV drama Carson's Law. This show was set in Melbourne in the 1920s and was about a lawyer and her family. The show was actually written especially for Lorraine Bayly!
- From 1991 to 1992, she appeared in the popular TV show Neighbours as Faye Hudson. Faye was a character who moved in with her brother, Doug Willis.
Film Appearances
Lorraine Bayly also starred in several movies.
- She was in Fatty Finn, which was nominated for an AFI Award.
- She appeared in Ride a Wild Pony for Disney.
- One of her most famous film roles was Rosemary Hume in The Man From Snowy River, where she acted alongside the legendary actor Kirk Douglas.
Retirement from Acting
In 2019, Lorraine Bayly decided to retire from acting.
Awards and Honours
Lorraine Bayly has received many awards and honours throughout her career.
She was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2001. This is a very high honour given by the Australian Government to people who have achieved a lot.
She has won 10 awards from 14 nominations. This includes three Silver Logies for Most Popular Actress. She won these in 1978 and 1979 for her role in The Sullivans, and again in 1983 for Carson's Law. The Logie Awards are Australia's biggest TV awards. In 2006, she was also named one of "Australian Variety's 100 Entertainers of the Century."
Images for kids
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Lorraine Bayly in 2012, at the premiere of Annie (musical)
