Mary Ward (actress) facts for kids

Mary Lorraine Ward (born 6 March 1915 – died 19 July 2021), also known as Mary Ward Breheny, was a famous Australian actress. She worked on stage, in television, and in films. Mary was also a radio announcer and a well-known media personality. Her amazing career lasted for over 70 years! She trained and worked in both England and Australia.

During World War II, Mary Ward was a very popular stage actress in England. She then returned to Australia and continued acting in plays. She also became one of the first female radio announcers at the ABC. On Radio Australia, she was known as the Forces Sweetheart.

At ABC Television, Mary acted in many TV versions of stage plays. She also appeared in Australian films, both for TV and for cinemas. One of her well-known films was Amy.

Mary Ward is perhaps best known for playing older characters in popular TV soap operas. These included Prisoner, where she was one of the first characters, "Mum" Jeanette Brookes. She appeared in this show from 1979 to 1981.

In 1983, Mary Ward also had a short role in the soap opera Sons and Daughters. She played a character named Dee Morrell.

Mary Ward also had small guest roles in other TV shows like The Young Doctors, Neighbours, and Blue Heelers. In 2020, Mary lived in Melbourne and turned 105 years old. At that time, she was the oldest living actress in Australia.

Mary Ward's Life Story

Early Life and Career in England

Mary Ward was born in Fremantle, Western Australia, on 6 March 1915. Her father was a pearler (someone who collects pearls) who later became a publican (someone who runs a pub).

Mary went to boarding school and started acting professionally soon after finishing high school. She later studied at a drama school in Perth. She also studied acting in Britain. Mary worked as a teacher who helped people speak clearly. She even met Lionel Logue, a speech therapist who helped King George VI overcome his stutter.

In 1938, Mary traveled to England. There, she worked in "repertory theatre," which means she acted in many different plays with a group of actors. She worked with famous actors like Trevor Howard. She also appeared in early television and films. In 1940, she returned to Australia. She worked at the Minerva Theatre and became one of the first female radio announcers for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation during World War II. She was known as "The Forces Sweetheart" and also acted in radio plays.

In 1948, she went back to England to work in radio, theatre, television, and film. She appeared in one of the first TV shows on ITV. She also did TV commercials, showing how to sew for Vogue magazine. Mary also performed for the British Broadcasting Corporation and had a small role in the 1949 film, Eureka Stockade.

Mary's first TV appearance was a small part in the detective show The Vise in 1954. The next year, she was in the TV movie The High-Flying Head. She also had main roles in the TV movies Marriage Lines and The Tower.

Working in Australian TV, Stage, and Film

Mary Ward started working full-time in Australian television after returning in 1956. She first worked at the ABC and continued her successful media career. In the 1960s, she was the first woman to present "fashions on the field" at the yearly Melbourne Cup horse racing event.

In the 1970s, Mary appeared in TV shows on commercial stations. She was in a show called Harness Fever in 1977, which later became a two-part episode called Born to Ride on Wonderful World of Disney in 1979. She also continued her theatre work with the Melbourne Theatre Company until 1983.

Famous Roles: Prisoner and Sons and Daughters

In 1979, Mary Ward took on one of her most famous roles: "Mum" Jeanette Brooks in the popular soap opera Prisoner. She played an elderly prisoner who was serving a long sentence. Her character was very popular in the early years of the show. She returned to the role sometimes until her character passed away off-screen in 1983. In 1981, she also starred with some of her Prisoner co-stars in the TV movie I Can Jump Puddles.

In 1983, she was given a big role as the clever Dee Morrell in Sons and Daughters.

The Hendersons TV Series

Mary Ward starred in the 1985 TV series The Henderson Kids. She also appeared in its follow-up series, The Henderson Kids II, in 1987.

Later Film and TV Work

In the late 1980s, Mary had supporting roles in films like Jenny Kissed Me and Backstage. She also had more guest roles in soap operas, including G.P. and Neighbours in 1989. After starring in the 1989 TV movie Darlings of the Gods, she mostly returned to theatre. She did appear in the TV series The Damnation of Harvey McHugh in 1994 and the film Amy in 1997. In 1991, she performed in a play called Alive and Kicking.

Between 1999 and 2000, she played a character named Betty Withers in the police drama Blue Heelers. Mary Ward retired from acting in 2000.

Mary Ward's Passing

Mary Ward passed away on 19 July 2021, in Melbourne, Victoria. She was 106 years old.

Mary Ward's Acting Roles

Film Roles

Television Roles