Lynette curran biography graphic organizer

Lynette Curran

Australian actress

Lynette Curran

Curran in 1998

Born1945 (age 79–80)

Australia

OccupationActress
Years active1965–present

Lynette Curran is an Australian actress known for many roles in Australian television series and films, including the soap opera Bellbird, and the films Country Town (1971) and Bliss (1985).

Career

Theatre

She started acting in the theatre in 1964. Theatre work includes The Country Wife, Rookery Nook, Richard II, Just Between Ourselves, and Ashes for the Melbourne Theatre Company. She also played in Steaming for the Seymour Centre in Sydney.[1]

Film and television

Curran was a cast member of soap opera Bellbird when it started in 1967. She left the series permanently in 1974; at the time she left she was the program's last remaining original cast member.[2]

Curran acted in the film version of the serial Country Town (1971). She made several other film appearances in the 1970s, with roles in sex comedy Alvin Purple (1973), and in dramas I'm Here, Darlings! (1975), Caddie (1976). Late 1970s television appearances include soap opera Number 96 (in 1976), and police proceduralsBluey and Cop Shop. Curran was a recurring cast member of soap opera The Restless Years (1977–1981), playing the scheming Jean Stafford. She won a Sammy Award for her role in Australian Broadcasting Corporation series Spring and Fall.[1]

She co-starred with Barry Otto in the acclaimed 1985 film adaptation of Peter Carey's award-winning novel Bliss.[citation needed]

Other roles include feature films Heatwave (1982), The Delinquents (1989), The Boys (1998), Japanese Story (2003), Somersault (2004), These Final Hours (2013), A Few Less Men (2017) and Brothers' Nest (2018).[citation needed]

For her appearance in Somersault she won the 2004 AACTA award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.[3]

On television she played Brenda Jackson in the Love My Way, and acted in Underbelly: The Golden Mile and Cleverman. She was in Wentworth as Vera Bennett's elderly, terminally-ill mother (2015).[citation needed]

Curran appears in Season 2 of Aftertaste (2022).[4]

Filmography

Film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1965 The Sweet Sad Story of Elmo and MeBetty TV movie
1965-70 HomicideKaren Latimer / Anna / Karen Barratt / Joy Hamilton / Wendy Hamilton 5 episodes
1967-74 BellbirdRhoda Lang 1107 episodes
1971-72 Matlock PoliceVicky Thompson / Sandra Hughes 2 episodes
1970-73 Division 4Kerry Nolan / Wendy Morris 2 episodes
1973 Brumby InnesMay TV movie
1974 The End ProductEstelle Clay TV movie
RushAmy Draper Episode: "They Faced All the Dangers, Those Bold Bushrangers"
Eye of the Spiral (aka '’The Spiral Bureau’') TV movie
1975 Behind the LegendBelle Episode: "Tom Roberts"
Cash and CompanyEmma Riley Episode: "Home Brewed"
I'm Here, Darlings!TV movie
1976 King's MenEpisode: "Pipeline"
Alvin PurpleFan Episode: "London Derriere"
Fair GameTV pilot
Number 96Samantha Minerver 2 episodes
The OutsidersCarol Episode: "Change of Image"
1977 A Journey to the Center of the EarthVoice Animated TV movie
BlueyJenny TV series, 1 episode 39: Son of Bluey
1978 The GeeksTina TV movie
Chopper SquadCheryl Falconi Episode: "Cliff Rescue"
Case for the DefenceAngela Craig Episode: "The Family Way"
1978–1980 The Restless YearsJean Stafford TV series
1980 Spring & FallCarol Episode: Cold Comfort
1980–1981 Cop ShopTrudy Lovell / Shirley Youngman / Marie Wood 6 episodes
1982 The Mike Walsh ShowGuest - Herself with Amanda Muggleton & Gwen Plumb TV series, 1 episode
1984 Carson's LawVanessa Martin 2 episodes
1984–1992 A Country PracticeConnie Barker / Karen Stone / Karen West 5 episodes
1986 The Flying DoctorsJean Irving Episode: Million Acre Prison
1987 The ShiraleeHareema TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1988 Rafferty's RulesDr. Curlewis TV series, 1 episode: Freedom
Touch the Sun: Peter and PompeyConnie Driscoll TV movie
The Dirtwater DynastyOur Mum TV miniseries, 1 episode
AustraliansMrs. Cuthbert TV series, 1 episode 19: Betty Cuthbert
Stringer8 episodes
1989 BeccaEmma TV movie
Police StateDawn Parker TV movie
1993 Death In the FamilyTV movie
1995 Echo PointAngela Tilbury 1 episode
1997 Big SkyMeg Bateman Episode: "Lost and Found"
1998 FCTVGuest TV series, 1 episode
AftershocksFay Asquith TV movie
1998–2006 All SaintsAnita Petrakis / Hilary Doyle / Harriet Bell 5 episodes
1998; 2000 Water RatsGlenda Lord / Geraldine Sawyer 2 episodes
1999–2005 Blue HeelersEvie Osborn / Marie Biden 3 episodes
2000 Murder CallJanet Simms Episode: "Paid in Full"
2001; 2002 BackbernerMiriam Stardwick 2 episodes
2001–03 Always GreenerConnie Linguini 9 episodes
2003 White Collar BlueSandra Benson 1 episode
2004-07 Love My WayBrenda Jackson 28 episodes
2006 Call Me MumDellmay TV movie
2009 Chandon PicturesLorelei Episode: "The Man with the Dancing Fingers"
2010 Wicked Love: the Maria Korp StoryDaphne TV movie
Underbelly: The Golden MileIrene Webb 2 episodes
City HomicidePosy Pollard 1 episode
RakeColleen 1 episode
2011 Bed of RosesFrida Fryberg 3 episodes
SlideConnie 1 episode
2013-14 WentworthRita Bennett 3 episodes
2015 GlitchJo Willis 1 episode
2016 ClevermanVirgil 2 episodes
Deep WaterRhys' Mother 2 episodes
2017 Newton's LawMartha Payne 1 episode
2018 HarrowMillicent Bruce 1 episode
2019 Molly and CaraMolly
2020 ReckoningKitty Episode: "You Should Be Dancing"
2022 AftertasteJune 6 episodes
2023 Queen of OzSylvia 3 episodes

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
1965The Sweet Sad Story of Elmo and MeBettyABC TV Studios
1969The Imaginary InvalidToinetteTheatre Royal
1969The Country WifeRussell Street Theatre & Canberra Theatre with MTC
1969A Long ViewRussell Street Theatre with MTC
1969Six Characters in Search of an AuthorRussell Street Theatre with MTC
1969Rookery NookRussell Street Theatre with MTC
1971Customs and ExciseNimrod
1972Brumby InnesPram Factory with Australian Performing Group
1976Martello TowersFrancesca JonesNimrod
1976The Recruiting OfficerMelinda, an HeiressNimrod
1976Rookery NookRhoda MarleyUNSW with Old Tote Theatre for Sydney Festival
1977The Mind with the Dirty ManDivInaMetro Theatre, Sydney
1977AshesAnneRussell Street Theatre with MTC
1978Richard IIILady Anne NevilleMelbourne Athenaeum with MTC
1978The Beaux' StratagemCherryMelbourne Athenaeum with MTC
1978Just Between OurselvesPamRussell Street Theatre with MTC
1978Under Milk WoodMelbourne Athenaeum with MTC
1978Arsenic and Old LaceElaine HarperMelbourne Athenaeum
1979The Day After the FairAnnaComedy Theatre, Melbourne & Theatre Royal, Sydney
1980The Sunny SouthBubs BerkleySydney Opera House with STC for Sydney Festival
1980Sexual Perversity in Chicago / ReunionCarolNimrod
1981Every Burglar Has a Silver LiningSeymour Centre
1981La VeniexianaSeymour Centre
1982A Woman AloneNimrod
1982-83SteamingSydney Opera House, Seymour Centre,Theatre Royal, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne & Canberra Theatre
1982MedeaNimrod
1982Female PartsNimrod
1982The Importance of Being EarnestHon. Gwendolen FairfaxMarian Street Theatre
1984TwoMarian Street Theatre
1985-86The Real ThingSGIO Theatre, Brisbane for QTC & Playhouse Adelaide
1985The Resistible Rise of Arturo UiSeymour Centre with Nimrod
1986Dreams in an Empty CityPlayhouse Adelaide with STCSA
1988Citizen of the YearPlayhouse, Perth with WATC
1989The Real MatildaBay Street Theatre
1989Lipstick DreamsPlayhouse, Newcastle with New England Theatre Company, Hunter Valley Theatre Company & Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust
1990Hot Fudge and IcecreamWharf Theatre with STC
1990Words of One SyllableBelvoir Street Theatre
1991The BoysSandra SpragueStables Theatre with Griffin Theatre Company
1991Racing DemonWharf Theatre with STC
1991The Killing of Sister GeorgeQ Theatre
1991Three Stories High - Julia's Song / Painted Woman / Koori LoveBelvoir Street Theatre
1992Diving for PearlsCanberra Theatre, Bridge Theatre, Coniston, Riverina Playhouse
1992SteamingAdelaide
1992Wet and DryStables Theatre with Griffin Theatre Company
1993A Prayer for WingsLookout Theatre, Woollahra
1993MesmerizedStables Theatre with Griffin Theatre Company
1993AftershocksBelvoir Street Theatre
1993In Relation to Inadmissable EvidenceBelvoir Street Theatre
1995The Last YankeeEnsemble Theatre
1995The Real ThingMarian Street Theatre
1996Bold GirlsBelvoir Street Theatre
1998The BoysSydney
1998Tilly's TurnStables Theatre
1999Pride and PrejudiceSydney Opera House with STC & MTC
2000Suddenly Last SummerMrs HollyBelvoir Street Theatre
2001FirefaceWharf Theatre with STC for Sydney Festival
2001The Laramie ProjectBelvoir Street Theatre
2001The School for ScandalSydney Opera House with STC
2002All My SonsKateSydney Opera House with Ensemble Theatre
2002PresenceStables Theatre with Griffin Theatre Company
2003Broken GlassSylvia GellburgEnsemble Theatre
2005The ChairsPetty PieBelvoir Street Theatre
2005Colder Than HereBelvoir Street Theatre
2007The Gates of EgyptClariceBelvoir Street Theatre
2007Derrida In LoveJacquelineEnsemble Theatre
2009The CrucibleTituba / Mary Lewis / Rebecca NurseWharf Theatre with STC
2011Gross und Klein (Big and Small)STC
2012Gross und Klein (Big and Small)European tour - Théâtre de la Ville, Barbican Theatre, London, Vienna Festival & Ruhrfestspiele with STC
2013Cat on a Hot Tin RoofBig MamaTheatre Royal with Belvoir Street Theatre
2014Hedda GablerAunt JulieBelvoir Street Theatre
2016The Great FireMaryBelvoir Street Theatre[5]
2019I'm With HerDr Marion BlackwellDarlinghurst Theatre Company[6]
2020Cursed!Belvoir Street Theatre

[7]

Awards and nominations

Personal life

Curran was married when she was 19, but the marriage was short-lived. She has had two substantial relationships since then, but bore no children. She lives alone in Sydney. A sexual assault and incest survivor, Curran is estranged from her family.

Curran has Indigenous Australian heritage, as she discovered two of her great-grandmothers were Aboriginal.

She dabbles as a medium, which she got into after foreseeing the death of a friend in a car accident. She first had premonitions as a child. She offers readings at Sydney markets, using tarot cards, numerology and astrology.[9]

Curran is often mistaken for good friend and fellow Australian actress Jacki Weaver, whom she has previously worked with, most notably in the 2008 Ensemble Theatre production of Derrida In Love.[10]

References

External links