Billie Hammerberg

Billie Lorraine Hammerberg (24 March 1936 – 8 February 1995) was an Australian actress, best known for roles on television and film.

Biography Hammerberg was an Australian actress best known for her role in the television series Prisoner in 1985 as May Collins. She had previously appeared in the series in a guest role in 1979, playing Valerie Richardson, a jewellery store owner, who is an ex-prisoner who shelters her escapee friend and former cellmate Bea Smith (played by Val Lehman) while she is on the run.

Other TV credits include: Homicide, Bluey, Cop Shop, Carson's Law, Special Squad and Round the Twist She also acted opposite Meryl Streep during a brief appearance in the film A Cry in the Dark.

Hammerberg died of unspecified cancer in Melbourne on 8 February 1995 at the age of 58. She was cremated at Springvale Botanical Cemetery on 13 February 1995.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Type 1977 Raw Deal Madam Feature film 1978 Noise Destroys Short film 1988 A Cry in the Dark (aka Evil Angels) Mrs Herron Feature film

Television Year Title Role Type 1970 Callan Replacement Secretary TV series, 1 episode 1970 A Family at War Frightened Woman TV series, 1 episode 1975 Homicide Babs / Margot Denning TV series, 2 episodes 1976–77 Bluey Stella Hedley / Alice Collins / Mrs Gruman TV series, 3 episodes 1978–83 Cop Shop Inspector Joy Stratton / Helen Jackson / Mrs Moore / Ethel Clarke / Mary Newburn / May Carter / Vera Williams / Iris Peterson TV series, 57 episodes 1979, 1985 Prisoner Valerie Richardson / May Collins TV series, 57 episodes 1979–80 Skyways Mama Fanelli / Mag Dyer / Audrey Ferguson TV series, 4 episodes 1981 I Can Jump Puddles Mrs Hale TV miniseries, 1 episode 1992 Come Midnight Monday Mrs Mary Hooliham TV series, 6 episodes 1984 Carson's Law Lydia O'Donnell TV series, 1 episode 1984 Special Squad Alice TV series, 1 episode 1992 Round the Twist Mrs Newman TV series, 1 episode