Leila Hayes

Life and career Hayes was born in Dimboola, Victoria, Australia on 12 January 1940.

She began her career as a singer in rural Victoria and often appeared on variety shows and national telethons

Hayes also acted in television miniseries, including Power Without Glory (1976), and some TV movies.

In 1981 she appeared in several episodes of cult series Prisoner as brothel madam Jeannie Baxter and was in an early episode of A Country Practice. The same episode coincidently starred Peter Phelps who played her stepson John in Sons and Daughters only a few months later.

The role in Sons and Daughters, made her internationally renowned, as the series was popular in several countries including the United Kingdom, and she toured Belgium with her daughter in 1988, she appeared in 950 episodes as Beryl Palmer, primarily alongside Tom Richards who played her husband David, Peter Phelps and Stephen Comey, who played her son Kevin, her character was noted for her numerous clashes with Rowena Wallace who played the iconic Patricia "Pat the Rat' Hamilton and in later episodes she marries Patricia's former husband Gordon Hamilton (Brian Blain).

Hayes also acted on stage, taking the leading role of April Delaney in comedy Dimboola and worked in talkback radio.

She retired from acting in 1992 (except for a short film in 2005) and lived a private life and rarely attended reunions or conventions. She ran her own actors school called Leila Hayes Drama Studio.

Although she left acting, she enjoyed life out of the limelight, but continued to write and published a children's book

Hayes died after a long period of ill health in Frenchs Forest, New South Wales, on 19 January 2025, aged 85

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Type 1977 Blue Fire Lady Old Lady Feature film 2005 Chasing Down the Dawn Margot Film short

Television Year Title Role Type 1971–76 Homicide Mrs. Sullivan / Norma Franks / Policewoman Quinn / Joan Hansen / Gloria Mason / Libby Marshall TV series, 6 episodes 1971–74 Division 4 Marge Reilly / Mrs. Darcy / Mrs. Arnot / Martha Moore / Pat Green / Dorrie / Mrs. Wright / Miss Hobbs / Smithy’s Mother / Jean / Alison Scott TV series, 11 episodes 1971–74 Matlock Police Natalie / Jean Stewart / Norma Richards TV series, 3 episodes 1971–73 Penthouse Club Herself - Singer TV series, 3 episodes 1975 Cash and Company Lola TV series, Season 1, 1 episode 1976 The Professional Touch Teleplay 1976 Bellbird TV series, 1 episode 1976 Power Without Glory Florrie Robinson TV miniseries, Season 1, 6 episodes 1976; 1977 Bluey Georgie TV series, Season 1, 2 episodes 1978–79 Cop Shop Mrs. Ward / Mrs. Selby / Marjorie Brown / Joan TV series, 4 episodes 1978 The Truckies TV series, Season 1, 1 episode 1978 The Sullivans Anne Watson TV series, 4 episodes 1979 Twenty Good Years Joyce Fielding TV series, Season 1, 1 episode 1981 Prisoner Jeannie Baxter TV series, Season 3, 4 episodes 1981 I Can Jump Puddles Miss. Bryce TV Miniseries; 1 episode 1981; 1990–91 A Country Practice Sue Bushell TV series, 2 episodes 1982–87 Sons and Daughters Beryl Palmer / Beryl Hamilton / Ruby Hawkins TV series, Seasons 1–6; 966 episodes 1982 MPSIB Judith Levine TV series, Season 1; 1 episode 1984 Miss N.S.W 1984 Guest - Herself TV special 1986 Punchlines Herself TV special 1989 60 Minutes Herself (with Abigail) TV series, 1 episode 1990–1991 A Country Practice Mrs. Burns TV series, Seasons 1; 10–11; 3 episodes 1992 Boys from the Bush Daphne TV series, Season 2, 1 episode 1994 Good Morning Australia Guest TV series, 1 episode