Lorraine Bayly

Early life Bayly was born in the western New South Wales Riverina town of Booligal on 16 January 1937, growing up alongside her sister June who was three-and-a-half years younger. The family moved south to Narrandera after her father, who worked for the police force, was transferred.

At the age of 11, Bayly moved to Sydney with her father, where she "endured" two stepmothers. Bayly's father was never able to see her acting, as he died several days before he was due to watch her perform in her first professional play, in 1958. winning acclaim for her role in the latter. Further plays with Ensemble Theatre included The Rehearsal (1965) for which Bayly also won critical acclaim, for Ensemble Theatre in 1969.

Bayly took a hiatus from acting in 2003, after the closing night of a production of David Williamson's Birthrights at the Sydney Opera House. She returned to the stage during a 2007 production of Rabbit Hole with Ensemble Theatre. The same year, Bayly played Frau Schmidt in a 2015 national tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music, alongside Cameron Daddo as Captain Von Trapp Her other stage credits include Arthur Miller's The Last Yankee and David Williamson's Travelling North. Then, at the age of 20, she had a short-lived Sunday morning program (circa 1963), called Slim As You Clean with Lorraine Bayly. She also appeared in 1975's Disney TV movie Ride a Wild Pony. Bayly was only in her 30s in 1976, when she began in the role of Grace, who was the mother of adult sons, so was styled to appear older. By 1978, she had become the highest-paid series actress in the history of Australian television. After leaving The Sullivans, Bayly appeared in 1980 children's film Fatty Finn, 1982 Australian classic The Man From Snowy River, The series also starred Kevin Miles as Jennifer's father-in-law Godfrey Carson

From 1991 to 1992, Bayly had a supporting role in long-running soap opera Neighbours as Faye Hudson. Having been told it would be a role similar to the character of Dynasty's Alexis Carrington, Bayly was disappointed when shortly into shooting, she discovered the role was quite different, and told producers she could no longer take on the role. Wanting her to stay, the producers allowed her to tweak the character and they adjusted some of the scripts accordingly. Bayly's additional television guest credits included A Country Practice, G.P. and Pizza.

Personal life Bayly's partner of 20 years was journalist Steve O'Baugh, Los Angeles bureau chief for News Limited. Originally from Tennessee, O'Baugh had moved to Australia in 1965. O'Baugh died from a heart attack related to kidney disease

Honours, awards and nominations (selected) Year Association Award Work Results Ref.1977 Sammy Awards Best Lead Actress in a TV SeriesThe Sullivans as Grace Sullivan 1983 Lions Club Entertainer of the Year Award 2001 Australian Government Member of the Order of Australia

When Bayly retired from acting, the restaurant at Sydney's Ensemble Theatre was named Bayly's Bistro in her honour.

Filmography

Film YearTitleRoleTypeRef. 1965 Birth of Jesus Film short 1967 Heaven Help Us Film short 1975 Ride a Wild Pony Mrs. Ellison Feature film 1980 Fatty Finn Maggie McGrath Feature film 1982 The Man From Snowy River Rosemary Hume Feature film 2014 When the Queen Came to Town Narrator Documentary film

Television YearTitleRoleTypeRef. 1960 The Bobby Limb Show Regular role The Interpretaris Vera Balovna 6 episodes Smithy's Friends TV pilot 1983–1984 Carson's Law Jennifer Carson 184 episodes 1988 The Pandas: China's Living Treasures Narrator Documentary 1988; 1990 Rafferty's Rules Gwen Forster / Audrey Shepherd 2 episodes 1989 A Country Practice Jean Richmond 2 episodes Grim Pickings Betsy Tender Miniseries, 2 episodes 2004 Through My Eyes: The Lindy Chamberlain Story Avis Murchison Miniseries, 2 episodes 2015 The Jewel of the Mountain Narrator Documentary

TVC Year Advertisement Product Ref. 1961 Brylcreem Hair product 1965 Bushells Tea 1989 Shape Milk Foster Parents Plan 1993 Optus Telecommunications company

Stage Source: 1964 The Rehearsal Lead role Ensemble Theatre, Sydney Cages: Snow Angel / Epiphany 1965 Invitation to a March Chase Me Comrade Nancy Rimmington Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Theatre Royal Sydney with J. C. Williamson's 1969 The Daughter-in-Law Lead role Come Laughing Home Lead role 1970 We Bombed in New Haven Lead role Monash University, Playhouse, Canberra with Ensemble Theatre, Sydney Three Months Gone Anna Ensemble Theatre, Sydney 1971 Who Killed Santa Claus? Phillip Theatre, Sydney with J. C. Williamson's 1973 Suddenly at Home Sheila Wallis Comedy Theatre Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's Queen of the Rebels Lead role Marian St Theatre, Sydney 1974 Who's Who Lead role Ensemble Theatre, Sydney, Theatre 62, Adelaide 1975 The Male of the Species Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Elizabethan Theatre, Sydney, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide with J. C. Williamson's 1976 Status Quo Vadis Mrs Elgin Ensemble Theatre, Sydney 1980–1981 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Mona Stangley Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne with Cooke Hayden Price 1984–1985 Play Memory Ensemble Theatre, Sydney 1985 Same Time, Next Year Doris Ensemble Theatre, Sydney 1987 The Gingerbread Lady Evy Meara Universal Theatre Theatre Royal, Hobart, Ensemble Theatre 1989–1990 Lipstick Dreams Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney, Monash University, Melbourne, Twelfth Night Theatre, Brisbane 1991 Another Time Belle Marian St Theatre, Sydney 1991 Gaslight Mrs Manningham Australian tour with Theatre of Comedy 1992 Dear Liar Mrs Patrick Campbell Monash University, Geelong Arts Centre with Malcolm C Cooke & Associates 1994 Mixed Emotions Ensemble Theatre, Sydney 1995 The Last Yankee 1996 Rough Justice Prosecutor Margaret Casely 1997 Death of a Salesman Linda Loman Sydney Opera House with Ensemble Theatre, Sydney 1998 Blinded by the Sun 1999 The Shoe-Horn Sonata Sheila 2015 The Shoe-Horn Sonata Sheila Ensemble Theatre, Sydney