Mary Ann Severne

Mary Ann Severne (b. Auckland, New Zealand) is a New Zealand-born Australian actress active in Australian made films and television programs from the 1970s.

Career Severne began her acting career in various theatre productions including playing Paola in a production of There's a Girl in My Soup, and was part of a company at the Wayside Chapel, Sydney.

Late 1960s Australian television appearances included The Mavis Bramston Show, and Contrabandits. Throughout the 1970s Severne made many television appearances, appearing several times in guest roles in the Crawford Productions police dramas Homicide, Division 4 and Matlock Police.

Severne also worked in the UK, starring in film comedy The Adventures of Barry McKenzie (1972), and making appearances in the TV anthology series Thriller and Moonbase 3 in 1973, and Father Brown in 1974.

Returning to Australia, Severne played a leading regular role in soap opera Number 96 from 1975 until 1977, and played a guest role in sitcom Doctor Down Under in 1979. Roles in the 1980s included an appearance in feature film Run Rebecca, Run! (1981), four episodes of A Country Practice (1982 and 1984), and a role in TV movie Barracuda (1988).

Personal life

Severne was married to actor Henri Szeps from 1969 until his death in 2025; they met on the set of a play. Together they have two sons, Amos and Josh.

Filmography

Film Title Year Role Type 1971 3 to Go: Judy Margaret Short film 1972 The Adventures of Barry McKenzie Lesley Feature film 1981 Run Rebecca, Run Jean Porter Film 1988 Barracuda (aka The Rocks) Mother on ferry TV movie

Television Title Year Role Type Late 1960s The Mavis Bramston Show TV series Contrabandits TV series 1969–75 Homicide Various roles TV series, 6 episodes Division 4 Various roles TV series, 10 episodes 1971 Owen, M.D. Sister TV series, 2 episodes Mogul Fran Davies TV series, 1 episode 1972 Love Story Alice TV series, 1 episode Crime of Passion Denise Simon TV series, 1 episode ITV Saturday Night Theatre Nurse White TV series, 1 episode: "Just in Time for Christmas" 1973 Thriller Young Woman TV series, 1 episode Moonbase 3 Sandy TV series, 2 episodes Romany Jones Wendy TV series, 1 episode 1974 Father Brown Beatrice TV series, 1 episode 1974–75 Play School Self TV series 1975 Matlock Police Monica Pearson TV series, 1 episode 1975–77 Number 96 Laura Trent Whittaker TV series, 73 episodes 1978 Father Dear Father in Australia Lesley Radford TV series, 1 episode 1978, 1979 Cop Shop Margot Palmer / Senator Susan Pearce TV series, 3 episodes 1979 Patrol Boat Mrs. Lewis TV series, 1 episode Doctor Down Under Sister Potts TV series, 1 episode 1981 Menotti TV series, 1 episode 1982–87 A Country Practice Cynthia Wallace / Colleen Whitton / Ros Peterson TV series, 6 episodes

Theatre Title Year Role Type 1967 There’s a Girl in My Soup Poala Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Canberra Theatre 1968 Mame Actor / Singer Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide 1974 Well Hung Mrs Donnelly Nimrod Street Theatre, Sydney