Michele Fawdon

Michele Fawdon (15 December 1947 – 23 May 2011) was an English-born Australian actress and singer. She is known for her roles in TV serials Matlock Police (1971–1974), The Unisexers and A Country Practice (1980, 1985, 1992). In 1979 she won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Cathy's Child (1979) and Australian Film Institute Award for Best Lead Actress for a Telefeature for The Fish Are Safe (1986) in 1987. She died of an unspecified cancer.

Early life Michele Fawdon was born on 15 December 1947 in Harrow, London, as the oldest of three children of Yvonne and John Fawdon, a bomber pilot for BOAC. from the age of 12, and completed an examination by London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. In August of that year she took the role of Deanne in the comedy play, All Things Bright and Beautiful, at Ensemble Theatre. The Australian Jewish Times reviewer felt her performance was "outstanding" showing "certainty was matched by most of the other characters." From March to May of that year she acted in the play of the same name at the Independent Theatre. According to Patricia Morgan of The Australian Women's Weekly, Fawdon is "a green-eyed blonde, aged 24. She is 5ft. 3in. [= ], ideally proportioned, and of pearl-cream complexion. In short, she's a stunner. She is also a singing actress who hasn't been out of work one day since she arrived from England." She was recorded for the soundtrack album, Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Australian Cast Recording) (late 1972).

Fawdon's various television roles were in Matlock Police (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974), The Unisexers (1975), The Sullivans (1979), Cop Shop (1979, 1980), Young Ramsay (1980), and A Country Practice (1980, 1985, 1992). At the 1979 Australian Film Institute Awards Fawdon won Best Actress in a Leading Role for Cathy's Child.

Fawdon played the role of Australian 19th-century painter Jane Sutherland in the July 1985 ABC-TV mini-series, One Summer Again, which focusses on the Heidelberg School of artists of the 1880s. Also in that year she starred in the feature film, Unfinished Business as Maureen, who is trying to get pregnant by her ex-boyfriend (John Clayton) as her husband (Norman Kaye) is sterile. It was directed by Bob Ellis. At the 1985 Australian Film Institute Awards she was nominated for Best Lead Actress for her role. Australian film critic, David Stratton, who first saw the film in 2012, observed, "I don't see [Clayton] as having been quite as good as [Ellis] thinks, but [Fawdon] was worthy of her AFI nom. And that's about it..."

In 1986 she portrayed Lena Ranger in the ABC-TV telemovie, The Fish Are Safe, which was directed by Noni Hazelhurst. For the role of Lena, Fawdon won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Lead Actress for a Telefeature in 1987. In 1990 Fawdon appeared as Rose Peterson in the New Zealand film, The Rogue Stallion. She played Judge Cath in four episodes of Marshall Law (2002).

Personal life Fawdon met her domestic partner, Geoff Jenkins, when both appeared in Manning Clark's History of Australia: The Musical in 1988.

Television

Awards Year Work Award Category Result 1979 Cathy's Child AFI Award Best Actress in a Leading Role 1979 Cathy's Child Sammy Award Best Actress 1980 The Silent Cry Sammy Award Best Actress 1980 Maybe This Time AFI Award Best Actress in a Supporting Role 1985 Unfinished Business AFI Award Best Actress in a Leading Role 1987 The Fish are Safe AFI Award Best Lead Actress in a Telefeature