Olivia Hamnett

Olivia Jane Hamnett (13 February 1943 – 2 November 2001) was an English actress known for numerous television roles in Australia, primarily in soap operas and miniseries. including The Sullivans as Meg Fulton in 1979, in Prisoner as Dr. Kate Peterson, who was a supporting cast member in 1981–82 and in Return to Eden 1983 and 1985 as Joanna Randall.

Early life Hamnett was born in 1943, in St Helens, Lancashire, England.

Career Hamnett started her acting career in theatre, before moving into television in the early 1960s, with guest roles on series, including Department S and Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) in 1969.

After emigrating to Australia in the 1970s, she found even greater onscreen success. She initially secured minor roles in series such as Bellbird and a number of the Crawford Production staples, before being cast in more significant roles. She was best known for her performances in cult series Prisoner as Dr. Kate Peterson and The Sullivans as Meg Fulton, as well as both the original miniseries and the regular series of Return to Eden.

Hamnett also played major roles on such series as Rush, The Power, The Passion, Chances, Pacific Drive, Neighbours and Blue Heelers.

She portrayed Richard Chamberlain's wife in The Last Wave (1977), and played Ricky Schroder's character's mother in The Earthling (1980).

Personal life Hamnett married actor Peter Regan in 1973. She died in November 2001 in Malvern, Victoria from a brain tumour at the age of 58.

Her husband English Australian actor Peter Regan, who was perhaps best known for his role locally on the Crawford Productions serial The Box from 1974 until 1976 as tonight host Gary Burke, died on 3 August 2026, aged 92.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Type 1966 The Spy with a Cold Nose Uncredited Feature film UK 1977 The Last Wave Annie Burton Feature film 1980 The Earthling Bettina Daley Feature film 1994 Ebbtide Committal Judge Feature film 1999 Joe Wilkinson Mrs Wilkinson Feature film UK

Television Year Title Role Type 1963 Drama 61-67 Sue TV series UK, 1 episode 1964 Compact Billie TV series UK, 1 episode 1964 Taxi! Waitress TV series UK, 1 episode 1964 World of His Own unknown role TV series UK, 1 episode 1969 Department S Anita TV series UK, 1 episode 1969 Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Anne Soames TV series UK, 1 episode 1971 Bachelor Father Vicki TV series 1972-1975 Division 4 Lindy / Charlene Boucher / Sue Miller TV series, 3 episodes 1973 Boney Diana Rockwell TV series, 1 episode 1973 Son of the Bride Angela TV series UK, 6 episodes 1973 New Scotland Yard Rosalind TV series UK, 1 episode 1973 The Gentlemen of Titipu Voice Animated TV movie 1973 The Comedy Game TV series, 1 episode: "Fat Max" 1974 Matlock Police Roberta Hughes TV series, 1 episode 1974 This Love Affair Nadine Rourke Anthology TV series, 1 episode 1974-1976 Homicide Rosalind Clayton / Mrs. Lovejoy / Bernice Anderson / Interviewer TV series, 4 episodes 1974 Out of Love Anthology TV series, episode: "Where Did All The Love Go?" 1974 Rush Sarah Lucas TV series, 12 episodes 1975 Quality of Mercy Helen TV series, 1 episode: "Sally Go Round The Moon" 1975 The Last of the Australians Receptionist TV series, season 2, episode: "Stars Trek" 1976 Bellbird TV series 1976 Bobby Dazzler Della McDermott TV series, 14 episodes 1976 Obsession - Error of Judgement Teleplay 1977 Ripkin Ruth Clifford TV movie 1978 Plunge Into Darkness Pat Keating TV movie 1979 The Sullivans Meg Fulton TV series, episodes 594–632 1979 The John Sullivan Story Captain. Meg Fulton TV movie 1981–1982 Prisoner Dr. Kate Petersen TV series, 39 episodes 1982 Cop Shop Audrey Mason TV series, 1 episode 1983 Return to Eden Joanna Randall TV miniseries, 3 episodes 1984 The Young Wife Patricia Barwing TV movie 1986 Return to Eden Joanna Randall TV series, 3 episodes 1986 A Country Practice Jessie Kershaw TV series, 2 episodes 1986 Tusitala Lady Jersey TV miniseries, 3 episodes 1987 Coda Det. Sgt. Turner TV movie 1989 The Power, The Passion Ellen Bryne Edmonds TV series, 167 episodes 1990 The Paper Man Irene Hampden TV miniseries 1990 G.P. Dr. Peg Chisholm TV series, 1 episode 1990 Skirts TV series, 1 episode 1991 Chances Rhonda TV series, 12 episodes 1992 A Country Practice Barbara Sajinovic TV series, 2 episodes 1994 Blue Heelers Gwen Burton TV series, 1 episode 1994 Law of the Land Blanche Avery TV series, 1 episode 1997 Pacific Drive Mara de Villenois / Devlin #2 TV series 1997 The Ripper Lady Margaret TV movie, US 1998 Neighbours Hilary Grant TV series, 2 episodes 2000 Blue Heelers Dr. Ellen McCarthy TV series, 1 episode 2000 The Games Sponsor TV series, 1 episode

Theatre Year Title Role Type 1963–1964 Monsieur Blaise Genevieve Bristol Hippodrome, Winter Gardens, Blackpool, Theatre Royal, Brighton, Royal Court Theatre, London, Phoenix Theatre, London with Marcellus Productions 1965–1972 Charlie Girl Adelphi Theatre, London, St. James Theatre, Auckland, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne with J. C. Williamson 1987–1988 Wife Begins at Forty Betty Dixon Playhouse, Adelaide, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen, Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Theatre Royal, Brighton, Theatre Royal, Norwich, Theatre Royal, Lincoln 1993 M. Butterfly Helga Playhouse, Melbourne, Canberra Theatre, Seymour Centre, Sydney with MTC & Harry M. Miller 1995 The Best of British: Rookery Nook / When We Are Married Mietta's Melbourne for Melbourne International Comedy Festival