Sheila Florance

Sheila Mary Florance (24 July 1916 – 12 October 1991) was an Australian actress known for her work in theatre, television and film.

Born in Melbourne, she married an Englishman in 1934 and relocated to London. Her early career was based on the London stage. Her first husband died in World War II in 1944.

In 1948, Florance returned to Australia and resumed her acting career, initially in the theatre before transitioning to film and television. She appeared in various Crawford Productions, gaining recognition for her role as Dossie Rumsay in Bellbird. She achieved international fame for her portrayal of Lizzie Birdsworth, an elderly alcoholic convict, in the television series Prisoner.

Florance died in 1991 from lung cancer, a week after receiving the AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her final film, A Woman's Tale.

Biography

Early life

Florance was born on 24 July 1916 at 42 Carrington Grove, East St Kilda, Melbourne. She was the eldest daughter of costumier Frances Josephine (née Lalor) and school teacher James Horn Florance. Sheila had at least one sibling: Peter John Lalor Florance (1923–2008).

Florance was educated at Presentation College, Windsor. She left school at the age of 15. With her father's support, she developed an interest in acting and began taking small roles with the Melbourne Little Theatre at St Chad's in South Yarra.

First marriage and move to England

On 19 April 1934, at the age of 17, Florance married Roger Lightfoot Oyston, a visiting Englishman, at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Balaclava following a whirlwind romance. The couple had their first child, a daughter named Susan, the following year. The family moved to England, initially staying with Roger's parents in Deepdale Avenue, Scarborough, Yorkshire, before settling in a house on Sewerby Avenue, Bridlington. |group=note was born on 20 May 1938.

As World War II approached, Florance joined the Women's Land Army and worked on a farm near Bempton while her husband enlisted as an officer cadet. Florance often recounted a story of having a second daughter, Bridget, who she reported was killed in an air raid in 1941. |group=note went missing in action in France. Florance did not receive confirmation of his death until the following year.

Second marriage and return to Australia

After World War II, Sheila Florance met Polish airman Jan Adam "John" Balawaider, who had served in the Royal Air Force with 158 Squadron during the war. The couple married on 3 September 1946 at Holy Cross Church in Hucknall, Nottingham. (This was a small church, contrary to Florance's stories of having married at Nottingham Cathedral.)

Upon arrival in Fremantle, Peter Oyston recalled his mother "ran down the gangplank ahead of everyone else and against the orders of the Captain or the crew, and knelt on the soil in the port, and then grabbed a handful of gravel and started eating it, and saying, 'Oh, Australia, Australia, I'm home, I'm home. My lovely country." In a later interview with Sam Newman, Florance said she thought it was probably suicide and that she had failed her daughter.

After leaving Prisoner in 1983, Florance cared for Balawaider, who had suffered lifelong effects from wartime injuries. He died of cancer in October 1983.

Death Florance died of lung cancer at the age of 75 on 12 October 1991. Nine days earlier, her son Philip had accepted the AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role on her behalf for her performance in her final film, A Woman's Tale.

Career

Theatre

After returning to Australia, Florance rejoined Melbourne's Little Theatre. In August 1951, she performed in Guy Bolton's Larger than Life. From February to March 1953, she toured Victoria with the Arrow Theatre's production Our Town, portraying Mrs. Gibbs in 63 performances over an eight-week tour. By January 1954, Florance became a member of the Union Theatre Repertory Company, receiving acclaim for her role as the mischievous aunt in Lesley Storm's The Day's Mischief. She worked alongside actors such as Barry Humphries and Peter O'Shaughnessy.

Florance's played Teresa Browne in the first Australian production of The Living Room (1954). Subsequent performances included roles in Mel Dinelli's The Man (1955), Elizabeth Addyman's The Secret Tent at the Arrow Theatre (1956), Reginald Denham's Ladies in Retirement (1956), Picnic (1956), Emlyn Williams' The Light of Heart (1956), and Misalliance at the Union Theatre (1956). She also played Cassandra in Christopher Fry's adaptation of Tiger at the Gates at the opening of the newly built theatre complex on St Martin's Lane.

Florance continued working in theatre in the 1960s, although she spent less time there. She earned a second Melbourne Critics Award nomination for her performance in The Chairs at the Little Theatre (1960). By 1961, Florance had left Channel 2 to concentrate on repertory theatre, appearing in Ferenc Molnár's The Guardsman (1961), The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1961), and Dracula (1962). Also in 1962, Florance played Lady Macbeth in Macbeth at the Union Theatre. She also performed in Fritz Hochwälder's The Public Prosecutor at the Little Theatre (1962), Summer of the Seventeenth Doll at Russell Street Theatre (1962), and Michael Redgrave's adaptation of The Aspern Papers (1962).

In 1963, Florance toured Victoria with the Union Theatre Repertory Company's productions of Arms and the Man and Peter Batey's The No-Hopers. In 1964, she appeared in Fay and Michael Kanin's adaptation of Rashomon at St Martin's Theatre. In 1967, she joined the short-lived Melbourne Independent Theatre Company for their sole production, Brian Faull's Life for the Living, at the Emerald Hill Theatre and performed in The Birthday Party at St Martin's Theatre. In 1968, she appeared with the St Martin's Theatre company in Thomas Keneally's Halloran's Little Boat at the Playhouse Theatre, Perth as part of the Festival of Perth, and then in Melbourne at St Martin's Theatre. Florance's last play of the 1960s was The Little Foxes in 1968 at St Martin's Theatre.

Florance's 1970s theatre work included Tyrone Guthrie's production of All's Well That Ends Well (1970), Uncle Vanya at St Martin's Theatre (1971), Sam Cree's The Mating Season at Melbourne's Comedy Theatre (1972), The Prisoner of Second Avenue at Russell Street Theatre (1973), The Time is Not Yet Ripe at the Comedy Theatre (1973), Design for Living at St Martin's Theatre (1973–1974), Edward Bond's The Sea at Russell Street Theatre (1974), and The Doctor's Dilemma at St Martin's Theatre (1974).

In 1987, Florance performed in two final stage productions: Uncle Vanya at the Anthill Theatre and The Impostor at St Martin's Youth Arts Centre.

Film and television By 1959, Florance was working as a floor manager at television station Channel 2. In late 1962 and early 1963, she played defendants Laura Radford and Jocelyn Matthews in two episodes of Consider Your Verdict.

In 1965, Florance made her film debut as a deaf-mute person in Clay. During post-production, she dubbed the voice of Janina Lebedew, who portrayed the character Margot. Florance also made her first of 18 appearances in Homicide and performed in Dangerous Corner, The Magic Boomerang (episode "The Stand-In"), and Romanoff and Juliet in 1965. In 1967, Florance began appearing intermittently as Dossie Rumsey in Bellbird, a role she continued into the 1970s. During this time, she also took on small roles in other productions such as Division 4.

In 1971, she portrayed Old Mrs Bacon in Country Town. That same year, she made her first of four appearances as Grace Falconer in Matlock Police.

In 1973, Florance appeared as Lorna Russell in the first episode of Ryan. In 1974, she appeared in the film Petersen. She continued to make single-episode appearances in television series such as Tandarra (1976), Bluey (1977), and Bobby Dazzler (1978), while increasingly focusing on film work.

In 1976, Florance played Mavis Lipton in End Play and had a small role in Illuminations. Her performance of Mrs Sullivan in The Devil's Playground (1976) was followed by roles in Raw Deal (1977) and Summerfield (1977). In 1979, she portrayed May Swaisey—an elderly farm owner and friend of protagonist Max Rockatansky—in Mad Max. During filming, Florance broke her leg while handling an antique shotgun and completed her scenes with her leg and hip in plaster.

Prisoner

Starting in 1979, Florance became widely recognised for her role as Elizabeth Josephine "Lizzie" Birdsworth in Prisoner. Initially depicted as a recalcitrant, alcoholic inmate who was later revealed to be innocent, Lizzie was originally a minor character. However, by 1980, the character became a central figure.

Florance was the only original cast member hired without an audition; Reg Watson offered her the role after reviewing her photograph and credits. Florance won two Logie Awards for her work on Prisoner: Best Lead Actress in a Series in 1981 and Best Supporting Actress in a Series in 1983. She also joined other cast members in Prisoner in Concert (1981), a comedy musical spin-off filmed at Pentridge Prison in Coburg, Victoria.

In 1990, a British fan club invited Florance and other cast members of Prisoner to the United Kingdom. On 22 August 1990, Florance and Val Lehman were honoured with a civic reception by the Mayor of Derby.

Post-Prisoner

Following a hiatus after her second husband's death, Florance returned to acting with a role as Esme in the television series Winners (1985). She then appeared in Paul Cox's films Handle With Care (1985) as Margaret's mother and Cactus (1986) as Martha. Her later roles included playing grandmothers in Roger Scholes' The Tale of Ruby Rose (1987) and Hungry Heart (1987). Florance also appeared in the short comedy Kick Start (1987).

Florance concluded the 1980s with performances in the television movie Becca (1988) as Old Becca and in a 1989 episode of Round the Twist (1989) as Madame Fortune.

In 1990, Florance played the character Molly in Nirvana Street Murder. Later that year, she appeared in Golden Braid, portraying the "Lady with clock".

Florance's final film, A Woman's Tale (1991), was written specifically for her by Paul Cox and Barry Dickins as a tribute after they learned she was terminally ill with cancer. In the film, Florance portrayed Martha, an elderly, genteel woman living alone with her cherished possessions. Martha, who is dying of cancer, reflects on her life with her visiting nurse Anna (played by Gosia Dobrowolska). Cox recounted their collaboration in an interview with Richard Phillips:

I had a terrific friendship with Sheila Florance. In fact she acted in my very first film, and we always used to joke that I would make her a star. When I heard suddenly that she was dying of cancer I visited her immediately. There was no sentimentality or anything on her part—she was an incredible woman—but she said jokingly, 'There is still time to turn me into a star, but let's be quick.'I went home and spent three days and three nights writing the script and then with Barry Dickins and Sheila we did another draft. She was given eight weeks to live and so we made A Woman's Tale with this hanging over us. This motivated us, of course, but Sheila had a degree of greatness about her. She was a very powerful woman.It was an amazing challenge to make a film about life, in the face of death. To get the money of course was impossible and I had to pawn everything I had. People have asked me how we did it but to some extent we were idiotically courageous in taking this risk. Sheila and I joked all the time. I would say to Sheila, "Please don't die on me or you'll kill me". She would reply, "Don't worry, I'll be a good girl."

The film and Florance's performance garnered critical acclaim, winning Florance the AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Filmography

Film YearTitleRoleType 1965 Clay Deaf-mute Feature film 1969 2000 Weeks Woman on Ship (uncredited) Feature film 1971 Country Town Old Mrs. Bacon Feature film 1974 Petersen Tony's Mother Feature film 1975 End Play Mavis Lipton Feature film 1976 Illuminations Role unknown Feature film 1976 The Devil's Playground Mrs. Sullivan Feature film 1977 Raw Deal Old Lady Feature film 1977 Summerfield Miss Gleeson Feature film 1979 Mad Max May Swaisey (as Sheila Florence) Feature film 1986 A Far Off World Script Supervisor Short film 1986 Cactus Martha Feature film 1987 The Tale of Ruby Rose Grandma Feature film 1987 Hungry Heart Grandmother Feature film 1987 Kick Start Role unknown Short film 1990 Golden Braid Lady with clock Feature film 1990 Nirvana Street Murder Molly Feature film 1991 A Woman's Tale Martha Feature film 1991 Secrets Role unknown Short film

Television YearTitleRoleNotes 1959 Emergency Guest role: Petula Rogers TV series, 1 episode S1E15 1962; 1963Consider Your Verdict Guest role: Jocelyn Matthews TV series, Episode 67 (guest) 1963 Consider Your Verdict Guest role: Laura Radford TV series, 1 episode: 118 1965 Romanoff and Juliet Archbishop ABC Teleplay 1965 Dangerous Corner Maud Mockridge ABC Teleplay 1965–1975Homicide Guest roles: Mrs. Miller/Mrs. Nugent/Annabelle Tompkins/Jane Cochrane/Edna Kane/Mrs. Wakefield/Mrs. Galbraith/Neighbour/Mrs. Greenfield/Motel Owner/Sister Ignatius/Edna Jones/Mrs. Trainer/Miss Gregory/Grace Walker/Emma Perkins/Margaret TV series, 18 episodes 1965 The Magic Boomerang Guest role TV series, 1 episode: 25 1966 Australian Playhouse Guest role TV series, 1 episode: 26 1968 Cobwebs in Concrete Kathy ABC Teleplay 1970 The Kings Role unknown Film documentary 1970–1974 Division 4 Guest roles: Woman/Mrs. James/Mrs. Mitchell/Mrs. Finney/Hotel Manageress/Mrs. Morris/Miss Bobby Paigely TV series, 7 episodes 1971–1975 Matlock Police Guest roles: Grace Falconer/Mrs. Rees/Emily Morrison TV series, 6 episodes 1972 Bellbird Regular role: Dossie Rumsey ABC TV series, 176 episodes 1973 Ryan Guest role: Lorna Russell TV series, 1 episode: S1E1 1976 Bobby Dazzler Guest role: Mrs. Jollie TV series, 1 episode 12: "Command Performance" 1976 Tandarra Guest role: Cuddy TV series, 1 episode 5: "The Manly Art" 1977 Bluey Guest role: Mrs. O'Brien TV series, 1 episode 22: "The Fat Cat" 1978 Cop Shop Guest role: Mum TV series, 1 episode: 61 1979–1984 Prisoner Regular role: Elizabeth "Lizzie" Birdsworth TV series, Seasons 1–6, 404 episodes) 1979 The Franky Doyle Story Lizzie Birdsworth TV movie 1981 Prisoner in Concert Herself / Lizzie Birdsworth TV Concert Special 1985 Winners Esme TV Movie series, S1E5, "The Other Facts of Life" 1985 Handle with Care Margaret's Mother TV movie 1988 Rafferty's Rules Guest role: Mrs. Patterson TV series, 1 episode S4E21 1988 Becca Old Becca ABC TV movie 1989 Round the Twist Guest role: Madame Fortune ABC TV series, 1 episode S1E9 1990 The Great Escape Herself/Lizzie Birdsworth TV Special, UK 1991 Col'n Carpenter Guest role: Mary TV series, 1 episode S2E7

Other appearances

Theatre Source: AusStage, Sheila appeared in numerous theatre roles in England and Australia. Note: the following are her roles in Australian productions only.

Title Year The Day's Mischief 1954 The Young Elizabeth 1954 The Living Room 1954 The Man 1955 Ladies in Retirement 1956 Picnic 1956 Tiger at the Gates 1956 The Light of Heart 1956 Misalliance 1956 The Diary of Anne Frank 1957 Dinner with the Family 1958 The Guardsman 1961 The Dark at the Top of the Stairs 1961 Rhinoceros 1961 Thataway the Kings Go 1961 Romanoff and Juliet 1961 Dracula 1962 Macbeth 1962 The Public Prosecutor 1962 Summer of the Seventeenth Doll 1962 The Aspern Papers 1962 Arms and the Man 1963 The No-Hopers 1963 End of the Beginning / Hello Out There / The Black Horse / The Man in the Bowler Hat 1963 Rashomon 1964 The Birthday Party 1967 Halloran's Little Boat 1968 The Little Foxes 1968 All's Well That Ends Well 1970 Uncle Vanya 1971 The Chalk Garden 1971 The Mating Season 1972 The Prisoner of Second Avenue 1973 The Time is Not Yet Ripe 1973 Design for Living 1973 The Sea 1974 The Doctor's Dilemma 1974 The Crucible 1977 Uncle Vanya 1987 The Imposter 1987

Notes and references