Joan Sydney
Joan Sydney (born 5 September 1938)[2] is a former English-Australian actress, known for her work in radio, theatre, television serials and soap operas, after immigrating to Australia she started her career in theatre, before appearing on screen, where her best known roles include soap opera's including Maggie Sloan (later Morrison) in A Country Practice, Mary Patchett in E Street, Mrs. Price in All Saints and Valda Sheergold in Neighbours. She along with late co-star Joyce Jacobs and Andrew Blackman, was one of just 3 actors to appear in A Country Practice on 2 different networks.
Joan Sydney | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 September 1938 London, England |
| Occupation | Actress on: |
| Years active | 1957, 1978-2013 (screen), 1968-2010 (theatre) |
| Family | Maggie King (sister)[1] |
Biography
Joan Sydney was born in London, England, United Kingdom and has had a long career in all genres of the entertainment industry, including radio, television, mini-series and made for television films.
After appearing on stage and film in her native Britain, making her debut aged 19, in 1957 film When We Are Married she immigrated to Western Australia in 1965[3], where she has become a staple of the small screen since 1978. She remains best known for her long-running Logie Award-winning role as Maggie Sloan, the no-nonsense matron of the fictional "Wandin Valley Bush Nursing Hospital" in the Seven Network drama A Country Practice from 1983 until 1990. Sydney won the Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress for her performance in 1989. She also appeared in numerous s theatre productions locally since 1968; including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Talking Heads and Dirty Dusters.
In 1993, after twelve seasons on air, A Country Practice was cancelled, but Network Ten picked it up soon afterwards. Production was relocated from Pitt Town, NSW to Emerald, Victoria and, after having spent time in England, Sydney returned as Matron.
Joan Sydney went on to another popular soap opera, playing publican Mary Patchett in E Street. Later, she played the role of Valda Sheergold in the long-running serial Neighbours between 2002 and 2008, originally on a semi-regular recurring basis, before becoming a permanent member of the cast for the 2007–2008 season.
In 1987 Joan Sydney starred in a movie-length pilot episode for the subsequently unmade series Sisterly Love. She also had guest roles in many other programs including Mother and Son, All Saints, Something in the Air and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.
She has also appeared as Cliff Young's mother in the 2013 telemovie Cliffy, based on the life of Australian athlete Cliff Young.
Personal life
Sydney's son Tony Braxton-Smith, was the former CEO of Great Southern Rail.[4] Sydney currently resides in a nursing home in Healesville, Victoria. Sydney is the sister of actress Maggie King.[1]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
| 1957 | When We Are Married | Ruby Birtle |
| 1978 | The Scalp Merchant (TV movie) | |
| 1981 | Falcon Island | Mrs Yates |
| 1985 | One Summer Again | |
| 1986 | Hector's Bunyip (TV movie) | Maude Trembalt |
| 1986 | Departure | |
| 1987 | Flight in to Hell (miniseries) | |
| 1988 | Sisterly Love | Jean |
| 1989 | E Street | Mary Patchatt |
| 1992 | Mother and Son (TV series) | Merle MacDonald |
| 1983-1993 | A Country Practice (Seven Network series) | Matron Margaret "Maggie" Sloane |
| 1994 | Tracks of Glory | Mrs. Walker |
| 1994 | A Country Practice (Network Ten) | Margaret "Maggie" Morrison |
| 2000 | Something in the Air | Ruth Dooley |
| 2001 | All Saints | Mrs. Price |
| 2005 | Martie's Party (short) | Joan |
| 2002-2008 | Neighbours | Valda Sheergold; 150 episodes |
| 2008 | Your Turn (short) | Joan |
| 2009 | Thank God You're Here (TV series) | Additional cast |
| 2012 | Lowdown | Concierge |
| 2012 | Conspiracy 365 (TV series) | |
| 2013 | Cliffy (telemovie) | Cliff Young's mother |
| 2013 | Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | Mother Aloysius |
Theatre (selected credits)
[3] Sydney has had roles in theatre in Australia since 1968.
- Nunsense
- Cat on a Tot Tin Roof
- Talking Heads
- Dirty Dusters
- The Deckchair
Awards
- Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress for A Country Practice as Margaret "Maggie" Sloane
References
- "A date with Joan Sydney and Maggie King".
- "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Australian Showbiz".
- "Joan Sydney".
- "Acting keeps Tony Braxton-Smith going off the rails". News Limited. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
External links
- Joan Sydney on IMDb