Anne Mary Phelan (2 August 1948 – 27 October 2019) was an Australian actress of stage and screen who appeared in many theatre, television and film productions as well as radio and voice-over.
She was best known internationally for her role as prison inmate and top dog Myra Desmond in Prisoner (1980–1985), and for the 1988 miniseries Poor Man's Orange.
Early life Phelan was raised in Fitzroy, Victoria. She was reported as saying that she had no formal study or qualifications for acting or singing, but instead had trained through 15 years work in amateur theatre. At age 16, she became pregnant and gave her daughter up for adoption, seeing her again for the first time 50 years later.
Career Phelan began her television career in 1968. She had an ongoing role in the local soap opera Bellbird as Kate Ashwood in the early 1970s.
In the late 1970s, Phelan played guest roles in Prisoner, first appearing as Officer Manson, in a 1979 episode of the series. Later that year, she played the role of dopey prisoner Bernadette in a number of episodes. She began appearing as recurring character Myra Desmond between 1980 and 1983. Myra was then reintroduced to the series in early 1984 as a regular character and Phelan continued in the role for a further 18 months.
Phelan starred in 1988 miniseries Poor Man's Orange, based on the 1949 novel by Ruth Park. The role saw her win a 1988 Australian Film Institute Award.
Phelan's other soap roles included Starting Out (1983), Family and Friends (1990) and Something in the Air (2000–2002). She won the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama in 2000 for her role as Monica Taylor in the latter.
Phelan guest starred in numerous drama series, including The Flying Doctors and Blue Heelers. She was also a regular on Marshall Law and appeared in the ABC comedy Mother and Son, playing the role of a social worker who befriends Maggie Beare.
Phelan also made two guest appearances in Neighbours. The first, in 1997, was as Claudia Harvey and the second, in 2004, was as Doreen 'Peace Dove' Cassidy. In 2007, she appeared in an episode of The Librarians, as a prisoner with the Prisoner theme song.
In 2012, Phelan joined the cast of comedy drama Winners & Losers in the ongoing role of Dot Gross. Winners & Losers marked her first regular role in 10 years. Prior to this, she had appeared in several theatre productions and made various television guest appearances.
Community work Phelan was a public speaker and a recipient of Regional Arts Victoria's Don Mackay Award (2006) for Outstanding Achievement in Regional Touring.
From 2000, she was the patron of Positive Women (Victoria), a support and advocacy group run by and for women living with HIV. She received the Oz Showbiz Cares / Equity Fights AIDS 2002 Activist of the Year Award for outstanding contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Phelan performed and sang with the Choir of Hard Knocks on Melbourne's streets in 2006, busking to raise money for a performance at the Melbourne Town Hall. She was a member of Actors for Refugees, a group of performers who volunteer their time and talent to tell the stories of Australia's refugees and asylum seekers. She was an ambassador for Alzheimer's Australia VIC, educators, advocates and spokespeople for those living with dementia, their families and friends and those who support them.
Death Phelan died of natural causes, on 27 October 2019. She was 71 at her time of death, although, some sources have stated her age as 75. She was privately cremated.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1976 The Devil's Playground Girl in pub 1980 Hard Knocks 1985 I Live with Me Dad Mrs 1997The Balanced Particle Freeway Highest Tree (voice) 1998 Edithvale Mrs Vale 1999 The Craic Truck Driver2009 Inanimate Objects 'Mum' Patterson Charlie & Boots Female Truckie 2019 Ride Like a Girl
Television Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1968 The Battlers Ma Tyrell 1972Matlock Police Nurse / Policewoman Williams 2 episodes 1973 Ryan Betty 1973; 1974 Homicide Waitress / Valmai Dunn 2 episodes Division 4 Mardi Campbell / Maria Ponti 2 episodes Matlock Police Nancy Wells / WPC Winifred Drew / Molly 3 episodes 1974–1977 Bellbird Kate Ashwood 1975 Matlock Police Ellen 1976 The Sentimental Bloke Mabel TV film1979 Skyways Joan Hailey Episode: "We Can Face It Together" Prisoner Officer Manson Episode #1.17 1980 Bernadette Episodes 94–95 1980–1985 Myra Desmond 1981 Holiday Island 1 episode 1982A Country Practice Rita Parsons 2 episodes Sons and Daughters Tenant 1983 Carson's Law A Descant for Gossips Mrs. Lalor Miniseries Starting Out Mrs. De Soosa 1984 Special Squad 1986 The Fast Lane Beth Episode: "Following by Example" 1987 The Harp in the South Mumma Darcy Poor Man's Orange Mumma Darcy 1988 Mother and Son Wilma Episode: "The Friend" The Bartons Mrs. Frawley Episode: "Beautiful Beetroot" The Flying Doctors Rosie 1989 G.P. Dulcie Dearest Enemy Mother Inside Running Justine The Flying Doctors Lorraine 1990 Family and Friends Dawn Rossi Skirts (TV series) Mrs. Donovan1991 The Flying Doctors Beryl Horden Kelly Rosie Episode: "The Bird Thieves" Col'n Carpenter Mrs Fuller 1992 Late for School Mrs. Dicks Boys from the Bush Betty Episode: "Dancing in the Dark"1994 Blue Heelers Mrs. Brady Episode: "Life After Death" Law of the Land Mrs. Bickerton / Gracie Morrison 1996–1998 Blue Heelers Jeannie O'Dwyer 1996 The Man from Snowy River Nell Frampton Episode: "The Grand Duke" 1997 Good Guys, Bad Guys Maisie Episode: "Gone to the Dogs" Simone de Beauvoir's Babies Postie 2 episodes Neighbours Claudia Harvey 1999 The Micallef Programme Madame Pogg in 'Spiffington Manse' 2000 Thunderstone Proprietress 2 episodes Dogwoman Joan Jarvis 2000–2002 Something in the Air Monica Taylor 2002 Marshall Law Esther Hirsh Q.C. 2003 Welcher & Welcher Mrs. Cohen Episode: "Adam's Rib" 2004–2005 Neighbours Doreen Cassidy 2007 The Librarians Big Bertha Episode: "And Nothing But the Truth" 2010 Sleuth 101 Pat Episode: "A Tan to Die For" 2012–2015 Winners & Losers Dot Gross 2014 Worst Year of My Life Again Aunt Ethel Episode: "Christmas" 2015 Sammy J & Randy in Ricketts Lane Mrs Tuppens Episode: "Dances with Wolves"
Television variety specials Year Title Role Notes Something Special Solo singing Frankie Howerd Specials Comedy sketches The Glitter Sisters Singing group
Stage Year Title Role Notes Ref. Tune in Tomorrow Music Revue Don McKay Productions Embers Play reading Hothouse Theatre Over There Workshop Playbox Theatre, Melbourne Romeo and Juliet Nurse MTC I Do, In Caroline Springs Joy Chapel Off Chapel, Melbourne Cinderella – An Adult Pantomime Capers Dinner Theatre 1970s The Glitter Sisters Tikki and John's Theatre Restaurant, Melbourne season 1970 Once Upon a Mattress Monash Theatre 1971 Cabaret Frau Kost Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide I Do, I Do Agnes Cottage Theatre (SA) 1972 Birds on the Wing St Martins Theatre, Melbourne A Good Night's Sleep / Don't Walk Around Stark Naked Annette / Clarisse Salad Days Twelve Angry Women The Patrick Pearce Motel Niamh 1973 All My Sons St Martins Theatre, Melbourne with MTC Flash Jim Vaux Nell Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC 1974 Sweet Fanny Adams Le Chat Noir Theatre Restaurant, Melbourne 1976 Billabong Bill Monash University, Melbourne 1978 Oh / Let Me In Sue / Mil Playbox Theatre, Melbourne with Hoopla Theatre Foundation Alice in Wonderland Sister / Caterpillar / Duchess (puppeteer) Pilgrim Puppet Theatre, Melbourne 1978–1979 Cabaret Sally Bowles Actors' Company Theatre, Sydney 1979 Gentlemen Only Freddie Playbox Theatre, Melbourne with Hoopla Theatre Foundation 1979–1980 Flexitime Beryl Australian tour with Victorian Arts Council 1980 Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant Major Stage Door Theatre Restaurant, Melbourne 1981 1945 Hollywood Canteen Mourning Becomes Electra: Part One Louisa Ames Melbourne Athenaeum with MTC Pete McGynty and the Dreamtime Mrs Plenty / Others The Good Person of Setzuan Mrs Young Amadeus Teresa Salieri / others 1981–1982 A Cuckoo in the Nest Gladys 1982 Stevie Stevie Smith Monash University, Melbourne with Victorian Arts Council 1982–1983 On Our Selection Mum Melbourne Athenaeum with MTC 1985 Season's Greetings Rachael Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC 1986–1987 Away Gwen Studio Theatre, Melbourne & VIC regional tour with Victorian Arts Council 1987 Twelfth Night Maria Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC 1988 Dinkum Assorted Grace Sydney Opera House, Playhouse, Melbourne with STC / MTC 1989 A Family Affair Agrafena Northside Theatre, Sydney 1990 This Old Man Comes Rolling Home Laurie Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC 1992 Diving for Pearls Barb Space Theatre, Adelaide with STCSA 1993 Meekatharra Abbie Playhouse, Perth with Black Swan State Theatre Company, Perth 1994 The Grapes of Wrath Ma Joad Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC A Hard Act to Follow One woman show La Mama, Melbourne 1995 Gigi Inez Alvarez Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane with QTC Aftershocks Lyn Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with MTC 1996 Sweeney Todd Mrs Lovett Suncorp Piazza, Brisbane, Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane with QTC 1997 A Hard God Aggie Cassidy Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA 1998 Mechtron: Education from Womb to Tomb Lou Jade Brunswick Mechanics Institute, Melbourne with Community Theatre Dream Kitchen Solo show La Mama, Melbourne 1999 Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens Melbourne Athenaeum Wonderful Ward Vera Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2002 Hats Off 2002 Actor / Singer National Theatre, Melbourne 2003 Mavis Goes to Timor Mavis Taylor Australian tour with Playbox Theatre Company 2003 Something to Declare Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne 2004 Hats Off! to Sondheim 2004: I'm Still Here National Theatre, Melbourne 2005 If I Should Die Before I Wake Joan Eastbank Centre, Shepparton with Auspicious Arts Projects 2006 Faith Grace Wesley Church, Melbourne with The Torch Project In the Family Marion St Martins Youth Arts Centre, Melbourne 2006–2007 An Accidental Actress Self (biographical) Australian tour with Hothouse Theatre 2007 Fiddler on the Roof Yente St. James Theatre, Wellington, Civic Theatre, Auckland 2008 Ozmade Musicals Concert 2008 Melbourne Athenaeum with Magnormos 2008; 2009 Guys and Dolls General Cartwright Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Capitol Theatre, Sydney 2008–2010 Hats Off! Soloist National Theatre, Melbourne 2009 The Vagina Monologues 2010 Dirty Dusting Olive Casula Powerhouse, Sydney with Ellis Productions Do Not Go Gentle Wilson Fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne
Radio and voice ABC Book readings include: Down by the Dockside and The Harp in the South Serials and plays including the production of the one-woman-play Dream Kitchen Narrator for Visions of Yankalilla, a documentary for Flaming Star Pictures and the documentary series Grey Voyagers, for SBS TV monologue – The Agony and the Ecstasy, for the ABC
Corporate Anti-Cancer Council Breast Health Video
Awards and honours
Honours Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours list for service to the arts as an actress, and to the community, particularly through support for women living with the HIV virus and for asylum seekers and refugees. Inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2008. Included in Who's Who in Australia since 2006.
Awards and nominations