Bethany Lee
Encyclopedia
Bethany Lee is a retired Australian film and television actress. She guest starred on numerous television series during the 1970s, including recurring roles on The Long Arm, Number 96 and Skyways, but is best known for her role as Andrea Hennesey
in the cult soap opera Prisoner Cell Block H.
as well as guest appearances on Division 4
and Homicide
. In 1973, she played the lead female in the film adaptation
of Come Out Fighting and had a brief stint on Number 96 during early-1974. Her character was introduced as the "chaste and studious schoolgirl" Penny Snow who, with fellow classmate Colin Campbell (Steve Bannister), move into one of the vacant apartments as a squatter. Her character's mother, Trixie O'Toole (Jan Adele
), later moved into the building and eventually became one of the series early villains. Shortly before leaving the series, Penny Snow broke contact with her mother and disappeared. Her character reappeared later in the series when Trixie O'Toole, in an attempt to deceive George Snow, got Edie MacDonald (Wendy Blacklock
) to impersonate Penny by dressing her in a school uniform. Lee later criticized the nudity in the series, specifically referring to a nude shower scene
she had been required to do, in an interview with TV Week
stating,
Lee again starred in a leading female role in the 1975 film The Firm Man. Between 1975–76, Lee guest starred on several television series, making return appearances on Division 4 and Homicide, but also including crime dramas Silent Number
, Matlock Police
, Bluey
and historical dramas Tandarra
and The Sullivans
.
After a supporting role in the 1977 western film Raw Deal
, Lee returned to television as a recurring character, Rhonda McDonald, on the drama series Skyways
. In 1980, Lee was cast her most memorable role as Andrea Hennesey
in the soap opera Prisoner Cell Block H. Her character, a political activist, first appeared leading a protest for prisoners' rights outside the prison. It was at this same protest that her character became involved in a physical altercation with one of the prison officers, Coleen Powell
(Judith McGrath
), which results in her imprisonment. An attempt is made to free her by friends, Ricki Lee
(Kate Turner) and Linda Goldman
(Mary Charleston
), and results in the kidnapping of Warden Erica Davidson
(Patsy King
). Ricki would be killed by police while Linda later committed suicide in prison. Lee's character, becoming increasingly unpopular among the other inmates, was eventually transferred to another prison block to serve out her remaining sentence. Although this was her final television role, she would make a return appearance as another character, Edith Kipman, in 1986.
Prisoner characters - Inmates
A list of all inmates of Wentworth Detention Centre in the television series Prisoner.Note that episode numbers cited are for first and last appearances; many characters had spells where they were absent and subsequently returned....
in the cult soap opera Prisoner Cell Block H.
Career
Bethany Lee made her television acting debut in 1970 with a recurring role on the television series The Long ArmThe Long Arm
The Long Arm was an Australian television series shown in 1970.The series was made in-house by the Ten Network as part of an attempt to rival the cop shows produced by Crawford Productions such as Homicide and Division 4...
as well as guest appearances on Division 4
Division 4
Division 4 was an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the Nine Network between 1969 and 1975 for 300 episodes....
and Homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
. In 1973, she played the lead female in the film adaptation
Film adaptation
Film adaptation is the transfer of a written work to a feature film. It is a type of derivative work.A common form of film adaptation is the use of a novel as the basis of a feature film, but film adaptation includes the use of non-fiction , autobiography, comic book, scripture, plays, and even...
of Come Out Fighting and had a brief stint on Number 96 during early-1974. Her character was introduced as the "chaste and studious schoolgirl" Penny Snow who, with fellow classmate Colin Campbell (Steve Bannister), move into one of the vacant apartments as a squatter. Her character's mother, Trixie O'Toole (Jan Adele
Jan Adele
Jan Adele was a circus, vaudeville, theatre, film and television entertainer and actor best known for her recurring role of Trixie O'Toole in the 1970s television soap opera Number 96....
), later moved into the building and eventually became one of the series early villains. Shortly before leaving the series, Penny Snow broke contact with her mother and disappeared. Her character reappeared later in the series when Trixie O'Toole, in an attempt to deceive George Snow, got Edie MacDonald (Wendy Blacklock
Wendy Blacklock
Wendy Blacklock was an Australia-based theatre and television actor best known for her long-running role of Edith "Mummy" MacDonald in the 1970s television soap opera Number 96....
) to impersonate Penny by dressing her in a school uniform. Lee later criticized the nudity in the series, specifically referring to a nude shower scene
Shower Scene
Shower Scene is a single by Saint Etienne. It was released by Mantra Records in Spain only. The single is lifted from the band's 2002 album Finisterre. The single featured two new b-sides and album track "New Thing"....
she had been required to do, in an interview with TV Week
TV Week
TV Week is a weekly television magazine in Australia, first published as a Melbourne-only publication in December 1957 , and bearing a strong affiliation to television station GTV.The publication is still publishing weekly...
stating,
Lee again starred in a leading female role in the 1975 film The Firm Man. Between 1975–76, Lee guest starred on several television series, making return appearances on Division 4 and Homicide, but also including crime dramas Silent Number
Silent number
In telephony, a silent number, unlisted number , ex-directory number or private number is a telephone number that is intentionally not listed in telephone books....
, Matlock Police
Matlock Police
Matlock Police was an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the 0-10 Network between 1971 and 1975....
, Bluey
Bluey
Bluey is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network in 1976.The series was another crime TV series from Crawford Productions, but was different from previous series - Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police - in that it focused on a single detective rather than...
and historical dramas Tandarra
Tandarra
Tandarra was the follow-up Australian television series to Cash and Company , set during the Victorian gold rush period of the 1850s...
and The Sullivans
The Sullivans
The Sullivans is an Australian drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran from 1976 until 1983. The series told the story of an average middle-classMelbourne family and the effect World War II had on their lives...
.
After a supporting role in the 1977 western film Raw Deal
Raw Deal (1977 film)
Raw Deal is a 1977 Australian western film directed by Russell Hagg made by the company responsible for the TV series Cash and Company and Tandarra.-Cast:*Gerard Kennedy*Gus Mercurio*Rod Mullinar*Christopher Pate*Norman Yemm...
, Lee returned to television as a recurring character, Rhonda McDonald, on the drama series Skyways
Skyways (TV series)
Skyways is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network.The series, which aired from 1979 to 1981, was set at the fictional Pacific International Airport and dealt with the lives of the pilots, airline staff and management team who worked there.Skyways was...
. In 1980, Lee was cast her most memorable role as Andrea Hennesey
Prisoner characters - Inmates
A list of all inmates of Wentworth Detention Centre in the television series Prisoner.Note that episode numbers cited are for first and last appearances; many characters had spells where they were absent and subsequently returned....
in the soap opera Prisoner Cell Block H. Her character, a political activist, first appeared leading a protest for prisoners' rights outside the prison. It was at this same protest that her character became involved in a physical altercation with one of the prison officers, Coleen Powell
Prisoner characters - Prison Staff
A list of all prison staff at the Wentworth Detention Centre in the television series Prisoner.Listed in order of appearance:* Erica Davidson , the prison's governor...
(Judith McGrath
Judith McGrath
Judith McGrath is an Australian actress. She spent many of her formative years training at Brisbane Arts Theatre and was a company member of Twelfth Night Theatre under theatre director, Joan Whalley....
), which results in her imprisonment. An attempt is made to free her by friends, Ricki Lee
Prisoner characters - Inmates
A list of all inmates of Wentworth Detention Centre in the television series Prisoner.Note that episode numbers cited are for first and last appearances; many characters had spells where they were absent and subsequently returned....
(Kate Turner) and Linda Goldman
Prisoner characters - Inmates
A list of all inmates of Wentworth Detention Centre in the television series Prisoner.Note that episode numbers cited are for first and last appearances; many characters had spells where they were absent and subsequently returned....
(Mary Charleston
Mary Charleston
Mary Charleston is an Australian choreographer, film and television actress. She guest starred on several television films and series during the 1970s and early 1980s, best remembered as playing Linda Goldman in the cult soap opera Prisoner, but also having appeared in the 1980 television...
), and results in the kidnapping of Warden Erica Davidson
Prisoner characters - Prison Staff
A list of all prison staff at the Wentworth Detention Centre in the television series Prisoner.Listed in order of appearance:* Erica Davidson , the prison's governor...
(Patsy King
Patsy King
Patsy King, is an Australian charactor actress ,a Melbourne theatre performer who trained as a Shakespearean actress with the Melbourne National Theatre; she spent her early days in the United Kingdom...
). Ricki would be killed by police while Linda later committed suicide in prison. Lee's character, becoming increasingly unpopular among the other inmates, was eventually transferred to another prison block to serve out her remaining sentence. Although this was her final television role, she would make a return appearance as another character, Edith Kipman, in 1986.