Debra Lawrance
Encyclopedia
Debra Lawrance is an Australian actress best known for her role as Pippa Ross
on Home and Away
, which she played from 1990 to 1998. She continues to guest star to this date- her last appearance was in 2009.
and was accepted. She studied with fellow students, including Mel Gibson, Steve Bisley, Judy Davis and Robert Menzies. Lawrance graduated in 1977.
After graduating, she guest starred in a wide range of roles including Prue Waterman in The Sullivans
(1976), Sheila Turner in Skyways, Kerry Burgess in A Country Practice
(1982) and Lisa in Bellamy
(1981).
She also featured in a number of miniseries, including The Last Outlaw, a series about Ned Kelly
. This was followed by a number of feature films, including Silver City.
Lawrance's big break was receiving the lead role of The Fast Lane
, a widely successful ABC comedy. Her success led to her appearance in Evil Angels, starring Meryl Streep
and Two Brothers Running with Tom Conti
.
She took over the role of Pippa Fletcher from Vanessa Downing
on 23 July 1990 and continued to play the part on Home and Away
until leaving in 1998, although she has frequently returned to guest star. This character was widely popular and continues to be a favourite.
Debra Lawrance is well known for playing Lisa Cook in Sons and Daughters
between 1983 and 1984 and inmate Daphne Graham in Prisoner
from 1985 to 1986 and,much earlier in the series she had guest roles as a Nurse and Trainee Prisoner Officer Sally Dean. Debra had a recurring role as Reverend Grace Curtis, Tom Croydon
's ill-fated wife on Blue Heelers
from 2001 to 2004.
Debra's theatre credits include the London tour of Jack Davis' No Sugar , the role of Vi in the Melbourne Theatre Company production of The Memory of Water , and most recently the 2009 tour of Steel Magnolias in the role of M'lyn; and the title role in the 2010 tour of Driving Miss Daisy .
She met her husband Dennis Coard when he was cast as Pippa's second husband on Home and Away as character Michael Ross
. They married in 1992 and have two children: Grace (born 1992) and William (born 1999).
They are involved with the charity Barnardos in Australia and she believes that "[her] kids now have an awareness that there are children out there who require assistance."
In recent years she has been running vocal and communication skills workshops; with a particular interest in assisting women to be heard in the workplace. The workshops, titled Are You Being Heard?, are very popular in all sectors of the workforce; they are highly experiential and have proved to be a transforming experience for those who attend.
Pippa Ross
Phillipa "Pippa" Routledge OAM is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away. Actress Vanessa Downing originated the role from 1988 to 1990, then Debra Lawrance took over from 1990 to 1998. The character has made guest returns in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and...
on Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
, which she played from 1990 to 1998. She continues to guest star to this date- her last appearance was in 2009.
Biography
Debra Lawrance was born in Melbourne, Victoria and was the second youngest out of six children. She chose, in 1974, to study acting at NIDANational Institute of Dramatic Art
The National Institute of Dramatic Art is an Australian national training institute for students of theatre, film, and television, based in the Sydney suburb of Kensington. It is supported by the federal Office for the Arts, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. NIDA is located adjacent...
and was accepted. She studied with fellow students, including Mel Gibson, Steve Bisley, Judy Davis and Robert Menzies. Lawrance graduated in 1977.
After graduating, she guest starred in a wide range of roles including Prue Waterman in 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...
(1976), Sheila Turner in Skyways, Kerry Burgess in A Country Practice
A Country Practice
A Country Practice is an Australian television drama series. One of the longest-running of its kind, produced by James Davern of JNP Productions, it ran on the Seven Network for 1,058 episodes from 18 November 1981 to 22 November 1993. It was produced in ATN-7's production facility at Epping,...
(1982) and Lisa in Bellamy
Bellamy (TV series)
Bellamy is an Australian television series made by the Reg Grundy Organisation for the Ten Network in 1981.The series focused on a maverick cop named Steve Bellamy . His partner was Detective Mitchell...
(1981).
She also featured in a number of miniseries, including The Last Outlaw, a series about Ned Kelly
Ned Kelly
Edward "Ned" Kelly was an Irish Australian bushranger. He is considered by some to be merely a cold-blooded cop killer — others, however, consider him to be a folk hero and symbol of Irish Australian resistance against the Anglo-Australian ruling class.Kelly was born in Victoria to an Irish...
. This was followed by a number of feature films, including Silver City.
Lawrance's big break was receiving the lead role of The Fast Lane
The Fast Lane (TV series)
The Fast Lane is an Australian television show that aired between 1985 and 1987 on the ABC. It was created by John Clarke and Andrew Knight and starred Terry Bader, Richard Healy, Debra Lawrance and Peter Hosking.- Plot Overview :...
, a widely successful ABC comedy. Her success led to her appearance in Evil Angels, starring Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep
Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep is an American actress who has worked in theatre, television and film.Streep made her professional stage debut in 1971's The Playboy of Seville, before her screen debut in the television movie The Deadliest Season in 1977. In that same year, she made her film debut with...
and Two Brothers Running with Tom Conti
Tom Conti
Thomas "Tom" Conti is a Scottish actor, theatre director and novelist.-Early life:Born Thomas Conti in Paisley, Renfrewshire, he was brought up Roman Catholic, but he considers himself anti-religious...
.
She took over the role of Pippa Fletcher from Vanessa Downing
Vanessa Downing
Vanessa Downing is an Australian actress. She was educated in Sydney and holds a Masters Degree in English Literature from Sydney University...
on 23 July 1990 and continued to play the part on Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
until leaving in 1998, although she has frequently returned to guest star. This character was widely popular and continues to be a favourite.
Debra Lawrance is well known for playing Lisa Cook in Sons and Daughters
Sons and Daughters (Australian TV series)
Sons and Daughters was a Logie Award winning Australian soap opera created by Reg Watson and produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation between 1981 and 1987. The first episode aired in December 1981, during the Christmas/New Year non-ratings period, and the official broadcast date of the final...
between 1983 and 1984 and inmate Daphne Graham in Prisoner
Prisoner (TV series)
Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...
from 1985 to 1986 and,much earlier in the series she had guest roles as a Nurse and Trainee Prisoner Officer Sally Dean. Debra had a recurring role as Reverend Grace Curtis, Tom Croydon
Tom Croydon
Thomas Arthur Croydon is a fictional character in the long running Australian television police drama Blue Heelers. He is one of two characters to appear in all thirteen seasons, 1994 to 2006, and is an original character...
's ill-fated wife on Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :...
from 2001 to 2004.
Debra's theatre credits include the London tour of Jack Davis' No Sugar , the role of Vi in the Melbourne Theatre Company production of The Memory of Water , and most recently the 2009 tour of Steel Magnolias in the role of M'lyn; and the title role in the 2010 tour of Driving Miss Daisy .
She met her husband Dennis Coard when he was cast as Pippa's second husband on Home and Away as character Michael Ross
Michael Ross (Home and Away)
Michael Ross is a fictional character on the Australian soap opera Home and Away played by actor Dennis Coard and made his first appearance on 22 October 1990.-Storylines:...
. They married in 1992 and have two children: Grace (born 1992) and William (born 1999).
They are involved with the charity Barnardos in Australia and she believes that "[her] kids now have an awareness that there are children out there who require assistance."
In recent years she has been running vocal and communication skills workshops; with a particular interest in assisting women to be heard in the workplace. The workshops, titled Are You Being Heard?, are very popular in all sectors of the workforce; they are highly experiential and have proved to be a transforming experience for those who attend.
Film
| Film | Release Date/Year | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Next of Kin Next of Kin (1982 film) Next of Kin is an Australian horror film directed by Tony Williams from a screenplay by Williams and Michael Heath, and starring Jacki Kerin and John Jarrett. Although relatively obscure, the film has garnered acclaim for its effectiveness and its visual style... |
1982 | Carol |
| Fluteman | 1982 | Sally Cooper |
| Silver City Silver City (1984 film) Silver City is a 1984 Australian film about post-war Polish immigration to Australia, following World War II. "Silver City" is the nickname of the immigration hostel in Australia.-Cast:* Gosia Dobrowolska as "Nina"* Ivar Kants as "Julian"... |
1984 | Helena |
| Two Brothers Running | 1988 | Anonymous |
| Evil Angels | 1988 | Sally Lowe |
| The Jammed The Jammed The Jammed is a 2007 thriller film written and directed by Dee McLachlan.The film is a story about human trafficking and the sex slave trade in Melbourne, and the search for three girls trapped by a trafficking syndicate... |
2007 | DIMIA Case Officer |
Television
| Television Show | Years Played | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 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... |
1976 | Prue Waterman |
| Glenview High Glenview High Glenview High is an Australian television drama series produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation for the Seven Network between 1977 and 1978.-Story:... |
1978 | Jane |
| Ride on Stranger | 1979 | Jenny |
| Skyways | ???? | Sheila Turner |
| Holiday Island | 1981 | Michelle Costello |
| Bellamy Bellamy (TV series) Bellamy is an Australian television series made by the Reg Grundy Organisation for the Ten Network in 1981.The series focused on a maverick cop named Steve Bellamy . His partner was Detective Mitchell... |
1981 | Lisa |
| A Country Practice A Country Practice A Country Practice is an Australian television drama series. One of the longest-running of its kind, produced by James Davern of JNP Productions, it ran on the Seven Network for 1,058 episodes from 18 November 1981 to 22 November 1993. It was produced in ATN-7's production facility at Epping,... |
1982 | Kerry Burgess |
| Sons and Daughters Sons and Daughters (Australian TV series) Sons and Daughters was a Logie Award winning Australian soap opera created by Reg Watson and produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation between 1981 and 1987. The first episode aired in December 1981, during the Christmas/New Year non-ratings period, and the official broadcast date of the final... |
1983–1984 | Lisa Cook |
| The Fast Lane The Fast Lane (TV series) The Fast Lane is an Australian television show that aired between 1985 and 1987 on the ABC. It was created by John Clarke and Andrew Knight and starred Terry Bader, Richard Healy, Debra Lawrance and Peter Hosking.- Plot Overview :... |
1986 | Unknown |
| Prisoner Prisoner (TV series) Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s... |
1980–1986 | Daphne Graham |
| Home and Away Home and Away Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television... |
1990–1998 (main) 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 (guest) | Pippa Fletcher |
| Blue Heelers Blue Heelers Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :... |
1999–2004 | Reverend Grace Curtis |
| Satisfaction Satisfaction (TV series) Satisfaction is an Australian television drama series which screened on the subscription television channel Showcase. It also screens in the Republic of Ireland on free-to-air channel TV3 and its sister channel 3e and in New Zealand on free-to-air channel TV2 respectively.The series was filmed in... |
2008 | Margaret |
Trivia
- Lawrance's favourite book is Mister God, This Is AnnaMister God, This Is AnnaMister God, This Is Anna is a book by Sydney Hopkins under the pseudonym "Fynn" describing the adventures of Anna, a mischievous yet wise four-year-old who Fynn finds as a runaway. Nineteen-year-old Fynn takes Anna home to his mother who takes her in, though Fynn becomes Anna's main caretaker and...
. - Her favourite movie is Babette's FeastBabette's FeastBabette's Feast is a 1987 Danish film directed by Gabriel Axel. The film's screenplay was written by Axel based on the story by Isak Dinesen , who also wrote the story which inspired the 1985 Academy Award winning film Out of Africa...
. - Her favourite restaurant is Tetsuya'sTetsuya'sTetsuya's is a restaurant in Sydney, Australia, owned by Tetsuya Wakuda. Tetsuya's cuisine is based on Australian, Japanese cuisine and classic French cuisine, and makes use of Australian ingredients including Tasmanian Ocean Trout, which forms its signature dish.-Location:Tetsuya's is housed in...
, especially the degustationDegustationDegustation is a culinary term meaning a careful, appreciative tasting of various foods and focusing on the gustatory system, the senses, high culinary art and good company. Dégustation is more likely to involve sampling small portions of all of a chef's signature dishes in one sitting...
menu. - Debra had never watched Home and AwayHome and AwayHome and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
before her casting, so she had to watch fifty episodes. - The role she wishes to play most is Lady MacbethLady MacbethLady Macbeth may refer to:*Lady Macbeth, from William Shakespeare's play Macbeth**Queen Gruoch of Scotland, the real-life Queen on whom Shakespeare based the character...
in Shakespeare's MacbethMacbethThe Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
.