Elaine Lee (actor)
Encyclopedia
Elaine Lee is an Australia-based theatre and television actor best known for her long-running role in the 1970s television soap opera Number 96
.
Her acting career began in the 1960s in South Africa where she acted extensively in the theatre and on radio. Emigrated to Australia in 1970 and became well-known playing the perpetually unlucky-in-love Vera Collins in Number 96 starting 1972. Lee was an original cast member of the serial and the sophisticated Vera emerged as a key character in many of its storylines. Vera suffered several failed love affairs and was raped three times as the story progressed – including once in the feature film version of the serial released in 1974 – and was occasionally seen semi-nude in the series.
Lee had immigated to Australia with her husband, South African-born actor Garth Meade
. The marriage ended in 1976; Meade later had a brief role in Number 96 in 1977 after Lee had left the series.
Elaine Lee remained in the role of Vera for four and a half years, finally leaving in mid 1976 of her own volition. A few months later the producers of the show briefly returned her to the series as part of an attempt to launch a situation comedy spin-off, Fair Game, following the further adventures of Vera Collins away from Number 96. Footage from the pilot episode was incorporated across several Number 96 episodes; however the proposed series never eventuated. Soon afterwards Lee played the regular role of school principal, Margaret Gibson, in the school-based drama series, Glenview High
(1977). The series was not a major success and was not renewed beyond its single season.
She subsequently appeared in several productions of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
, in TV movies and panel shows, and made guest appearances in drama series such as A Country Practice
. She also continued her stage work, including the challenging one-woman show Turn on the Heat, loosely based on the last two hours of Marilyn Monroe
's life.
She made sporadic appearances in Australian feature films during the 1990s, in 1997 played a regular role in critically panned situation comedy series Bullpitt, and had a recurring role in series Heartbreak High
. In the 2000s Lee has continued to make occasional guest appearances in Australian films and drama series, and opened an acting school in Sydney with fellow thespian Judi Farr
. In 2005 she acted in soap opera Home and Away
. She also presents a commentary on the 2006 DVD release of the Number 96 feature film.
Number 96 (TV series)
Number 96 was a popular Australian soap opera set in a Sydney apartment block. Don Cash and Bill Harmon produced the series for Network Ten, which requested a Coronation Street-type serial, and specifically one that explored adult subjects...
.
Her acting career began in the 1960s in South Africa where she acted extensively in the theatre and on radio. Emigrated to Australia in 1970 and became well-known playing the perpetually unlucky-in-love Vera Collins in Number 96 starting 1972. Lee was an original cast member of the serial and the sophisticated Vera emerged as a key character in many of its storylines. Vera suffered several failed love affairs and was raped three times as the story progressed – including once in the feature film version of the serial released in 1974 – and was occasionally seen semi-nude in the series.
Lee had immigated to Australia with her husband, South African-born actor Garth Meade
Garth Meade
Garth Meade was a comedian and actor active in Australia from 1970. He had studied classical guitar at the Guildhall, London....
. The marriage ended in 1976; Meade later had a brief role in Number 96 in 1977 after Lee had left the series.
Elaine Lee remained in the role of Vera for four and a half years, finally leaving in mid 1976 of her own volition. A few months later the producers of the show briefly returned her to the series as part of an attempt to launch a situation comedy spin-off, Fair Game, following the further adventures of Vera Collins away from Number 96. Footage from the pilot episode was incorporated across several Number 96 episodes; however the proposed series never eventuated. Soon afterwards Lee played the regular role of school principal, Margaret Gibson, in the school-based drama series, 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:...
(1977). The series was not a major success and was not renewed beyond its single season.
She subsequently appeared in several productions of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
, in TV movies and panel shows, and made guest appearances in drama series such as 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,...
. She also continued her stage work, including the challenging one-woman show Turn on the Heat, loosely based on the last two hours of Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
's life.
She made sporadic appearances in Australian feature films during the 1990s, in 1997 played a regular role in critically panned situation comedy series Bullpitt, and had a recurring role in series Heartbreak High
Heartbreak High
Heartbreak High is an Australian television series that ran for seven years from 1994 to 1999. The series dealt with the students of Hartley High, a tough high school in a multi-racial area of Sydney, and proved to be a more gritty and fast-paced show than many of its contemporaries...
. In the 2000s Lee has continued to make occasional guest appearances in Australian films and drama series, and opened an acting school in Sydney with fellow thespian Judi Farr
Judi Farr
Judi Farr is an Australian theatre, film and television actor best known for several situation comedy roles on Australian television.She first became known for her role of Rita in the situation comedy My Name's McGooley, What's Yours?...
. In 2005 she acted in soap opera 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...
. She also presents a commentary on the 2006 DVD release of the Number 96 feature film.