Elspeth Ballantyne
Encyclopedia
Elspeth Ballantyne is an Australian actress, born in Adelaide. Having started her career as a laboratory Technician, she then attended the prestigious drama school, the National Institute for Dramatic Arts. She went on to act in the rural soap opera, Bellbird
on the ABC.
Ballantyne subsequently played compassionate prison officer Meg Jackson in the soap opera, Prisoner
. Ballantyne was the only actor to stay with the series for its entire eight year run. She would later reprise her famous role of Meg in the original stage tour of Prisoner: Cell Block H – The Stage Play, which toured the UK in 1989.
In the early 1990s, she had a stint in Channel Ten soap opera, Neighbours
, playing Cathy Alessi
. She later appeared in feature films 'The Caterpillar Wish' as Mrs. Woodbridge, and in 'Moonlight & Magic' as a thrift shop owner Desma. In this latter film, she was reunited with former Prisoner co-stars Maxine Klibingaitis
and Reylene Pearce
. Ballantyne also appeared in the drama short, Twenty Five Cents, in 2007 ,and the short The Last Tupper in 2010.
Ballantyne features as wheelchair bound bogan matriac, Maxine in the Boronia movies, Boronia Boys (2009) and 'Boronia Backpackers (2011).
Bellbird (TV series)
Bellbird was an Australian soap opera set in a small Victorian rural township. The series was produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation at its Ripponlea TV studios in Elsternwick, Melbourne, Victoria. The series was produced between 28 August 1967 and December 1977...
on the ABC.
Ballantyne subsequently played compassionate prison officer Meg Jackson in the soap opera, 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...
. Ballantyne was the only actor to stay with the series for its entire eight year run. She would later reprise her famous role of Meg in the original stage tour of Prisoner: Cell Block H – The Stage Play, which toured the UK in 1989.
In the early 1990s, she had a stint in Channel Ten soap opera, Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
, playing Cathy Alessi
Cathy Alessi
Catherine "Cathy" Alessi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Elspeth Ballantyne. She made her first on-screen appearance on 29 July 1992 and remained until her departure on 4 August 1993.-Storylines:...
. She later appeared in feature films 'The Caterpillar Wish' as Mrs. Woodbridge, and in 'Moonlight & Magic' as a thrift shop owner Desma. In this latter film, she was reunited with former Prisoner co-stars Maxine Klibingaitis
Maxine Klibingaitis
Maxine Klibingaitis is an Australian actress. She played the character Bobbie Mitchell in the series Prisoner from 1983 to 1985, and later played Paul Robinson's first wife Terry Inglis in Neighbours in 1985. She was married to the Australian television director, Andrew Friedman and they have one...
and Reylene Pearce
Reylene Pearce
Reylene Pearce is an Australian actress, best known for her long-running role in the television drama series Prisoner as Phyllis Hunt. She appeared in the show from 1979 to 1984, during which time the role had developed from a background bit part to a central character.She appeared in an Australian...
. Ballantyne also appeared in the drama short, Twenty Five Cents, in 2007 ,and the short The Last Tupper in 2010.
Ballantyne features as wheelchair bound bogan matriac, Maxine in the Boronia movies, Boronia Boys (2009) and 'Boronia Backpackers (2011).
Personal life
Ballantyne has two children. She is the sister of film producer Jane Ballantyne.Filmography
- Boronia Backpackers (2011)
- Boronia Boys (2009)
- City HomicideCity HomicideCity Homicide was an Australian television drama series that aired on the Seven Network between 27 August 2007 – 30 March 2011. The series was set on the Homicide floor of a metropolitan police headquarters in Melbourne...
(2008) - Moonlight & Magic (2007)
- Caterpillar Wish (2006)
- Blue HeelersBlue HeelersBlue 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 :...
(2005) Television series - Last Man Standing (2005)
- All SaintsAll Saints (TV series)All Saints is an Australian medical drama which first screened on the Seven Network. The series debuted on 24 February 1998 and concluded its run on 27 October 2009...
(2004) Television series - StingersStingersStingers was an Australian police drama television series. It ran for eight seasons on the Nine Network before it was canceled in late 2004 due to declining ratings and the late timeslot Channel Nine gave the program...
(2004) Television series - The Secret Life of UsThe Secret Life of UsThe Secret Life of Us was a television drama series set in the beachside suburb of St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. The series was produced by Southern Star Entertainment and screened in Australia from 2001 to 2005 on Network Ten and on Channel 4 in the UK...
(2003) Television series - Marshall LawMarshall LawMarshall Law was an Australian television series, which aired on the Seven Network in 2002, starring Lisa McCune and Alison Whyte as lawyers and sisters.- History :...
(2002) - SeaChangeSeaChangeSeaChange was a popular Australian television show that ran for 39 episodes from 1998 to 2001 on the ABC. It was created by Andrew Knight and Deborah Cox and starred Sigrid Thornton, David Wenham, William McInnes, John Howard, Tom Long and Kerry Armstrong...
(2002) Television series - Selkie (2000)
- State CoronerState Coroner (TV series)State Coroner was an Australian television series screened on Network Ten in 1997 and 1998. There were two series produced with a total of 29 episodes. The series was set in the State Coroner's office complex and featured investigations into deaths, murders, suicides, accidents and natural causes...
- One Way Ticket
- NeighboursNeighboursNeighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
(1992–1993) Television series - PugwallPugwallPugwall is an Australian children's television series. It revolves around the title character Peter Unwin George Wall, PUGWALL, and his friends as they form a band called the Orange Organics.-Premise:...
(1989) Television series - Blowing Hot and Cold (1989)
- Captain Johnno (1988) Television series
- Spit MacPhee (1988) (mini) Television series
- The Flying DoctorsThe Flying DoctorsThe Flying Doctors is an Australian drama series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday lifesaving efforts of the real Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia....
(1987–1988) Television series - PrisonerPrisoner (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...
(1979–1986) Television series - Breakfast in Paris (1982)
- Ride on Stranger (1979) (TV)
- Blue FinBlue FinBlue Fin is a 1978 family movie that stars Hardy Krüger, Greg Rowe and Elspeth Ballantyne. It is based on an Australian novel written by Colin Thiele and published in 1969.-Plot:...
(1978) - Cop ShopCop ShopCop Shop was an Australian police drama television series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday operations of both the uniformed police officers and the plain-clothes detectives of the fictional Riverside Police Station....
(1978) - Bluey (1977) Television series
- Solo OneSolo OneSolo One is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network and screened in 1976. There were 13 half hour episodes....
(1976) Television series - Power Without GloryPower Without GloryPower Without Glory is a 1950 novel written by Australian writer Frank Hardy. It was later adapted into a mini-series by the Australian Broadcasting Commission .- Publication :...
(1976) (mini) Television series - TandarraTandarraTandarra was the follow-up Australian television series to Cash and Company , set during the Victorian gold rush period of the 1850s...
(1976) - Division 4Division 4Division 4 was an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the Nine Network between 1969 and 1975 for 300 episodes....
(1974–1976) - Quality of Mercy (1975)
- Homicide (1964–1974)
- Matlock PoliceMatlock PoliceMatlock Police was an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the 0-10 Network between 1971 and 1975....
(1972–1975) - End Play (1975)
- Marion (1974) Television series
- RyanRyan (TV series)Ryan was an Australian adventure television series screened by the Seven Network from 27 May 1973. The series was produced by Crawford Productions and had a run of 39 one hour episodes....
Television series (1973) - BellbirdBellbird (TV series)Bellbird was an Australian soap opera set in a small Victorian rural township. The series was produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation at its Ripponlea TV studios in Elsternwick, Melbourne, Victoria. The series was produced between 28 August 1967 and December 1977...
(1967) Television series - Daphne LaureolaDaphne laureolaDaphne laureola, or Spurge-laurel , is a species of Daphne in the flowering plant family Thymelaeaceae...
(1965) Television series - Consider Your VerdictConsider Your VerdictConsider Your Verdict is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network originally screening from February 1961 through to June 1964. It was based on a radio series with the same name broadcast on 3DB in Melbourne from 1958 to 1960.The television series was...
(1963) Television series