Fiona Spence
Encyclopedia
Fiona Spence is a British-born stage and television actress. One of the most recognisable Australian television stars during the early 1980s, she is best known for her roles in the Australian television
series Prisoner
and Home and Away
. She also had a successful and long running career in the theatre both in Australia and the UK.
where she was a hostess for the Australia Pavilion (Expo 67) at the Canadian Expo
. After living in Canada for a year, she left for England and lived in London for a time working as a saleswoman for Fortnum & Mason
. It was while seeing several plays in London's West End
, she became interested in acting. She was engaged when she was 22, but broke it off.
She eventually returned to Australia and joined the Independent Theatre School where she trained for three years, before she began acting professionally during the late 1970s. She became engaged a second time, but again the relationship ended around 1978. While living in Sydney, she appeared in her first television role in the teen drama Glenview High
in 1977.
In 1979 she first found fame playing the sour, authoritarian prison officer Vera Bennett in cult soap opera Prisoner
. Her character, the show's main villain, was nicknamed "Vinegar Tits". The role continued from the show's premiere in 1979 until 1981, appearing in episodes 1 to 224. In the first episode she was coldly sadistic. Later developments showed other more sensitive angles of her personality and explored the idea that her tough behaviour in the cell block was connected to her loneliness and social awkwardness outside the prison. Spence who played Vera with her hair in a tight bun, was hardly recognizable if she let her hair down. Spence herself commented she wasn't readily recognized in real life, as Vera whenever she wore her hair down.
When producer John McRae took over day-to-day running of the series in 1981, plans were made to write Spence out of the series. Her character had become immensely popular during her two-years on the show and, when news of her departure was announced, the Ten Network received at least 100 phone calls and countless fan mail asking for Spence to remain. Spence however quietly left the show later stating "I loved playing Vera. But it was time to wash that dame right out of my hair."
During her last year with the show, Spence appeared in supporting roles in both the television mini-series Women of the Sun
and the television movie I Can Jump Puddles
, which also featured a number of other former Prisoner co-stars including Sigrid Thornton
, Sandy Gore
, Lesley Baker
and Anne Phelan
. Other minor characters from the series included Ian Smith
, Terry Gill
, Don Barker
, Maurie Fields
and Edward Hepple
. In March 1984, she starred alongside Geraldine Cook in the 60-min. "softcore feminist" black comedy
"Mums" at the La Mama Theatre
. The play was about the "manic lives" of two women trapped in a high-rise apartment and in which Spence played the tough aggressive Jo while Cook played the more lighthearted Toots.
From 1988 until 1990, Spence became well known for playing spinster Celia Stewart in Home and Away
. While working on the show, she attended Monash University
earning an arts degree in English. She also made sporadic television appearances during the next several years as a celebrity guest on game shows Cluedo
and Sale of the Century
as well as making a guest appearance on the television series Law of the Land
.
Spence made her return to the theatre in the early 1990s recreating the role of Vera Bennett in a British stage play version of Prisoner. She also starred in a theatrical pantomime
of Aladdin
with fellow Home and Away co-star Greg Benson
at the Theatre Royal, in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
during December 1991 and January 1992 as well as a short-lived stage show, Lipstick Dreams, in the United Kingdom.
A commentary and exclusive interview with Spence features on volume 14 (episodes 209 – 224) of the ongoing DVD releases or Prisoner: Cell Block H. In February 2009, she was one of several former cast members who attended a barbecue and memorabilia auction in Melbourne, organised by Val Lehman
, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the series.
In November 2009 Spence joined former cast members Gerard Maguire
and Val Lehman
in the UK for a celebration with fans of the 30th anniversary of Prisoner first airing in Australia. The event took place at The Moor Hall Hotel in Sutton Coldfield
.
Spence is still very much in demand by UK audiences.
Australian television
Television in Australia began experimentally as early as 1929 in Melbourne with stations 3DB and 3UZ using the Radiovision system by Gilbert Miles and Donal McDonald, and later from other locations, such as Brisbane in 1934....
series 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...
and 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 had a successful and long running career in the theatre both in Australia and the UK.
Biography
Spence was born in Kent, England to an Irish mother and an Australian-born father serving with the British Army. When her father finally left the service, Spence and her family (including her sister-in-law, casting director Kerry Spence) moved to Australia in the late 1950s. After leaving school, she was trained as a secretary and later traveled to MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
where she was a hostess for the Australia Pavilion (Expo 67) at the Canadian Expo
Expo 67
The 1967 International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, as it was commonly known, was the general exhibition, Category One World's Fair held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It is considered to be the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century, with the...
. After living in Canada for a year, she left for England and lived in London for a time working as a saleswoman for Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason, often shortened to just "Fortnum's" is a department store, situated in central London, with two other branches in Japan. Its headquarters is located at 181 Piccadilly, where it was established in 1707 by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason...
. It was while seeing several plays in London's West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
, she became interested in acting. She was engaged when she was 22, but broke it off.
She eventually returned to Australia and joined the Independent Theatre School where she trained for three years, before she began acting professionally during the late 1970s. She became engaged a second time, but again the relationship ended around 1978. While living in Sydney, she appeared in her first television role in the teen drama 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:...
in 1977.
In 1979 she first found fame playing the sour, authoritarian prison officer Vera Bennett in cult 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...
. Her character, the show's main villain, was nicknamed "Vinegar Tits". The role continued from the show's premiere in 1979 until 1981, appearing in episodes 1 to 224. In the first episode she was coldly sadistic. Later developments showed other more sensitive angles of her personality and explored the idea that her tough behaviour in the cell block was connected to her loneliness and social awkwardness outside the prison. Spence who played Vera with her hair in a tight bun, was hardly recognizable if she let her hair down. Spence herself commented she wasn't readily recognized in real life, as Vera whenever she wore her hair down.
When producer John McRae took over day-to-day running of the series in 1981, plans were made to write Spence out of the series. Her character had become immensely popular during her two-years on the show and, when news of her departure was announced, the Ten Network received at least 100 phone calls and countless fan mail asking for Spence to remain. Spence however quietly left the show later stating "I loved playing Vera. But it was time to wash that dame right out of my hair."
During her last year with the show, Spence appeared in supporting roles in both the television mini-series Women of the Sun
Women of the Sun
Women of the Sun is an award-winning Australian historical drama television miniseries which was broadcast on SBS Television and later the Australian Broadcasting Company in 1981. The series, co-written by Sonia Borg and Hyllus Maris, was composed of four 60-minute episodes which portrayed the...
and the television movie I Can Jump Puddles
I Can Jump Puddles
I Can Jump Puddles is a 1981 Australian television mini-series based on the 1955 autobiographical series of the same name by author Alan Marshall...
, which also featured a number of other former Prisoner co-stars including Sigrid Thornton
Sigrid Thornton
Sigrid Thornton is an Australian multi-award winning actress.-Early years:Thornton was born in Canberra, the daughter of Merle, a teacher of women's studies and writer, and Neil Thornton, an academic. She spent most of her formative years growing up and attending school at St. Peter's Lutheran...
, Sandy Gore
Sandy Gore
Sandy Gore is an Australian actress, renowned for her work in theatre. Was married to Director George Miller and had one daughter. Gore has worked extensively for Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company...
, Lesley Baker
Lesley Baker
Lesley Baker is an Australian actress, singer, dancer and comedienne.She is best known for her roles as hulking husband basher Monica Ferguson in Prisoner and Angie Rebecchi in Neighbours.-Filmography:...
and Anne Phelan
Anne Phelan
Anne Mary Phelan, OAM , is a much awarded Australian actress, who has appeared prominently in Theatre, Australian television productions and soap operas, including Prisoner where she played the role of 'Top Dog' Myra Desmond and Monica Taylor in Something in the air...
. Other minor characters from the series included Ian Smith
Ian Smith (actor)
Ian Smith is an Australian soap opera character actor and television screenwriter, best known today for his long-running role as the caring, kindly coffee shop owner Harold Bishop in the soap opera Neighbours....
, Terry Gill
Terry Gill
Terry Gill is a British-born actor who carved a nichè in Australian television playing police officers.He was a recurring cast member in the women's prison drama Prisoner as Det. Insp. Jack Grace, a regular cast member as Sgt...
, Don Barker
Don Barker
Don Barker is a fictional character in the series Dream Team, played by Jon Morrison.Don Barker had a reputation of being a hard-nosed, tough manager, renowned for making teams achieve promotion in the lower leagues...
, Maurie Fields
Maurie Fields
Maurie Fields was an Australian actor, vaudeville performer and stand-up comedian. He became a well-known face on television thanks to his dramatic roles in Bellbird, The Box, Prisoner and The Flying Doctors...
and Edward Hepple
Edward Hepple
- Stage :He was part of the cast in the first public performance of Kenneth G. Ross's important Australian play Breaker Morant: A Play in Two Acts, presented by the Melbourne Theatre Company at the Athenaeum Theatre, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on Thursday, 2 February 1978.- Television...
. In March 1984, she starred alongside Geraldine Cook in the 60-min. "softcore feminist" black comedy
Black comedy
A black comedy, or dark comedy, is a comic work that employs black humor or gallows humor. The definition of black humor is problematic; it has been argued that it corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor; and that, as humor has been defined since Freud as a comedic act that anesthetizes...
"Mums" at the La Mama Theatre
La Mama Theatre (Melbourne)
The La Mama Theatre is a theatrical venue located at 205 Faraday St, Carlton, Victoria. It opened in a former factory building on 30 July 1967 and still operates today under the direction of Liz Jones....
. The play was about the "manic lives" of two women trapped in a high-rise apartment and in which Spence played the tough aggressive Jo while Cook played the more lighthearted Toots.
From 1988 until 1990, Spence became well known for playing spinster Celia Stewart in 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...
. While working on the show, she attended Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
earning an arts degree in English. She also made sporadic television appearances during the next several years as a celebrity guest on game shows Cluedo
Cluedo (game show)
Cluedo was a UK television game show based on the board game of the same name. Each week, a reenactment of the murder at the stately home Arlington Grange of a visiting guest was played and, through a combination of interrogating the suspects and deduction, celebrity guests had to discover who...
and Sale of the Century
Sale of the Century
Sale of the Century is a television game show format that has been screened in several countries in various incarnations since 1969. The show found its biggest success in Australia, where it aired weeknights from 1980 to 2001...
as well as making a guest appearance on the television series Law of the Land
Law of the Land
Law of the Land was an Australian television drama series that screened on the Nine Network. The series was set in the fictional country town of Merringanee and centered on the unique way that locals dealt with and enforced the law....
.
Spence made her return to the theatre in the early 1990s recreating the role of Vera Bennett in a British stage play version of Prisoner. She also starred in a theatrical pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
of Aladdin
Aladdin
Aladdin is a Middle Eastern folk tale. It is one of the tales in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights , and one of the most famous, although it was actually added to the collection by Antoine Galland ....
with fellow Home and Away co-star Greg Benson
Greg Benson
Greg Benson is an American comedian, actor, and director of short films. His production company, Mediocre Films, promotes its creations via YouTube and MySpace.-History:...
at the Theatre Royal, in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
during December 1991 and January 1992 as well as a short-lived stage show, Lipstick Dreams, in the United Kingdom.
A commentary and exclusive interview with Spence features on volume 14 (episodes 209 – 224) of the ongoing DVD releases or Prisoner: Cell Block H. In February 2009, she was one of several former cast members who attended a barbecue and memorabilia auction in Melbourne, organised by Val Lehman
Val Lehman
Val Lehman is an Australian actress, best known for her role as top dog Bea Smith in the Australian series Prisoner...
, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the series.
In November 2009 Spence joined former cast members Gerard Maguire
Gerard Maguire
Gerard Maguire is an Australian stage, voice and television actor, best known for his role as Deputy Governor Jim Fletcher in Prisoner...
and Val Lehman
Val Lehman
Val Lehman is an Australian actress, best known for her role as top dog Bea Smith in the Australian series Prisoner...
in the UK for a celebration with fans of the 30th anniversary of Prisoner first airing in Australia. The event took place at The Moor Hall Hotel in Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...
.
Spence is still very much in demand by UK audiences.