Mary Ward (actress)
Encyclopedia
Mary Ward is an Australian stage and television actress, who trained in England and is best remembered and well known for her roles in Prisoner
as Jeanette "Mum" Brooks and Sons and Daughters
as Dee Morrell. In 2000, she also appeared in Blue Heelers. She takes part in the occasional Prisoner reunions around the world.
in Fremantle
, Western Australia, Ward began acting professionally shortly after leaving high school and later studied at the Perth drama school. She also studied in England performing as a stage actress for several years before returning to Australia prior to World War II where she became one of the first female radio announcers for the Australian Broadcasting Commission during the war. She returned to England for a time returning to the stage and, in 1948, acted in parts for the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Moving back to Australia in the early-1950s, Ward made her first television appearance as a minor character in The Vise
in 1954 and in the television movie The High-Flying Head the following year. She also had starring roles in the television movies Marriage Lines
and The Tower
, although she began television acting full time in the mid-1970s with appearances on the television series Rush, Homicide and, as Aunt Marian Castle in Don Chaffey
's Harness Fever with Andrew McFarlane, Robert Bettles and Tom Farley in 1977; this television movie would later appear as a two-part episode, Born to Ride, on Wonderful World of Disney in 1979. She also continued in the theatre with the Melbourne Theatre Company
and remained with the company until 1983, when she performed in a David Williamson
stage production.
Soon after, she appeared in one of her best known roles, "Mum" Brooks, on the popular soap opera Prisoner
. She portrayed an elderly institutionalized inmate who was serving an eighteen year prison sentence after being convicted of the euthanasia
of her husband. When filming for the series was raised from one to two hours per week, she and Carol Burns
decided to leave the series. However, her character remained a popular one during the show's early years and she made occasional appearances after leaving the show in 1980. She also starred with a number of her fellow Prisoner co-stars in the 1981 television movie I Can Jump Puddles
as Mrs. Birdsworth. Coincidentally, this was the surname of Sheila Florance
's character Lizzie Birdsworth
.
After guest appearances of The Young Doctors
and A Country Practice
, she starred on Sons and Daughters
as Dee Morrell during 1983. She also starred on the short-lived 1985 television series The Henderson Kids
and its 1987 follow-up series The Henderson Kids II. During the late-1980s, she had supporting roles in the films Jenny Kissed Me and Backstage
as well as appearing on Neighbours in 1988. After starring in the 1989 television movie Darlings of the Gods, she returned to the theatre and, in 1991, appeared in Alive and Kicking
.
With an exception to an appearance in the television series The Damnation of Harvey McHugh
in 1994, she remained absent from Australian television for a number of years. In 1998, she made an appearance in the film Amy and, between 1999 and 2000, played recurring character Betty Withers in the police drama Blue Heelers
.
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...
as Jeanette "Mum" Brooks and 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...
as Dee Morrell. In 2000, she also appeared in Blue Heelers. She takes part in the occasional Prisoner reunions around the world.
Biography
Born to a pearlerPearling in Western Australia
Pearling in Western Australia existed well before European settlement. Coastal dwelling Aborigines had collected and traded pearl shell as well as trepang and tortoise with fishermen from Sulawesi for possibly hundreds of years. After settlement the Aborigines were used as slave labour in the...
in Fremantle
Fremantle
Freemantle is a suburb of Southampton in England.Fremantle or Freemantle may also refer to:- Places :* Fremantle, the port city to the capital Perth, Western Australia...
, Western Australia, Ward began acting professionally shortly after leaving high school and later studied at the Perth drama school. She also studied in England performing as a stage actress for several years before returning to Australia prior to World War II where she became one of the first female radio announcers for the Australian Broadcasting Commission during the war. She returned to England for a time returning to the stage and, in 1948, acted in parts for the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Moving back to Australia in the early-1950s, Ward made her first television appearance as a minor character in The Vise
The Vise
The Vise is a half-hour dramatic anthology television series which aired at 9:30 p.m. EST on Fridays on ABC from December 1955 to June 1957....
in 1954 and in the television movie The High-Flying Head the following year. She also had starring roles in the television movies Marriage Lines
Marriage Lines
Marriage Lines was a popular black-and-white British sitcom that aired from 1961 to 1966 which launched the careers of its lead stars, Richard Briers and Prunella Scales. It was originally entitled The Marriage Lines...
and The Tower
The Tower
-Architecture:*The Tower of London, a castle in London, England, started in 1078*The Tower , a building in United Arab Emirates, built in 2002*The Tower , an office tower in Newcastle upon Tyne, England...
, although she began television acting full time in the mid-1970s with appearances on the television series Rush, Homicide and, as Aunt Marian Castle in Don Chaffey
Don Chaffey
Donald Chaffey was a British film director, writer, producer, and art director.Chaffey's film career began as an art director in 1947, and his directorial debut was in 1953. He remained active in the industry until his death in 1990 from heart failure...
's Harness Fever with Andrew McFarlane, Robert Bettles and Tom Farley in 1977; this television movie would later appear as a two-part episode, Born to Ride, on Wonderful World of Disney in 1979. She also continued in the theatre with the Melbourne Theatre Company
Melbourne Theatre Company
The Melbourne Theatre Company is a theatre company based in Melbourne. Founded in 1953, it is the oldest professional theatre company in Australia, and has its own theatre, The MTC Theatre – which houses the 500-seat Sumner Theatre and the 150-seat Lawler Studio – located in Melbourne's Arts...
and remained with the company until 1983, when she performed in a David Williamson
David Williamson
David Keith Williamson AO is one of Australia's best-known playwrights. He has also written screenplays and teleplays.-Biography:...
stage production.
Soon after, she appeared in one of her best known roles, "Mum" Brooks, on the popular 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...
. She portrayed an elderly institutionalized inmate who was serving an eighteen year prison sentence after being convicted of the euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
of her husband. When filming for the series was raised from one to two hours per week, she and Carol Burns
Carol Burns
.Carol Burns is an Australian actor. She has worked in film, television and theatre in Australia and the United Kingdom.-Career highlights:...
decided to leave the series. However, her character remained a popular one during the show's early years and she made occasional appearances after leaving the show in 1980. She also starred with a number of her fellow Prisoner co-stars in the 1981 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...
as Mrs. Birdsworth. Coincidentally, this was the surname of Sheila Florance
Sheila Florance
Sheila Florance was an Australian film and television actress.After working in theatre in London and appearing on Australian television, Florance played small roles in several Australian films of the 1970s, including Mad Max...
's character Lizzie Birdsworth
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....
.
After guest appearances of The Young Doctors
The Young Doctors
The Young Doctors is an Australian early evening soap opera. The series was set in the fictional Albert Memorial hospital and primarily concerned with romances between younger members of the hospital staff, screened on the Nine Network from Monday, 8 November 1976 until Wednesday, 30 March...
and 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 starred on 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...
as Dee Morrell during 1983. She also starred on the short-lived 1985 television series The Henderson Kids
The Henderson Kids
The Henderson Kids was an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for Network Ten between 1985 and 1987. It was created and storylined by Roger Moulton, who also wrote 5 episodes in the first series and 2 episodes in the second series....
and its 1987 follow-up series The Henderson Kids II. During the late-1980s, she had supporting roles in the films Jenny Kissed Me and Backstage
Backstage (1988 film)
Backstage is a 1988 Australian film starring American singer Laura Branigan. The film was written and directed by Academy Award nominee Jonathan Hardy, who had also written Breaker Morant....
as well as appearing on Neighbours in 1988. After starring in the 1989 television movie Darlings of the Gods, she returned to the theatre and, in 1991, appeared in Alive and Kicking
Alive and Kicking
Alive and Kicking may refer to:* Alive & Kicking an African social enterprise* Alive N Kickin', a U.S. band formerly known as Alive and Kicking* "Alive and Kickin'", a song by Mr.Big from the 1991 album Lean into It...
.
With an exception to an appearance in the television series The Damnation of Harvey McHugh
The Damnation of Harvey McHugh
The Damnation of Harvey McHugh is a television miniseries made by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The series consists of 12 episodes and was first broadcast on the ABC in 1994.-Cast and crew:...
in 1994, she remained absent from Australian television for a number of years. In 1998, she made an appearance in the film Amy and, between 1999 and 2000, played recurring character Betty Withers in the police drama 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 :...
.