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Janet Andrewartha

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Janet Andrewartha
Janet Andrewartha
Born(1951-09-16)16 September 1951
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia[1]
Died26 July 2024(2024-07-26) (aged 72)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
OccupationActress
Years active1979–2024
Known forNeighbours as Lyn Scully
Prisoner as Rebecca "Reb" Kean

Janet Andrewartha (16 September 1951 – 26 July 2024)[2] was an Australian television and theatre actress and director and singer.[3]. Andrewartha began her career as a high school music teacher before attending drama school. She graduated in 1979[3] and began securing television and theatre roles.

Andrewartha's most significant roles were in Australian television series, most prominently Rebecca "Reb" Kean in Prisoner and Lyn Scully in the soap opera Neighbours.

Outside of television she actively pursued a theatre career starting in the early 1980's and performed in the genre for over four decades, working in numerous productions with the Melbourne Theatre Company, Playbox Theatre Company and numerous others.[3]

Early life

Andrewartha was born in Melbourne, Victoria.[1] In her early life, Andrewartha did not plan to become an actress and worked as a music teacher. While she worked in a high school, the principal asked Andrewartha to stage an end of year musical with her year 10 classes.[4] She knew nothing about theatre and was asked to study to aid the production. Andrewartha took a part-time drama course and after one year decided to quit teaching to pursue acting full-time. She attended a three-year drama school course at the National Theatre in Melbourne.[4] Andrewartha graduated from the National Theatre in 1979.[5]

Career

Theatre

In 1981, Andrewartha toured her one-woman theatre show in Melbourne titled, Singing in the Raid.[6] In 1982, she got to perform her show at the National Theatre.[7][8] She played Iris in the production Framework at the Universal Theatre, in Fitzroy.[9]in 1984 she took the role of Polly in the Victorian arts centre production of The Three-penny Opera.[1]

In 1985, she took roles in Russell Street Theatre productions. She acted in Barry Dickins' Reservoir by Night and in Shirley Gee's Never in My Lifetime opposite Kevin Harrington.[10][11] Her Prisoner character Reb was written out of the series but Andrewartha reprised the role in June 1985.[12]

Andrewartha continued working with the Melbourne Theatre Company on several productions, including a role in the Australian outing of Tom & Viv.[7] For her portrayal of the role, Andrewartha won a leading actress accolade the 1987 Green Room Awards.[13] In 1988, she took the role of Great Aunt Dinah in Tristram Shandy and Joan Dinkum Assorted.[14][15][16].[17][17][18]

Despite her success, Andrewartha was not asked to return for the show's last series and she resumed her work with the Melbourne Theatre Company.[17] In 1991, she played Sandra in another Melbourne Theatre Company production, Sunday Lunch; she also took the lead role of investigative journalist Jean in Michael Gurr's Sex Diary of an Infidel.[19][20] During the 1992 season, Andrewartha played the lead role of Emilia in Othello.[21][22] In 1993, she took a role playing barmaid Breda in A Happy and Holy Occasion and later played Lisa in The Garden of Granddaughters.[23][24] Andrewartha played Caroline in another play by Gurr, titled Underwear, Perfume and Crash Helmet, which debuted in 1994.[25][26] In the 1995 season she took the role of Mary Margaret in Good Works.[27] Her 1997 theatre roles included a part in the Sydney Theatre Company collaboration Jerusalem and Isola in Navigating.[28][29] In 1998, she secured the role in Hotel Sorrento and she later played Liz in Rising Fish Prayer.[30][31] That year, Andrewartha also directed a theatre production titled Neon Angel.[32]

Television

Prisoner, Neighbours and others

Andrewartha although had an extensive career in theatre, starting appering in television role in the early 1980, with an early role in court drama Carsons Law]], she became known internationally however in her early career for her television role in the cult drama series Prisoner oining the cast in 1984 as rebellious biker Rebecca "Reb" Kean.[8]

In 1990-1991 she took a role in dram serial Embassy as Marion Stewart, the strong wife of an Australian ambassodar. For her role of Marion, she was nominated an Australian Film Institute Award for "Best Performance by an Actress in A leading Role in a Television Drama" at the 1991 Australian film institute awards[17](the forunnner of what is now the AACTA Awards)

In 1999, Andrewartha joined the cast of the soap opera Neighbours, playing the role of Lyn Scully.[33] Andrewartha left the show in 2006.[34] She immediately resumed working in theatre. In 2007, Andrewartha took a hiatus from acting while she helped care for her ill mother, until her death in January 2008. She also used the time off to help her daughter with her education.[8] She later returned to Neighbours for a guest role in 2008 and once again in 2009 and remained with Neighbours for another two years.[34][35] In 2011, Andrewartha decided to leave the series once again. She stated that she was only supposed to return in a guest role and ended up staying on. Andrewartha chose to leave to pursue other acting roles.[35] The actress later reprised the role for further guest roles in 2016, 2017 and 2019.[36][37][38]

In 2017, Andrewartha joined the cast of Seven Types of Ambiguity in the recurring role of Kathleen.[39]

Her most recent roles were in 2023 in the SBS drama miniseries Safe Home as Diana and 2024 Paramount+ thriller Fake as Kath Tovey.[40][41]

Death

She died in her sleep on 26 July 2024 in Melbourne, Australia aged 72.[42]

Neighbours co-star and friend Jackie Woodburne paid tribute, saying she "was one of the finest actors of a generation. I will miss her everyday".[43] Stefan Dennis, Jason Herbison, Holly Valance, Carla Bonner also paid tribute as well as casting director Jan Russ, Jane Hall and Lucinda Cowden.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Ground Zero New neighbour Feature film
1995 Sticktoitiveness Short film
1998 Amy Singing receptionist Feature film
Ruthven The Bride

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1979 Patrol Boat Uncredited TV series, guest role
1983 Carson's Law Phoebe King TV series, 1 episode
1983 Home Bellamy TV series, 1 episode
1984–1985 Prisoner Reb Kean TV series, 94 episodes
1989 This Man... This Woman Pat TV miniseries, 1 episode
1990–1991 Embassy Marion Stewart TV series, 25 episodes
1991; 1993 A Country Practice Lisa Davis TV series, 2 episodes
1995 Janus Anna TV series, 1 episode
1994–1995 Blue Heelers Det. Bridget Ryan TV series, 2 episodes
1997 State Coroner Eileen Hardy TV series, 1 episode
1998 Moby Dick Ahab's wife (uncredited) TV miniseries, episode 1
1999–2006, 2008–2011,
2016–2017, 2019 		Neighbours Lyn Scully TV series, 1059 episodes
2017 Seven Types of Ambiguity Kathleen TV miniseries, 4 episodes
2021 Harrow Mrs Peek TV series, 1 episode
2023 Safe Home Diana Thompson TV miniseries, 4 episodes
Studio 10 Guest TV series, 1 episode
2024 Fake Kath Tovey TV series, 8 episodes

Stage

As performer

Year Title Role Notes
1981–1982 Singin' in the Raid Forfeit Fondue Theatre, National Theatre, Melbourne; Solo cabaret show
Once a Catholic Melbourne Theatre Company
1983 Ticka-Tocka-Linga Victorian regional tour with Victorian State Opera
Love Letters Melissa Gardner Victorian Arts Centre
1983 Framework Iris Universal Theatre, Melbourne
1983 Lysistrata Mhyrrine Stork Theatre for Epidavros Summer Festivsl
1984 The Threepenny Opera Christine Mahoney / Polly Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
1984 Pax Americana The Ideal Woman / various roles Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
1984 The Curse of the Werewolf Various roles Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
1985 Visions The Maid Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
1985 Reservoir by Night Lead female Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
1985 Never in My Lifetime Tessie Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
1985 Breaking the Silence Polya Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
1986 Tom & Viv Viv Haigh-Wood Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
1986 Dead to the World Rosa Hernandez Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
1987 The Three Musketeers Mde Bonacueu / various roles Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
1987 A Soldier's Tale Narrator Victorian Arts Centre
1988 Tristram Shandy – Gent Great Auntie Dinah / Bridget / Goody Coddling / German scholar Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
1988 Dinkum Assorted Joan Sydney Opera House with & Sydney Theatre Company & Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
1991 Sunday Lunch Sandra Van Der Vera Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
1992 Othello Emilia Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
1992 Sex Diary of an Infidel Jean Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with Playbox Theatre Company
1993 A Happy and Holy Occasion Breda Mulcahy Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with Playbox Theatre Company
1993 The Garden of Granddaughters Lisa Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat, Ford Theatre, Geelong, Monash University, Wharf Theatre, Sydney with Playbox Theatre Company & Sydney Theatre Company
1994 Underwear, Perfume and Crash Helmet Caroline Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with Playbox Theatre Company
1995 Good Works Mary Margaret Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with Playbox Theatre Company
1997 Jerusalem Jocelyn / Maureen Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company & Playbox Theatre Company
1997 Navigating Isola Suncorp Piazza, Brisbane with Queensland Theatre Company & Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
1998 Hotel Sorrento Hilary Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with HIT Productions
1998 Rising Fish Prayer Liz Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, Glen Street Theatre with Playbox Theatre Company
2004 Honour Honor Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
2007 All My Sons Kate Keller Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
2012 Music Margie Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
2013 Other Desert Cities Polly Wyeth Playhouse, Brisbane with Black Swan State Theatre Company & Queensland Theatre Company
Miss Saigon Theatre Royal Drury Lane

As director

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Burning Time Assistant Director Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with Playbox Theatre Company & Black Swan State Theatre Company
Our Country’s Good Director National Theatre Drama School
Don’s Party Director National Theatre Drama School

[44]

References

  1. ^ a b c Clarke, Anthony (20 July 1984). "Blundell launches new season". The Age. Retrieved 19 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  2. ^ "Janetandrewartha". Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Janet Andrewartha". AusStage.
  4. ^ a b Andrewartha, Janet; Dennis, Stefan (30 January 2016). "Neighbours Q&A – Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson) & Janet Andrewartha (Lyn Scully)". Neighbours (Interview). Melbourne, Victoria. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  5. ^ "The National Theatre Drama School – Graduates". nationaltheatre.org.au. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  6. ^ Weiniger, Peter (6 September 1982). "Solo...only so long". The Age. Retrieved 19 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  7. ^ a b Westwood, John (31 October 1986). "Actress sells her Victorian cottage". The Age. Retrieved 19 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  8. ^ a b c Knox, David (13 May 2010). "Ramsay Street's resident whirlwind". TV Tonight. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  9. ^ Hawker, Phillippa (25 April 1983). "Theatre". The Age. Retrieved 19 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  10. ^ Radic, Leonard (11 April 1985). "Dickins takes a walk down a suburban memory lane". The Age – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  11. ^ Radic, Leonard (3 October 1985). "Life behind the headlines in unhappy Ulster". The Age – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  12. ^ "News & views". The Age. 27 June 1985. Retrieved 19 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  13. ^ "Arts & books". The Age. 28 February 1987. Retrieved 21 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  14. ^ "The Age, Friday 26 February 1988". The Age. 26 February 1988. Retrieved 21 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  15. ^ "Dinkum war of the sexes". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 June 1988. Retrieved 21 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  16. ^ Murdoch, Anna (26 July 1988). "'Dinkum' war of liberation for Australian women". The Age. Retrieved 21 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  17. ^ a b c d Hooks, Barbara (25 September 1991). "A make-believe world is still a man's world". The Age. Retrieved 16 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  18. ^ "Past Awards". AACTA. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  19. ^ Larkin, John (6 October 1991). "One Sunday lunch that goes too far". The Age. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  20. ^ Daly, Mike (24 October 1991). "Home-grown productions to dominate Playbox season". The Age. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  21. ^ "Othello". The Age. 2 May 1992. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  22. ^ Larkin, John (17 May 1992). "Malice, madness, murder, but minus depth". The Age. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  23. ^ Larkin, John (7 March 1993). "Strong performances fail to counter inherent flaws". The Age. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  24. ^ Larkin, John (25 April 1993). "Too many messages spoil the plot". The Age. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  25. ^ Larkin, John (17 July 1994). "Taking the Tories to task". The Age. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  26. ^ Gill, Raymond (12 July 1994). "Six actors trapped on stage, surrounded by the big issues". The Age. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  27. ^ Carroll, Steven (18 June 1995). "'Good Works' is a play true to title". The Age. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  28. ^ Rose, Colin (30 May 1997). "To be digested slowly". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  29. ^ Thomson, Helen (14 November 1997). "Plotting a moral course". The Age. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  30. ^ "Living pass". The Age. 30 July 1998. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  31. ^ Payne, Pamela (25 October 1998). "Tainted gold". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  32. ^ "The arts directory". The Age. 13 November 1998. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  33. ^ "Neighbours rocked by new family". eBroadcast. 6 October 1999. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  34. ^ a b Rowe, Darren (27 May 2009). "Lyn Robinson returns to Ramsay Street". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  35. ^ a b Kilkelly, Daniel (11 April 2011). "Janet Andrewartha to leave 'Neighbours'". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  36. ^ Fletcher, Harry (4 December 2015). "Lyn Scully is returning to Neighbours in 2016". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  37. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (6 November 2017). "Neighbours return story revealed for Lyn Scully". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  38. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (18 August 2019). "Neighbours confirms return for Lyn Scully". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  39. ^ Knox, David (6 April 2017). "Seven Types of Ambiguity". TV Tonight. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  40. ^ "Safe Home (2023) - The Screen Guide - Screen Australia". screenaustralia.gov.au. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  41. ^ Siemienowicz, Rochelle (6 June 2024). "Fake, Paramount+ streaming preview: Asher Keddie and David Wenham in love scam thriller". ScreenHub. Creative Hubs Group. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  42. ^ Knox, David (28 July 2024). "Vale: Janet Andrewartha". TV Tonight. TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  43. ^ Quadri, Sami (28 July 2024). "Neighbours legend Janet Andrewartha dies aged 72". Evening Standard. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  44. ^ "AusStage".
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