Australian actress Michele Fawdon passed away this morning.
Michele was born in London and commenced her studies at the Bush Davies Theatrical School, Sussex, at the age of 12.
She relocated to Australia early in her professional career and it’s here she made a significant contribution to the Arts Industry. With over forty years of experience across stage, screen and theatre, Michele first came to prominence as “Mary Magdalene” in Australia’s original production of the iconic musical Jesus Christ Superstar in 1972.
She has worked on some of Australia’s finest drama serials including The Flying Doctors, G.P, A Country Practice and most recently City Homicide and Killing Time.
Michele’s performances have been recognised with multiple Australian Film Institute Awards including AFIs for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a telefeature for The Fish Are Safe and Best Actress in a Lead role for the film Cathy’s Child.
She is survived by partner Geoff Jenkins and 16-year-old daughter Lulu. She will be dearly missed by her family and her peers.
A service will be held for Michele on Monday, May 30 in Victoria. Details to follow.
RIP Michele Fawdon
Her credits include:
THEATRE
1992 CARNIVAL IN KINGAROY Royal Queensland Theatre Company. Dir. Aubrey Mellor. Role: Mrs Highfields
1991 THE SUMMER OF THE SEVENTEENTH DOLL Geraldine Willesee Productions.
Dir. Peter. Role: Olive
1991 TWELFTH NIGHT Q Theatre. Dir. George Ogilvie. Role: Maria
1990 BEACH BLANKET TEMPEST Q Theatre. Dir. Helmut Bakaitis. Role: Regine
1990 HOT FUDGE and ICECREAM Sydney Theatre Company. Dir. Jules Wright. Role: Ruby/Various
1990 DEVELOPMENT SITE Sydney Theatre Company. Role: Various
1990 MRS KLEIN Marian Street Theatre. Dir. Aubrey Mellor. Role Paula.
1989 LOST WEEKEND State Theatre Company of South Australia. Role: Zelda
1988 SUMMER OF THE SEVENTEENTH DOLL Sydney Theatre Company. Tour to PepsiCo Summerfare Festival, Purchase, New York. Dir. Richard Wherrett. Role: Olive
1988 AWAY Sydney Theatre Company. Tour to PepsiCo Summerfare Festival, Purchase, New York.
Dir. Richard Wherrett. Role: Vic
1988 MANNING CLARKE'S HISTORY OF AUSTRALIA – THE MUSICAL. Avenue of the Americas Pty
Ltd. Dir. John Bell. Role: Dymphna/Rose/Mrs MacArthur
1987 AWAY Sydney Theatre Company. Dir. Richard Wherrett. Role: Vic
1987 A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL Royal Queensland Theatre Company. Dir. Allen Edwards.
1986 JONAH JONES Sydney Theatre Company. Dir. Richard Wherrett. Role: Clara
1985 JONAH JONES Sydney Theatre Company. Workshop. Dir. Richard Wherrett.
1984 THE BLIND GIANT IS DANCING Sydney Theatre Company. Dir. Philip Keir. Role: Louise Kraus
1983 UNCLE VANYA Nimrod Theatre.
1983 PACK OF WOMEN Nimrod Theatre & Tour. Dir. Robyn Archer.
1983 MICHELE FAWDON IN CABARET Kinselas Late Night Theatre.
1982 BURN VICTIM Nimrod Theatre. Dir. Aubrey Mellor.
1982 WELCOME THE BRIGHT WORLD Nimrod Theatre. Dir. Neil Armfield.
1982 TALES FROM THE VIENNA WOODS Nimrod Theatre. Dir. Aubrey Mellor.
1981 TEETH AND SMILES Nimrod Theatre. Dir. Aubrey Mellor.
1981 CLOUD NINE Nimrod Theatre. Dir. Aubrey Mellor.
1981 THREE SISTERS Nimrod Theatre. Dir. Aubrey Mellor.
1981 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Sydney Theatre Company. Dir. Rex Cramphorn.
1980 BACKYARD Nimrod Theatre. Dir. Neil Armfield.
1980 TRAITORS Nimrod Theatre. Dir. Neil Armfield.
1979 GOLDEN OLDIES Jane Street Theatre. Dir. John Tasker.
1978 LADY FROM MAXIM'S Old Tote Theatre Co. Dir. Ted Craig. Role: Clementine
1977 OBSESSIVE BEHAVIOUR IN SMALL PLACES Parade Theatre. Dir. Rodney Fisher. Role: Maureen
1976 SEASON AT SARSAPARILLA Old Tote Theatre Co. Dir. Jim Sharman. Role: Mavis Knott
1976 KENNEDY'S CHILDREN Tasmanian Theatre Company. Role: Rona
1976 A TOAST TO MELBA Tasmanian Theatre Company. Role: Gladys Moncrieff/Madam Marchesi/Cockney Girl/The Little Boy
1975 OTHELLO Tasmanian Theatre Company. Dir. Ross McGregor. Role: Emilia
1975 THE DUENNA Marian Street Theatre. Dir. Alistair Duncan.
1975 THE TRAVELLING KIND Marian Street Theatre. Dir. Richard Brookes.
1974 THE TIME IS NOT YET RIPE Melbourne Theatre Company. Dir. John Sumner. Role Miss Perkins.
1974 ALL MY SONS Melbourne Theatre Company. Dir. Malcolm Robertson. Role – juvenile lead.
1973 FLASH JIM VAUX Melbourne Theatre Company. Dir. Nick Enright. Role- various
1972 JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Harry M. Miller Attractions. Role Mary Magdalene
1970 THE CRUCIBLE Parade Theatre. Role Mercy Lewis. Dir. Robin Lovejoy
1968 STOCKADE Independent Theatre. Role Liz. Dir. Ross McGregor.
1967 THE BULL & BUSH THEATRE RESTAURANT Dir. George Carden & Frank Strain. Regular cast member
TELEVISION
2010 KILLING TIME Fremantle Media. Dir. Various. Role: Lorna
2008 CITY HOMICIDE Seven Network. Role: Beverley Cowles
2006 BASTARD BOYS Flying Cabbage Productions. Dir. Ray Quint. Role – Lyn Tully
2005 THE MENTONE CLUB Melodrama Picture. Dir. Greg Williams. Role – Bev.
2003 FERGUS McPHAIL Burberry Productions. Role – Mrs Mobb’s
2003 SALEM’S LOT Coote Hayes. Dir. Mikael Salomon. Role – Crockett’s Secretary
2003 MDA Screentime / ABC. Role – Cynthia Morice.
2003 STINGERS BSLM Productions. Role – Fran Hadley
2002 MARSHALL LAW Seven Network Operations. Dir. Various. Role – Judge Cath
2001 BLUE HEELERS West Street Productions # 7. Role – Shirley Wilkie.
2000 WATER RATS Quicksilver Productions. Role – Mary Tully.
1999 ALL SAINTS Amalgamated TV Services. Role – Denise Baumann.
1998 ALL SAINTS Amalgamated TV Services. Role – Paula Marchetti.
1998 WATER RATS Quicksilver Productions. Role – Joan Curtis.
1996 G.P. Village Roadshow Pictures Television. Role – Jean Taylor.
1992 G.P. Roadshow Coote & Carroll. Role – Sister Bernice.
1992 A COUNTRY PRACTICE J.N.P. Productions. Role – Dianne Klein.
1992 ENGLISH AT WORK SBS Television. Role Susan.
1991 WILD ROGUE Grundy Television. Role Rose Peterson.
1991 THE WAY TO WARD 5 Honky Tonk Angel Productions. Documentary. Role Paula.
1990 HAVE A GO Channel 7.
1990 ALL THE RIVERS RUN PART II Crawford Productions. Role Ruth.
1989 FIELDS OF FIRE III Palm Beach Pictures. Dir. David Elfick. Role Iris.
1988 RAFFERTY'S RULES Amalgamated Television Services. Role Narelle Saxon.
1987 THE FLYING DOCTORS Crawford Productions. Role Ann Larson
1987 THE FISH ARE SAFE A.B.C. Melbourne. Dir. Noni Hazlehurst. Role Lena Ranger.
1986 LOTTIE LYELL “Michael Willesee’s Australians” Roadshow Coote & Carroll. Dir. Ben Lewin. Role Melena.
1986 CAPTAIN JOHNNO Australian Children's TV Foundation/J'Elly Ballantyne. Dir. Mario Andreacchio. Role Kathleen.
1986 SEEN BUT NOT HEARD Australian Children's TV Foundation. Dir. Graeme Thorburn. Role Mrs Stirling.
1986 JOE WILSON Bilgola Beach Productions. Dir. Geoff Nottage.
1985 A COUNTRY PRACTICE J.N.P. Productions
1985 SPECIAL SQUAD Crawford Productions
1985 ONE SUMMER AGAIN A.B.C. T.V.
1982 LEARNED FRIENDS A.B.C. T.V.
1982 THE SILENT CRY A.B.C. T.V. "Spring & Fall" Series
1980 A COUNTRY PRACTICE J.N.P. Productions
1979 THE SULLIVANS Crawford Productions
1979 PUNISHMENT Reg Grundy Productions
1978 YOUNG RAMSAY Crawford Productions
1978 CASS Film Australia. Dir. Chris Noonan. Role Cass.
Sang theme song.
1977 COP SHOP Crawford Productions
1975 FLASHEZ A.B.C. T.V. Regular cast member.
1975 LOSS OF INNOCENCE A.B.C. T.V. Dir. Eric Taylor.
1975 THE UNISEXERS Channel 9. Sustaining role Monica.
1974 YOU DON'T CLAP LOSERS A.B.C. Tele movie. Dir. John Power.
1973 MATLOCK Crawford Productions
1973 RYAN Crawford Productions
1970 HOMICIDE Crawford Productions
1969 THE SPOILER Gemini Productions
1968 SPYFORCE Roger Mirams Productions
1968 STOCKADE A.B.C. T.V./Spectrum Films. Role Liz.
FILM
1986 TRAVELLING NORTH View Pictures Limited. Dir. Carl Schultz.
1985 THE BEE EATER Daedalus Films. Dir. George Ogilvie. Role – Aunt Helen.
1985 UNFINISHED BUSINESS Unfinished Business Pty Ltd. Dir. Bob Ellis. Role Maureen
1978 CATHY'S CHILD C.B. Films. Dir. Donald Crombie. Role Cathy Baikus. Sang theme song
1975 THE GOLDEN CAGE Wrote and sang "Compliments"
RADIO
Has worked extensively in A.B.C. Radio.
DIRECTED
1994 CHOICE Associate Director. NSW State Theatre Project
1993 WET AND DRY Co-directed with Helmut Bakaitis. Q Theatre.
1992 COSI Associate Director. Belvoir St Theatre.
AWARDS
1987 Australian Film Institute Award for a Telefeature for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" in THE FISH ARE SAFE.
1985 Australian Film Institute Award Nominated "Best Actress" in UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
1980 Australian Film & Television Award (Sammy) for THE SILENT CRY.
1979 Australian Film & Television Award (Sammy) "Best Actress in a Feature Film" for CATHY'S CHILD.
1979 Australian Film Institute Award "Best Actress" in CATHY'S CHILD.