Cornelia Frances
Cornelia Frances Zulver, OAM (7 April 1941 – 28 May 2018), credited professionally as Cornelia Frances, was an English-Australian actress. After starting her career in small cameos in films in her native England, she became best known for her acting career in Australia after emigrating there in the 1960s, particularly her iconic television soap opera roles with portrayals of nasty characters.
Cornelia Frances | |
|---|---|
Frances at the 2011 Logie Awards | |
| Born | Cornelia Frances Zulver 7 April 1941 Liverpool, England |
| Died | 28 May 2018 (aged 77) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Other names | Corney Frances (nickname) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1959–2017 |
| Notable work | Morag Bellingham on Home and Away Sister/Matron Grace Scott on The Young Doctors Barbara Hamilton on Sons and Daughters The Weakest Link as host |
| Spouse(s) | Michael Eastland (1969–?; divorced) |
| Children | 1 |
Frances was of the latter known for her role as Morag Bellingham on Home and Away since its inception in 1988, after leaving that series, she appeared on a semi-regular basis as the storyline permitted, rejoining briefly as a permanent cast member in 2001, before going back to an itinerant basis.
Frances was also known for playing nurse Sister/Matron Grace Scott on the Nine Network series The Young Doctors (1976–1978), and Barbara Hamilton on Sons and Daughters on Network Seven (1982–1986). She appeared in the film version of regular series TV soap The Box. She also worked on stage and in voice-over. In the early 2000s, she was the host of the Australian version of quiz show The Weakest Link.
Early life and career
Born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, Frances was educated at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.[1] Her early work was in British-made feature films as an extra and bit-part player. This included uncredited bit parts in two films directed by her uncle Michael Powell: Peeping Tom (1960), and The Queen's Guards (1961).[2] She also had a small speaking role in Herbert Ross' film adaptation of Goodbye, Mr. Chips and appeared in various theatre productions, like The Trials of Oscar Wilde.[3]
Career in Australia
Frances' acting career flourished after she had emigrated to Australia in the 1960s.[1][4] She worked at the Playhouse Theatre in Perth appearing in Henry IV Parts I and 2, (1967) directed by Edgar Metcalfe; and Mary Mary which toured regional Western Australia and played a season at the Playhouse. She appeared nightly on television as the host of Channel 9's Tom's TV Bingo; Tom's was a supermarket in Perth.[citation needed] After taking a lead role in The Box, the 1975 film adaptation of the sex-comedy soap opera of the same name, and the role of Mrs Quinn in The Lost Islands in 1976, she became known across Australia for her long-running role of the strict and acidic Sister Grace Scott in daily soap opera The Young Doctors.[5] After leaving that series to move to Melbourne with her husband who had been transferred there, she worked as a television reporter on "light" stories for Peter Couchman's Melbourne, a current affairs program hosted by Peter Couchman.[6]
In April 1980, Frances made a guest appearance as lawyer Carmel Saunders on Prisoner.[7][8] Later she acted in guest-starring television roles, before taking another well-remembered role, that of Barbara Armstrong (later Hamilton) in Sons and Daughters, a role she played from 1982 until 1986.
On 7 June 1988, Frances made her first appearance on Home and Away as Morag Bellingham, a judge and sister of Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher), whom she always clashed with, as well as the sister of Celia Stewart (Fiona Spence) and half-sister of, (much to her dislike) of Colleen Smart (Lyn Collingwood), both of whom she always also shared comic banter with. Frances played the recurring role of Morag for twenty-nine years.[9] She expressed a desire to play Morag full-time on the show, and admitted that she did not like the coming-and-going as it was "very unsettling."[10]
From 1997 to 1998, Frances provided the voice of Tortoise on the Australian/Chinese children's series Magic Mountain.[11] She also hosted the Australian version of quiz show The Weakest Link (2001–2002).[12][circular reference] In the early 2000s, Frances worked for a winery in the Hunter Valley when she could not get acting work.[1] Her autobiography And What Have You Done Lately? was published in 2003.[13]
Frances' later career involved voice acting in Milly, Molly and a main role in the Australian stage production of Calendar Girls.[14] Her final television appearance was in a 2017 episode of Home and Away.[3]
On 26 January 2019, Frances was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).[15]
Charity work
In 2011, Frances joined the Australian Orangutan Project (AOP) as its first Ambassador in an effort to raise awareness about critically endangered orangutans. Frances travelled to the island of Borneo, Indonesia, on 16 October 2011 to see first-hand the effect of the widespread deforestation of orangutan habitat, and how orangutans are being rehabilitated.[16] In June 2016, Frances made a sizable donation to the National Health Organisation in order to bring awareness to female reproductive health.[citation needed]
Personal life and death
Frances married Michael Eastland in 1969, the marriage later ended in divorce. They had one son together, named Lawrence.[17]
In January 2018, she revealed that she was battling bladder cancer that had spread to her hip, but stated that she was hopeful of reprising her role of Morag in Home and Away for the show's 30th anniversary.[18] However, she succumbed to the cancer, after it had metastasized to her spine, despite having undergone chemotherapy and radiation treatment, and died on 28 May 2018 at the age of 77 at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, coincidentally where the show The Young Doctors was filmed.[19][20] Paying tribute to Frances, the Seven Network, which airs Home and Away in Australia, said: "Cornelia Frances was a unique person. Her on-screen presence inspired a generation of actors. This gift was coupled with an ability to bring a sense of dignity and presence into each room she entered. Her energy and character will be missed." She was also given tributes from her numerous co-stars including Ray Meagher and Judy Nunn.[21] A private funeral was held later that week.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Peeping Tom | Girl in sports car leaving studio | Feature film, UK |
| 1961 | The Queen's Guards | Officer's girl friend (uncredited) | Feature film, UK |
| 1969 | Goodbye, Mr. Chips | The "Dyke" | Feature film, UK |
| 1975 | The Box | Dr. Sheila M. Winter | Feature film |
| 1976 | I Can’t Seem To Talk About It | Woman | Film short |
| 1981 | Post Synchronisation | unknown role | Film short |
| 1988 | The Man from Snowy River II | Mrs. Darcy | Feature film |
| 1989 | Minnamurra aka 'Outback', 'Wrangler" | Caroline Richards | Feature film |
| 2002 | Cash Out | unknown role | Film short |
| 2003 | Ned | Tina | Feature film |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Dynasty | Georgina Clausen | ABC TV series, Season 1 (2 episodes) |
| 1971–72 | Catwalk | Cornelia Heyson | TV series, Season 1 (14 episodes) |
| 1973 | Serpent In The Rainbow | unknown role | TV series |
| 1973 | Boney | Stella Borredale | TV series, Season 2, Episode 3: "Boney and the Stranger" |
| 1973 | Ryan | Amelia | TV series, Season 1, Episode 16: "Nobody's Perfect" |
| 1974 | Matlock Police | Catherine Upton | TV series, Season 4: "Everybody Else Has Everything" |
| 1974 | Homicide | Veronica Coates | TV series, Season 11, Episode 5: "Just Good Friends" |
| 1974 | Division 4 | Angela Ward | TV series, Season 6, Episode 12: "For My Next Trick" |
| 1974 | Silent Number | Ivy | TV series, Season 1, Episode 15: "Contingency Plan" |
| 1974 | Essington | Unknown Role | ABC TV film |
| 1974 | Behind The Legend | unknown role | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1974 | This Love Affair | unknown role | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1975 | Division 4 | Sandra Fleming | TV series, Season 7, Episode 1: "A Man of Substance" |
| 1975 | Matlock Police | Barbara Anderson | TV series, Season 5: "United We Stand" |
| 1975 | Homicide | Julie Kurnow | TV series, Season 12: "Rampage" |
| 1975 | Two-Way Mirror | Liz Hardy | TV pilot |
| 1975 | The Last Rites | Unknown role | TV film |
| 1975–1976 | Homicide | Nancy Lofthouse / Julie Kurnow / Veronica Coates | TV series, Season 12/Season 13 (3 episodes) |
| 1976 | King's Men | Unknown role | TV series, Season 1, Episode 3: "The Butcher" |
| 1976 | The Lost Islands | Elizabeth Quinn | TV miniseries, Season 1 (26 episodes) |
| 1976 | Murcheson Creek | Unknown role | TV film |
| 1976 | The Outsiders | Mrs. Foster | TV series, Season 1, Episode 11: "Opal Strike" |
| 1976–1979 | The Young Doctors | Sister Scott / Grace Scott / Matron Scott | TV series, Regular role 3 years, 260 episodes |
| 1977;1978 | Graham Kennedy's Blankety Blanks | Herself - Panellist | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 1977 | All at Sea | Miss Swallow | TV film |
| 1978 | Tickled Pink | Joan Jefferson | ABC TV series, Season 1, Episode 1: "Neutral Ground" |
| 1978-1981 | Cop Shop | Anne Carter / Ruth Coleman/ Louise Doyle | TV series, 5 episodes |
| 1979 | A Wild Ass of a Man | Sibella Wolfenden | ABC TV film |
| 1979 | Peter Couchman’s Melbourne | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1979;1980 | Skyways | Wendy Kirk | TV series, 1 episode: "Responsibility" |
| 1980 | Prisoner | Carmel Saunders | TV series, Season 2 (4 episodes) |
| 1980 | Skyways | Susan Winters | TV series "Track Down/Airborn" |
| 1980–1982 | Kingswood Country | Dr. Hemmingway | TV series, Season 1–3 (3 episodes) |
| 1980 | Secret Valley | unknown role | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1981 | Outbreak of Love | unknown role | ABC TV miniseries, 1 episode |
| 1981 | Punishment | Cathy Wells | TV series, 1 episode unknown |
| 1981 | Bellamy | Aretha | TV series, Season 1, Episode 18: "The Bank You Can Trust" |
| 1982–1986 | Sons and Daughters | Barbara Armstrong (later Hamilton) | TV series, Seasons 1–5 (522 episodes) |
| 1982 | Runaway Island | Agatha McLeod | TV film |
| 1983 | Outbreak Of Hostilities | Miriam | TV film |
| 1984 | Runaway Island | Agatha McLeod | TV series, Unknown episode(s) |
| 1987 | Have A Go | Herself - Guest judge | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1987 | Jackal and Hide | Madame Zentha | TV pilot. |
| 1987 | Future Past | Mother | TV film |
| 1988–2017 | Home and Away | Morag Bellingham | TV series, Season 1 (1988 – recurring) Season 2 (1989 – regular) Season 6 (1993 – recurring) Seasons 14–22 (2001–2009 – recurring) Seasons 24–26 (2011–2013 – recurring) Seasons 29–30 (2016–2017 – guest) |
| 1991 | Celebrity Family Fued | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1991 | Celebrity Wheel Of Fortune | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1991 | Pirates Island | Captain Blackheart | TV film[22] |
| 1992 | The Main Event | Herself - Contestant | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | New Faces | Herself - Guest judge | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994;2003 | Good Morning Australia | Herself & Belinda Giblin | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994;1995 | At Home | Herself & Belinda Giblin | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | Midday With Derryn Hinch | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1995 | At Home | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1995 | What's Cooking | Herself - Celebrity Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1995 | The Ferals | Teacher | TV series, Season 2, Episode 7: "School's Out" |
| 1995 | G.P. | Season 7, Episode 35: "So Like a Woman"[23] | |
| 1995 | Sale Of The Century: Battle Of The TV Classics | Herself - Contestant | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1995;2006 | A Current Affair | Herself with Abigail & Rowena Wallace | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1996 | 40 Years Of TV Stars… Then And Now | Herself | TV special |
| 1997–98 | Magic Mountain | Tortoise (voice) | Seasons 1–2 (52 episodes) |
| 1997;2000 | Beauty And The Beast | Herself - Panellist | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 1997 | Where Are They Now? | Herself with Chris King & Tim Page | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2000 | Beauty And The Beast | Herself | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2001-2002 | The Weakest Link | Herself - Host | TV series |
| 2001 | This Is Your Life - Judy Nunn | Herself with Belinda Giblin & Paula Duncan | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2002 | The Best Of Aussie Drama | Herself | TV special |
| 2003 | Always Greener | Janet Frawley | TV series, Season 2 (2 episodes) |
| 2003 | Burke’s Backyard | Herself - Celebrity gardener | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2003 | Pizza | Welfare | SBS TV series, Season 3, Episode 1: "Brand New Pizza" |
| 2003 | Whose House Is It Anyway? | Herself with Carmen Duncan & Noeline Brown | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2003 | Good Morning Australia | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2003 | Mornings With Kerri-Anne | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2003 | Today | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2005;2007 | Dancing With The Stars | Herself - Audience member | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2006 | Good As Gold | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2006 | Where Are They Now? | Herself with Chris King, Judy McBurney & Tim Page | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2006;2018 | A Current Affair | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2008;2009 | Telethon | Herself | TV special |
| 2008–2009 | Milly, Molly | Aunt Maude (voice) | TV series, Seasons 1–2 |
| 2010;2011 | Today Tonight | Herself with Lorraine Bayly, Amanda Muggleton, Anna Lee & Rachel Berger | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2011 | Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2011 | Today Tonight | Herself - Guest with Sons And Daughters cast | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2014 | Weekend Today | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2015 | The Daily Edition | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2016 | The Morning Show | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2018 | A Current Affair | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Agnes of God[24] | Mother Miriam | |
| 1987 | A Lie of the Mind | Lorraine | Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney[25] |
| 1990 | How the Other Half Loves | Footbridge Theatre, Sydney[26] | |
| 1992 | The Heiress | Marian Street Theatre, Sydney[27] | |
| 1994 | Steaming | Theatre Royal, Sydney | |
| 1995 | Caravan | ||
| 1998 | Diving for Pearls | Marj | Ensemble Theatre, Sydney[28] |
| 2010 | Calendar Girls | Chair of Yorkshire Women's Institute | Lyric Theatre, Brisbane; Theatre Royal, Sydney; Comedy Theatre, Melbourne[14] |
References
- ^ a b c Tabakoff, Jenny (11 March 2001). "Life's a bitch and then you become one". The Sydney Morning Herald. pp. 1, 4–5. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Home And Away legend Cornelia Frances was born in Liverpool, England before emigrating to Australia". The Metro. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ a b "Cornelia Frances Tribute". Back to the Bay. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Points North". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 January 1993. p. 12. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Hardy, Karen (11 April 2012). "From one redhead to another, with love". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
- ^ Lawrence, Mark (2 August 1979). "Peter Couchman at 7 pm". The Age. p. 25. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Cornelia Frances makes a guest appearance in Channel 10's 'Prisoner' series". The Age. 10 April 1980. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Lilly, Alex (30 May 2018). "Cornelia Frances' most iconic moments, from Home & Away to The Weakest Link". Now to Love. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ "She came home, now she's gone away again". Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
- ^ Rainey, Naomi (9 March 2011). "Frances: 'I want Morag to stay in H&A'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
- ^ Enker, Debi (1 June 1997). "Kids picks". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 23. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Toy, Mitchell (11 May 2015). "The greatest defunct game shows ever to have graced Aussie screens". Herald Sun. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
- ^ Moran, Albert; Keating, Chris (2009). The A to Z of Australian Radio and Television. Scarecrow Press. p. 175. ISBN 978-0-8108-7022-2. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
- ^ a b Woodhead, Cameron (24 June 2010). "Calendar Girls". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ Stehle, Mark (26 January 2019). "Australia Day Honours 2019: Full list of recipients". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
- ^ "Cornelia Francis launches 'Red Heads for Red Heas' as Australian Orangutan Project ambassador". Online PR Media. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
- ^ Knox, David (29 October 2015). "Cornelia Frances returning to Home & Away". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
- ^ Knox, David (7 January 2018). "Cornelia Frances reveals cancer battle". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
- ^ Karasin, Ekin (29 May 2018). "'The pain comes and goes': Cornelia Frances' poignant last words about her cancer battle in her final interview from the hospital where she filmed Young Doctors four decades earlier". MSN. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ Moran, Jonathon (29 May 2018). "Actor Cornelia Frances dead at 77". News.com.au. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
- ^ "Home and Away actress Cornelia Frances dies aged 77 following cancer battle". Sky News. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
- ^ Adams, Clay (30 September 1981). "Runaway Island – for European eyes only". The Australian Women's Weekly. Retrieved 2 March 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Rosenberg, Jen (23 October 1995). "Open view of transsexuality". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 2 March 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Simmonds, Diana (30 August 1986). "The swashbuckling Cap'n Jane cuts a swathe through visual sugar". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 38. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Evans, Bob (31 July 1987). "Bond of blood and bone". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 16. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Theatre Directory". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 January 1990. p. 4s. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Healey, Ken (4 October 1992). "Welcome return to old-style flair". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 114. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Payne, Pamela (7 June 1998). "Dive to survive". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 9. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
- Cornelia Frances at IMDb
- Digital Spy interviews Cornelia Frances