Cornelia Frances

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Cornelia Frances
Frances at the 2011 Logie Awards
Born
Cornelia Frances Zulver

(1941-04-07)7 April 1941
Died28 May 2018(2018-05-28) (aged 77)
Other namesCorney Frances (nickname)
EducationGuildhall School of Music and Drama
OccupationActress
Years active1959–2017
Notable work
The Weakest Link as host
Spouse(s)Michael Eastland
(1969–?; divorced)
Children1

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. she also worked on stage and in voice-over.

Frances featured in numerous Crawford Production series, but first became notable for starring in The Young Doctors (1976–1978), as acidic Sister later Matron Grace Scott; subsequently, she appeared in soap opera Sons and Daughters as Barbara Armstrong Hamilton 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.

She played In series Home and Away as Morag Bellingham since its inception in 1988, after leaving the series she made numerous guest appearances, before re-joining the series as a permanent cast member in 2001, before going back to an itinerant basis.

In the early 2000s, she was the host of the Australian version of British quiz show The Weakest Link.

Early life and career[edit]

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[edit]

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 & 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 (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 & Away.[3]

On 26 January 2019, Frances was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).[15]

Charity work[edit]

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[edit]

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 metastasised to her spine, despite having undergone chemotherapy and radiation treatment and died on 28 May 2018, aged 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[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Type
1960 Peeping Tom Girl in sports car leaving studio Feature film
1961 The Queen's Guards Officer's girlfriend
(uncredited)
Feature film
1969 Goodbye, Mr. Chips The 'Dyke' Feature film
1974 Essington TV film
1975 Last Rites TV film
1975 The Box Dr. Sheila M. Winter Feature film
1976 Murcheson Creek TV film
1976 I Can't Seem to Talk About It Woman Film short
1977 All at Sea Miss Swallow TV film
1979 A Wild Ass of a Man Sibella Wolfenden TV film
1981 Post Synchronisation Film short
1982 Runaway Island Agatha McLeod TV film
1983 Outbreak of Hostilities Miriam TV film
1987 Future Past Mother TV film
1988 The Man from Snowy River II Mrs. Darcy Feature film
1989 Minnamurra (aka Outback or Wrangler) Caroline Richards Feature film
1991 Pirates Island Captain Blackheart TV film[22]
2002 Cash Out Film short
2003 Ned Tina Feature film

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1970 Dynasty Georgina Clausen TV series, season 1 (2 episodes)
1971–72 Catwalk Cornelia Heyson TV series, season 1 (14 episodes)
1973 Serpent in the Rainbow 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)
1974–75 Matlock Police Catherine Upton / Barbara Anderson TV series, season 4 (episode: Everybody Else Has Everything), season 5 (episode: United We Stand)
1974–76 Homicide Nancy Lofthouse / Julie Kurnow / Veronica Coates TV series, seasons 11–13 (3 episodes)
1974 Division 4 Angela Ward / Sandra Fleming TV series, season 6 (episode 12: For My Next Trick), season 7 (episode 1: A Man of Substance)
1974 Silent Number Ivy TV series, season 1 (episode 15: Contingency Plan)
1974 Behind the Legend Unknown role TV series (1 episode)
1974 This Love Affair Unknown role TV series (1 episode)
1975 Two-Way Mirror Liz Hardy TV pilot
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 The Outsiders Mrs. Foster TV series, season 1 (episode 11: Opal Strike)
1976–79 The Young Doctors Sister Scott / Grace Scott / Matron Scott TV series (260 episodes)
1977; 1978 Graham Kennedy's Blankety Blanks Panellist TV series (6 episodes)
1978 Tickled Pink Joan Jefferson TV series, season 1 (episode 1: Neutral Ground)
1978–81 Cop Shop Anne Carter / Ruth Coleman / Louise Doyle TV series (5 episodes)
1979; 1980 Skyways Wendy Kirk, Susan Winters TV series (episodes: Responsibility / Track Down / Airborn)
1980 Prisoner Carmel Saunders TV series, season 2 (4 episodes)
1980–1982 Kingswood Country Dr. Hemmingway TV series, season 1–3 (3 episodes)
1980 Secret Valley TV series, 1 episode
1981 Outbreak of Love TV miniseries, 1 episode
1981 Punishment Cathy Wells TV series, 1 episode
1981 Bellamy Aretha TV series, season 1 (episode 18: The Bank You Can Trust)
1982–1986 Sons and Daughters Barbara Armstrong/Hamilton TV series, seasons 1–5 (522 episodes)
1984 The 26th Annual TV Week Logie Awards Audience member – Best Lead Actress in TV Drama 'Sons and Daughters' TV special
1984 Runaway Island Agatha McLeod TV series
1987 Have a Go Guest Judge TV series, 3 episodes
1987 Jackal and Hide Madame Zentha TV pilot
1988–1989, 1993, 2001–2009, 2011–2013, 2016–2017 Home and Away Morag Bellingham Season 1 (recurring), season 2 (regular),
Seasons 6, 14–22, 24–25 (recurring), seasons 26, 29–30 (guest) (489 episodes)
1992 New Faces Guest judge TV series (1 episode)
1994; 2003 Good Morning Australia Guest TV series (2 episodes)
1994; 1995 At Home Guest TV series (2 episodes)
1995 What's Cooking? Celebrity guest TV series (1 episode)
1995 The Ferals Teacher TV series, season 2 (episode 7: School's Out)
1995 G.P. TV series, season 7 (episode 35: So Like a Woman)[23]
1997–1998 Magic Mountain Tortoise (voice) Seasons 1–2 (52 episodes)
1997; 2000 Beauty and the Beast Panellist TV series (4 episodes)
2001–02 The Weakest Link Host TV series
2003 Always Greener Janet Frawley TV series, season 2 (2 episodes)
2003 Burke's Backyard Celebrity gardener TV series (1 episode)
2003 Pizza Welfare Officer TV series, season 3 (episode 1: Brand New Pizza)
2003 Today Guest TV series (1 episode)
2005; 2007 Dancing with the Stars Audience member TV series (2 episodes)
2006 Good as Gold Herself TV series (1 episode)
2007 Where Are They Now? Guest – Herself with 'The Young Doctors' cast: Chris King, Tim Page, Alan Dale, Judy McBurney, Karen Pini & Rebecca Gilling TV series, 1 episode
2008–2009 Milly, Molly Aunt Maude (voice) TV series, seasons 1–2
2010; 2011 Today Tonight Herself TV series, 1 episode
2011 Today Tonight Herself with "Sons and Daughters' cast: Tom Richards, Rowena Wallace, Antonia Murphy, Sarah Kemp, Stephen Comey, Ally Fowler, Alyce Platt & Noel Hodda TV series, 1 episode
2011 Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation Guest TV series (1 episode)
2014 Weekend Today Guest TV series (1 episode)
2015 The Daily Edition Guest TV series (1 episode)
2016 The Morning Show Guest TV series (1 episode)

Stage[edit]

source"[24]

Year Title Role Location
1967 Julius Caesar Western Australian tour
1967 Henry IV The Playhouse Theatre
1975 The Political Bordello; or, How Waiters Got the Vote Bondi Pavilion
1975 No Man’s Land (double bill with Crossfire) Nimrod Theatre Company
1977 The Visit Bondi Pavilion
1986 Agnes of God[25] Mother Miriam New Moon Theatre Company
1987 A Lie of the Mind Lorraine Belvoir St Theatre[26]
1990 How the Other Half Loves Footbridge Theatre, Sydney[27]
1992 The Heiress Lavinia Penniman Marian Street Theatre[28]
1994 Steaming Theatre Royal, Sydney
1995 Caravan
1998 Diving for Pearls Marj Ensemble Theatre[29]
2005 Love Letters Parade Theatre
2010 Calendar Girls Chair of Yorkshire Women's Institute Lyric Theatre, Theatre Royal, Sydney, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne[14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Home And Away legend Cornelia Frances was born in Liverpool, England before emigrating to Australia". The Metro. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Cornelia Frances Tribute". Back to the Bay. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Points North". Sydney Morning Herald. 7 January 1993. p. 12. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  5. ^ Hardy, Karen (11 April 2012). "From one redhead to another, with love". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  6. ^ Lawrence, Mark (2 August 1979). "Peter Couchman at 7 pm". The Age. p. 25. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  7. ^ "Cornelia Frances makes a guest appearance in Channel 10's 'Prisoner' series". The Age. 10 April 1980. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  8. ^ Lilly, Alex (30 May 2018). "Cornelia Frances' most iconic moments, from Home & Away to The Weakest Link". Now to Love. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  9. ^ "She came home, now she's gone away again". Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  10. ^ Rainey, Naomi (9 March 2011). "Frances: 'I want Morag to stay in H&A'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  11. ^ Enker, Debi (1 June 1997). "Kids picks". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 23. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  12. ^ Toy, Mitchell (11 May 2015). "The greatest defunct game shows ever to have graced Aussie screens". Herald Sun. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ a b Woodhead, Cameron (24 June 2010). "Calendar Girls". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  15. ^ Stehle, Mark (26 January 2019). "Australia Day Honours 2019: Full list of recipients". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  16. ^ "Cornelia Francis launches 'Red Heads for Red Heas' as Australian Orangutan Project ambassador". Online PR Media. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  17. ^ Knox, David (29 October 2015). "Cornelia Frances returning to Home & Away". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  18. ^ Knox, David (7 January 2018). "Cornelia Frances reveals cancer battle". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ Moran, Jonathon (29 May 2018). "Actor Cornelia Frances dead at 77". News.com.au. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  21. ^ "Home and Away actress Cornelia Frances dies aged 77 following cancer battle". Sky News. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ Rosenberg, Jen (23 October 1995). "Open view of transsexuality". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 2 March 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "Cornelia Frances".
  25. ^ 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. Free access icon
  26. ^ Evans, Bob (31 July 1987). "Bond of blood and bone". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 16. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  27. ^ "Theatre Directory". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 January 1990. p. 4s. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  28. ^ Healey, Ken (4 October 1992). "Welcome return to old-style flair". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 114. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  29. ^ Payne, Pamela (7 June 1998). "Dive to survive". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 9. Retrieved 28 February 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon

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