Tina Bursill
Australian actress
Tina Bursill
Bursill in 2012
Born (1951-07-24 ) 24 July 1951 (age 73) Sydney, Australia
Occupation Actress Years active 1973–present Notable work Skyways (1979–1981) Prisoner (1983–1984) Doctor Doctor (2016–2021)
Tina Bursill (born 24 July 1951) is an Australian actress. She played Louise Carter on the television series Skyways (1979–1981) and Sonia Stevens on Prisoner (1983–1984). She played Meryl Knight in the Nine Network drama series Doctor Doctor . Bursill won the AFI (AACTA) Award for Best Supporting Actress for the 1987 film Jilted .
Early life
Tina Bursill was born on 24 July 1951 in Sydney. Initially, she intended to pursue a career in anthropology , however, she set her sights on becoming an actress. She studied drama at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and graduated in 1971.
Career
Theatre
Bursill started her career in musicals and stand-up comedy, before being cast in more serious roles in theatre.
Most recently, she was in a production of Cinderella in 2022.
Television
Bursill made her television debut in 1973, appearing in the lead role of short-lived comedy series The People Next Door as Meg Penrose. She was a regular character in daily soap opera The Unisexers which was launched in February 1975 on the Nine Network , however the program's low ratings led to its cancellation and removal from broadcast after only three weeks. What followed was a number of guest appearances on Australian television series, before receiving the role of Louise Carter in the Seven Network drama series Skyways , for which she appeared from 1979 to 1981. During this period, she also had a recurring role on police drama series, King's Men between 1976 and 1980.
In 1983, Bursill was cast in the role of Sonia Stevens on Network Ten 's cult classic prison drama series Prisoner (Prisoner: Cell Block H ), in which she was introduced in the fifth season as a devious vice queen imprisoned for heroin trafficking. She remained in the series until 1984 . Her role as Sonia Stevens is one she is most recognised for. After departing the series, Bursill appeared in several recurring roles; in A Country Practice as Bianca Forbes-Hamilton (1981) and Cecily Day (1985), Hey Dad..! as Det. Sgt. Anne Burke (1987), and Heartbreak High (1997) as Hilary Scheppers (the mother of characters Ryan and Anita). She had previously appeared in Heartbreak High the year before as TV news reporter, Trish Ferro.
Bursill is also known for her recurring roles on the Seven Network soap opera Home and Away during the fourth season (1991) and fourteenth season (2001) as Lois Crawford and Stella Patterson respectively. Bursill most recently appeared in the recurring role of Kathy Carpenter in Neighbours during the thirtieth season in 2014.[ 1]
In 2023 Bursill appeared in the Australian television series One Night .[ 2] Bursill also appeared in Foxtel/Binge Drama Strife. Bursill was named to return for the second season.[ 3]
Film
Bursill made her feature film debut in 1975 when she was cast in The Great Macarthy , a sports comedy with John Jarratt and Barry Humphries . Her second film role came in 1984, when she appeared in Melvin, Son of Alvin , a sequel to the 1973 comedy, Alvin Purple . In 1987, she starred in Jilted , which earned her an Australian Film Institute Awards for Best Actress in a Supporting Role .
Further film credits include Afraid to Dance , Spider and Rose , Billy's Holiday , The Goddess of 1967 , Son of the Mask , Three Blind Mice , Random 8 , and Wish You Were Here .
Filmography
Film
Television
Year
Title
Role
Type
Ref
1973
The People Next Door
Regular role: Meg Penrose
TV series, 20 episodes
1974
Silent Number
Guest role: Annette
TV series, 1 episode
A Touch of Reverence
TV miniseries
1975
The Unisexers
Regular role: Felicity
TV series, 16 episodes
Matlock Police
Guest role: Jennifer Craig
TV series, 1 episode
The Dave Allen Show in Australia
Regular: Various characters
TV series
1976
Alvin Purple
Guest role: Bernice
TV series, 1 episode 9: "The Rhythm Method"
King's Men
Regular role: Policewoman Jaybee Giddings
TV series, 13 episodes
The Emigrants
Guest role: Nurse Watson
TV series, episode 3: "13,000 Miles Away"
1978
Chopper Squad
Guest role: Mother
TV series, episode 12: "Dangerous Weapon"
1979
The Oracle
Guest role
TV series, 1 episode
1979–1980
Skyways
Regular role: Louise Carter
TV series, 136 episodes
1981, 1986
A Country Practice
Guest role: Bianca Forbes-Hamilton
TV series, episodes 13 & 14: "Alternatives"
1981
Holiday Island
Guest role: Elizabeth
TV series, 1 episode 27: "Never Too Old"
1982
Winner Take All
Lead role: Liz Bell
TV miniseries, 10 episodes
1983–1984
Prisoner
Regular role: Sonia Stevens
TV series, 54 episodes
1984
Special Squad
Guest role: Meredith
TV series, episode 25: "The Bribe"
1985
The Fast Lane
Guest role: Felicity
TV series, 1 episode
1981–1986
A Country Practice
Recurring role: Cecily Day
TV series, 14 episodes
1987
Australian Traineeship System
Herself
Documentary
Willing and Abel
Recurring role: Margaret Hill
TV series
Hey Dad...!
Recurring role: Det. Sgt. Anne Burke
TV series, 6 episodes
1987–1988
Rafferty's Rules
Recurring role: Erica Jamison
TV series, 2 episodes
1989
In Melbourne Today
Guest - Herself
TV series, 1 episode
1989
This Man... This Woman
Support role: Liz Maddocks
ABC TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1990
Jackaroo
Lead role: Martha Logan
TV miniseries, 2 episodes
The Flying Doctors
Guest role: Billie Sorensen
TV series, episode 15: "Billie and Pete"
1991
G.P.
Guest roles: Caroline Lalor
TV series, 1 episode
1991, 2002
Home and Away
Recurring roles: Stella Patterson / Lois Crawford
TV series, 31 episodes
1992
Bony
Guest role: Peta
TV series, episode 6: "Surf, Sun... and Murder"
EEO Free For All Forum
Narrator
Documentary
1993
Cluedo
TV series, 1 episode
1994
Mother and Son
Guest role: Carmen
TV series, 1 episode
Under The Skin
Julie
TV series, 1 episode 9: "Long Way Round"
The Ferals
Guest role: White Ant (voice)
TV series, 1 episode
1995
G.P.
Guest role: Adele Meyer
TV series, 1 episode
Over the Hill
Guest role
TV series, 1 episode
1996–1997
Heartbreak High
Regular role: Hilary Scheppers / Trish
TV series, 37 episodes
1996
Pacific Drive
TV series, 1 episode
1997
Heartbreak High
Recurring role: Trish Ferra
TV series
1998
Murder Call
Guest role: Lori Magnus
TV series, 1 episode
1999
All Saints
Guest role: Robyn Simms
TV series, 1 episode
2000
Farscape
Recurring role: Empress Novia
TV series, 3 episodes
2001–2002
BackBerner
Guest role: Jennie Turk
TV series, 1 episode
2001
Corridors of Power
Guest role: Petra
TV series, 1 episode
2001–02
BackBerner
Guest roles: Jennie / Naomi Kennedy
TV series, 2 episodes
2002
MDA
Guest role: Dr. Ruth McIntyre
TV series, 1 episode
2003
Grass Roots
Guest role: Ariadne Totos
TV series, 1 episode
Always Greener
Recurring role: Lucy Buckingham
TV series, 2 episodes
White Collar Blue
Guest role: Carole
TV series, 1 episode
2004
Out There
TV series, 1 episode
2005
Blue Water High
Guest role: Katrina
TV series, 1 episode
Dramatically Black
TV series, 1 episode
2008
All Saints
Guest roles: Helen Fahey / Margaret Evans
TV series, 2 episodes
2011
Offspring
Recurring role: Marilyn
TV series, 2 episodes
Crownies
Guest role Magistrate Ellen Hansby
TV series, 1 episode
2012
Rake
Guest role: Miriam
TV series, 1 episode
A Moody Christmas
Regular role: Maree Moody
TV series, 6 episodes
2013–2014
The Time of Our Lives
Recurring role: Lenore
TV series, 3 episodes
2014
The Moodys
Regular role: Maree Moody
TV series, 8 episodes
[ 4]
2014, 2016
Neighbours
Recurring role: Kathy Carpenter
TV series, 21 episodes
[ 5]
2016–2021
Doctor Doctor
Regular role: Meryl Knight
TV series, 48 episodes
[ 6]
2017
Drop Dead Weird
Guest role: Tweedy Lady
TV series, 1 episode
2019
Harrow
Guest role: Alice Hobson
TV series, 1 episode
2021
Wentworth
Recurring role: Eve Wilder
TV series, 3 episodes
[ 7] [ 8]
Wentworth: Unlocked
Self
TV Special
Frayed
Guest role: Cathy
TV series, 1 episode
2023-present
Ten Pound Poms
Recurring role: Mrs. Walker
TV series, 3 episodes
2023
One Night
Recurring role: Helen
TV series, 4 episodes
[ 9]
2023-present
Strife
Regular role: Ginny
TV series, 6 episodes
[ 10]
As herself
Year
Title
Role
Type
1976
Celebrity Squares
Contestant
TV series, 1 episode
1978; 1980
The Mike Walsh Show
Guest
TV series, 2 episodes
1984
The 1984 Annual TV Week Logie Awards
Herself - Audience member with 'Prisoner' cast
TV Special
1985
Blankety Blanks
Contestant
TV series, 2 episodes
1987
Have A Go
Judge
TV series, 3 episodes
1987
1987 Australian Film Institute Awards
Herself
TV special
1989
The Midday Show
Guest
TV series, 1 episode
1991
Tonight Live With Steve Vizard
Guest
TV series, 1 episode
1991
The Main Event
Contestant
TV series, 1 episode
1992
The World Tonight
Guest ("Beauty and the Beast' segment)
TV series, 1 episode
1995
Monday to Friday
Guest
TV series, 1 episode
1995; 1998; 2000; 2001
Good Morning Australia
Guest
TV series, 4 episodes
1997
This Is Your Life
Guest
TV series, 1 episode
2000
The Morning Shift
Guest
TV series, 1 episode
2008
Susie
Guest
TV series, 1 episode
2009
9am with David & Kim
Guest
TV series, 1 episode
2018
The 60th TV Week Logie Awards
Presenter
TV special
2019
Talkin' Bout Your Generation
Contestant
TV series, 1 episode
2020
Today
Guest
TV series, 1 episode
2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Today Extra
Guest
TV series, 5 episodes
2021; 2022
Studio 10
Herself
TV series, 1 episode
2021
Wentworth Unlocked
Guest (Eve Wilder)
TV special
2021
Hot Off The Press
Guest
TV series, 1 episode
2021
Teal Talk
Guest
TV series, 1 episode
2021
11th AACTA Awards
Presenter
TV special
2022
Studio 10
Guest
TV series, 1 episode
2022; 2023
The Morning Show
Guest
TV series, 2 episodes
Stage
Year
Title
Role
Type
1971
Theatre In Education
1971
Hippolytus
University of NSW Old Tote Theatre
1971
Lady Windemere's Fan
Lady Windemere
NIDA Theatre
1972
Grease
Marty
Metro Theatre, Melbourne
1972
Great Banana Split
Twelfth Night Theatre
1972-73
Godspell
Richbroke Theatre
1974
Scandals of '74
Macleay Theatre, Sydney
1975
The Jockey Club Stakes
Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide & Princess Theatre Melbourne
1976
The Ripper Show
1977
Son of Naked Vicar
The Speakeasy, Kensington
1977
The Big Bang Show
The Speakeasy, Kensington
1977
Mothers and Fathers
University of NSW Parade Theatre
1977-78, 1983
Beyond Mozambique
Rita
Nimrod Theatre Company
1978
2001 - A Postcode
1981
Catch a Rising Star
Melbourne Theatre Restaurant
1982
Zastrozzi
Matilda
Seymour Centre
1985
Tomfoolery
Seymour Centre for Festival of Sydney
1986; 1990
Rough Crossing
Natasha Navratilova
Playhouse Adelaide, Sydney Opera House , Playhouse Canberra
1988
Manning Clark's History of Australia – The Musical
Elizabeth Macarthur , St Peter, Caroline Chisholm , Kate Kelly, Lady Carrington.
Princess Theatre, Melbourne
1989
Top Silk
Jane Fredericks
Seymour Centre , Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne , Canberra Theatre , Playhouse Adelaide
1992
On Golden Pond
Chelsea Thayer
Marian Street Theatre
1992
Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
Ensemble Theatre
1993
The Sugar Mother
Cecilia Page
Bridge Theatre, Coniston & Sydney Opera House
1994
Don't Dress for Dinner
Susanne
Regal Theatre, Perth , Canberra Theatre , Newcastle Civic Theatre
1998
Blinded by the Sun
Ghislane
Sydney Opera House
1999
23 Blooms on My Great Grandmother's Rosebush
Sarah
Iland Robinson Productions
2001
Up for Grabs
Dawn Grey
Sydney Opera House , IMB Theatre, Wollongong, Riverside Theatres Parramatta , Playhouse Canberra , Playhouse, Melbourne , Newcastle Civic Theatre
2003
Purgatory Down Under
Sydney Opera House
2004
The Vagina Monologues
University of Sydney
2005
Flatfoot
Cleostrata
Australian national tour
2006
Double Act
Alexandra
Tuggeranong Arts Centre , Laycock Street Theatre , Peninsula Performance Centre, Manning Entertainment Centre, Sir Henry Parkes School of Art
2007
ALP Arts Election Launch
Riverside Theatres Parramatta
2008
Small Metal Objects
Carolyn
International tour (USA, Europe & Asia)
2010
The Swimming Club
Laura
Southbank Theatre, Melbourne , Playhouse Perth , Geelong Westfield Shopping Centre with Melbourne Theatre Company
Vita & Virginia
Vita
Actors Forum
Maralinga
Various
Alphaville
2015
Boys Will Be Boys
Arthur
Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company
2017
Me and My Girl
The Duchess of Dene
Hayes Theatre Co
2018
The Feather in the Web
Various
Stables Theatre , Griffin Theatre Company
2022
Love Letters
Melissa Gardner
Ensemble Theatre
2022
Cinderella [ 11]
Madame (Stepmother)
Sydney Lyric Theatre , Regent Theatre, Melbourne with Opera Australia
2024
The Children
Dunstan Playhouse with STCSA
[ 12]
Awards & nominations
References
^ Dainty, Sophie (22 November 2013). " 'Neighbours': Tina Bursill joins cast as Lauren Turner's mother Kathy" . Digital Spy . Retrieved 25 March 2014 .
^ Knox, David (7 August 2023). "Airdate: One Night | TV Tonight" . tvtonight.com.au . Retrieved 21 December 2023 .
^ Knox, David (8 August 2024). "Strife S2 production begins | TV Tonight" . tvtonight.com.au . Retrieved 8 August 2024 .
^ Knox, David (13 September 2013). "Cameras roll on The Moodys | TV Tonight" . Retrieved 21 March 2024 .
^ Writers, Staff (26 February 2014). "Tina Bursill joins Neighbours in a guest role" . 10 play . Retrieved 21 March 2024 .
^ Knox, David (20 September 2017). "Doctor Doctor brings Tina Bursill full circle | TV Tonight" . Retrieved 21 March 2024 .
^ Writers, Staff (24 August 2021). "Wentworth stars on women, Aussie culture and life behind the scenes as prison drama heads into final season" . news.com.au . Retrieved 25 August 2024 .
^ Knox, David (16 August 2021). "Tina Bursill joins Wentworth | TV Tonight" . Retrieved 21 March 2024 .
^ Knox, David (20 February 2023). "Cameras roll on One Night, new local drama for Paramount+ | TV Tonight" . Retrieved 21 March 2024 .
^ Knox, David (5 December 2023). "Tina Bursill, proudly a difficult woman in Strife | TV Tonight" . Retrieved 21 March 2024 .
^ "The 'funny story' that reversed Cinderella's and Prince Charming's roles" . 4BC . 21 June 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2024 .
^ "AusStage" . ausstage.edu.au . Retrieved 21 December 2023 .
^ "It feels so good to be bad" . 23 May 2022.
^ "It feels so good to be bad" . 23 May 2022.
^ "It feels so good to be bad" . 23 May 2022.
External links
International National Artists