Vivean Gray
| Vivean Gray | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Jean Vivra Gray. 20 July 1924 Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
Vivean Gray (born Jean Vivra Gray; 20 July 1924) is a British actress who found her niche playing gossipy characters in Australian television series/soap operas. She was born in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, as one of four to a father who ran a fish and chip establishment but moved to Australia in 1952 after having trouble finding acting opportunities. She initially wanted to become a jazz pianist, but decided to choose acting and had roles in Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police, and as mathematics teacher Miss McGraw in Peter Weir's film adaptation of Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975). She worked with Weir again in 1977 in his film The Last Wave, playing the role of Aboriginal history expert Dr. Whitburn. Gray was later honoured with her image on an Australia Post postage stamp in 1995. her image on a postage stamp was for her role in Picnic at Hanging Rock.
Gray appeared in theatre and radio prior to the advent of television. She played two long-running characters in Australian soap operas, Ida Jessup in The Sullivans for its entire run, and Mrs Nell Mangel in Neighbours between 1986 and 1988. Gray left her role of Mrs Mangel after receiving abuse from Neighbours fans who could not distinguish fact from fiction.[1] As such, this was Vivean Gray's last acting role and she retired, leading a very private life ever since.
She also appeared in Prisoner as genteel poisoner Edna Pearson in 1984. After the initial showing of her episodes in Australia, a woman claimed the story was based on her real life experience of being accused of poisoning her husband and threatened to sue the producers, Grundy Television. As a result, any material that coincided with the woman's story was removed for subsequent episode screenings, including the full Australian DVD release of Prisoner. In 2010 a special DVD release of the full uncut 'Edna' story was released but only in the United Kingdom.
References
- ↑ "Where are they now – Mrs Mangel From Neighbours". Comedy Central. Retrieved 4 March 2013.