Joan Sydney
| Joan Sydney | |
|---|---|
| Born |
5 September 1938 London, England, United Kingdom. |
| Occupation | actress |
| Years active | 1957–present |
Joan Sydney (born 5 September 1938), is a British Australian actress best known for her work mainly in the genres of soap operas and serials (radio and television). In recent years she has become best known for her role as Valda Sheergold in the long-running serial Neighbours, originally as a semi-regular recurring basis from 2002, and then becoming a permanent member in the 2007-2008 season. She has also appeared in made for television movies, and appeared as Cliffs mum in the telemovie Cliffy in 2013, based on Cliff Young. After appearing on stage and film in her native Britain, she immigrated to Australia, where she has been a staple of the small screen since 1978.
Joan Sydney was born in London, England and has had a long career in all genres of the entertainment industry, including radio, television, mini-series and made for television films, as well as prominent roles in many theatre productions including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Talking Heads and the comedy play Dirty Dusters. She remains best known for her long-running Logie Award winning television role as Margaret "Maggie" Sloan', the matron of the fictional Wandin Valley Hospital, on soap opera A Country Practice between 1983-1990 on the Seven Network. In 1989 Sydney won the Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress for her performance as Maggie Sloan.
In 1993, it was announced that after a lengthy run on Network Seven (1981-1993) that the series A Country Practice was being cancelled, and in 1994 that the series would be picked up by rival Network Ten, moving its production facility from (Pitt Town, NSW) to (Emerald, Victoria) and that Sydney would again be returning as Matron after a lengthy break in England, re-joining former late cast member Joyce Jacobs (Esme Watson), the Ten series was not as successful as its predecessor and was abruptly cancelled after 29 episodes. She went on to another popular soap opera, playing publican Mary Patchett in E Street. She has had guest roles in many programs including Something in the Air, Mother and Son, All Saints and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. In 1987 she was in the pilot Sisterly Love.
Personal life
Sydney's son is Tony Braxton-Smith, former CEO of Great Southern Rail.[1]
References
- ↑ "Acting keeps Tony Braxton-Smith going off the rails". News Limited. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2011.