Benita Collings

Benita Collings (born 1940)[1] is an Australian theatre, television and film character actress and television presenter, who has also featured in documentaries and commercials in voice-overs. Collings, apart from her numerous character roles on soap opera and serials, is best known for her long running stint as a presenter for Play School on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) from 1969 until 1999, alongside fellow presenter John Hamblin, she was one of the longest serving presenters after a 30-year tenure[2][3]

Benita Collings
Born1940 (age 80–81)
OccupationActress
Television presenter, voice artist
Known forPresenter on Play School (1969-1999), character actress

Theatre, television and film

Collings started her career in 1955 at the Independent Theatre under Dame Doris Fitton and also trained in ballet and jazz, by 1960 she had joined the Ensemble Theatre under producer and director Hayes Gordon appearing in numerous plays including a production of Neil Simons, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, directed by Jon Ewing, Absurd Person Singular and Doctor in the House.[4] In addition to her position as an Australian children's television presenter, Collings has been a screen performer, appearing in many of Australian television dramas, including Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police The Restless Years, The Sullivans, The Young Doctors, Sons and Daughters, Rafferty's Rules, A Country Practice and others.[5]

Collings has appeared in the feature film Knowing as the mother of Nicolas Cage's character.[6]

Filmography
Year Title Role
1966The Private World of Miss Prim (TV series)Typist
1968Contrabands (TV series) Air Hostess
1970The Rovers (TV series)Margaret Walsh
1971The Comedy GameTurner
1972The GodfathersMiss Lark
1972SpyforceSister Hilda
1972SunstruckAlice
1970-1973HomicideJoan Greaves (1970) - Freda Clarke (1972) - Catherine Davies (1973) (3 character roles)
1970-1973Division 4Nina Radcliffe (1970) - Louse Jenkins (1970) - Barbara Young (1972) (3 character roles)
1974Silent NumberMary
1973-1974Our Man in the CompanyTurner
1974Matlock PoliceBetty Holmes - Susan Middleton (2 character roles)
1975Scattergood: Friend Of All (TV series)
1975Quality of Mercy (TV series)
1977The SullivansLucette
1980-1982The Restless YearsClara Morgan
1982Secret Valley
1983Return to Eden (TV mini-series)Estelle Rutherford
1982-1984A Country PracticeJill Stevens (1982) - Natalie Baker (1984) (2 character roles)
1984Kindred SpiritsTarot Reader
1985Epic (Australian version)
1988Reed Down Under (Australasian version) - television movieDr Eileen Townsend
1988Computer Ghosts (TV movie)Eva
1996The Glynn Nicholas Show (TV series)Gremlins
2001Pizza (TV series)wowser lady
2005A Black and White World
2009KnowingJohns mother
2010–2011The TreeAunty Mary
2011Sleeping BeautyDinner Guest
2011The Eve of the StormLady at luncheon
2013The EggNarrator
2016Janet King (TV series)Robin King
2018Resting Pitch Face (TV series)Olivia's mother
2018The PitchCelia Montgomery

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1969-1999Play SchoolHerselfHost
2016Have You Been Paying Attention?HerselfGuest Quiz Master

References
  1. "'I absolutely freaked': Benita Collings on Play School, ageing and the oddities of Fame".
  2. "Hope: Benita Collings and her hopes for children's learning". National Museum of Australia. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  3. "40 Years Of Play School". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  4. "Benita Collings".
  5. "Benita Collings". IMDb. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  6. "Cast: Knowing". Allmovie. Retrieved 26 February 2010.


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