Bethany Lee

Bethany Lee (born 1952) is a retired Australian film and television actress. She guest starred on numerous television series during the 1970s, including recurring roles on The Long Arm, Number 96 and Skyways, but is best known for her role as Andrea Hennessy in the cult soap opera Prisoner.

Bethany Lee
Born1952 (age 68–69)
Resting placeByron Bay
OccupationStage, film and television actress
Years active1970–81; 1986
ChildrenNoah John Weller

Career

Bethany Lee made her television acting debut in 1970 with a recurring role on the television series The Long Arm as well as guest appearances on Division 4 and Homicide.

In 1973, she played the lead female in the film adaptation of Come Out Fighting and had a brief stint on Number 96 during early 1974. Her character was introduced as the "chaste and studious schoolgirl" Penny Snow who, with classmate Colin Campbell (Steve Bannister), move into one of the vacant apartments as a squatter. Her character's mother, Trixie O'Toole (Jan Adele), later moved into the building and eventually became one of the series early villains. Shortly before leaving the series, Penny Snow broke contact with her mother and disappeared. Her character reappeared later in the series when Trixie O'Toole, in an attempt to deceive George Snow, got Edie MacDonald (Wendy Blacklock) to impersonate Penny by dressing her in a school uniform.[1] Lee later criticized the nudity in the series, specifically referring to a nude shower scene she had been required to do, in an interview with TV Week stating,

It wasn't the fact that I had to get my gear off that stirred me up. Although I don’t feel it's too good for a new actress to be seen in the raw. I don't want to get typecast. It was the fact that I had no warning that I would be required to do the nude scene until I actually arrived on the set. It made me feel like a piece of merchandise.[2]

Lee again starred in a leading female role in the 1975 film The Firm Man.[3] Between 1975–76, Lee guest starred on several television series, making return appearances on Division 4 and Homicide, but also including crime dramas Silent Number, Matlock Police, Bluey and historical dramas Tandarra[4] and The Sullivans.

After a supporting role in the 1977 western film Raw Deal,[3] Lee returned to television as a recurring character, Rhonda McDonald, on the drama series Skyways.

In 1980, Lee was cast her most memorable role as Andrea Hennessy in the soap opera Prisoner.[5] Her character, a political activist, first appeared leading a protest for prisoners' rights outside the prison. It was at this same protest that her character became involved in a physical altercation with one of the prison officers, Colleen Powell (Judith McGrath), which results in her imprisonment. An attempt is made to free her by friends, Ricky Dunning (Kate Turner) and Linda Golman (Mary Charleston), and results in the kidnapping of the Governor, Erica Davidson (Patsy King). Ricky would be killed by police, while Linda later committed suicide in prison. Lee's character, becoming increasingly unpopular among the other inmates, was eventually transferred to another prison block to serve out her remaining sentence.[6] Although this was her final television role, she would make a return appearance as another character, Edith Kipman, in 1986.[7]

References
  1. McLean, Ian (1994). "Number 96 Annotated Character Guide (cont.)". Number 96 cast list. Number 96 Home Page: Do you remember the night Australian television lost its virginity?. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  2. "Sex and the Scripting". Aussie Soap Archive: Number 96. Aussie Soap Archives. May 2000. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  3. Gillard, Garry (27 January 2002). "Inclusive list of Australasian films". Australian Cinema. GarryGillard.net. Archived from the original on 2 March 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  4. Storey, Don (2008). "Cash & Company Tandarra Episode Details". ClassicAustralianTV.com. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  5. "Goodbye Vera". Prisoner: Eight Years Inside. Aussie Soap Archive. 1996. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  6. "PCBH Characters, Section 2". WWWentworth.co.uk. 6 March 2002. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  7. "PCBH Characters, Section 11". WWWentworth.co.uk. 28 September 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
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