Gerda Nicolson

Gerda Maureen Nicolson (11 November 1937 – 12 June 1992) was an Australian theatre and television actress best known for several long-running television roles. She was best known for playing the new Governor of the Wentworth Detention Centre, (after Patsy King left the series) in soap opera Prisoner.

Gerda Nicolson
Born
Gerda Maureen Nicholson

11 November 1937
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Died12 June 1992(1992-06-12) (aged 54)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
OccupationActress
Years active1961–1991
Spouse(s)Julius Szappanos (1966–1992, her death)

Early life

Gerda Maureen Nicolson was born in Hobart, Tasmania, to parents both involved in theatre. In 1959, she travelled to London with her parents, and attended many stage performances.

Career

On returning to Australia in 1961, Gerda joined Melbourne University's Graduate Society and acted in a number of its amateur stage plays while working as a draughtsperson at the Victorian Health Department. A year later, she was spotted by a director who encouraged her to audition for a stage play, A Woman in a Dressing Gown. Scoring one of the main roles, she joined the ensemble on its tour of Australia and New Zealand. Nicolson later said that the producer awarded her with the role on account of her stunning legs.

She was in The Proposal and the Bear for ABC TV.

Nicolson first reached wider audiences through her long-running role in Australian Broadcasting Corporation daily soap opera Bellbird. After leaving that series she had a regular role in the police drama Bluey (1976) and also The Sullivans (1976) and a small guest role in Cop Shop. However, her most widely recognised role was as Governor Ann Reynolds in the popular Australian television soap opera Prisoner. This was her second role in the show — she had already played a minor role as a corrupt officer at another prison in earlier episodes. Gerda played the role of Ann from 1983 until the series ended in 1986. The series found huge international cult success in the 1990s and 2000s. Gerda also appeared in Neighbours in 1989 as Robyn Taylor, who almost had an affair with Harold Bishop.

She collapsed in her dressing room prior to going to stage for theatre performance Mary Lives! in 1992. Although she was rushed to hospital, she never regained consciousness and died on 12 June. The cause of death was a brain-related haemorrhage.

Legacy

Green Room Award: The Gerda Nicolson Award (for an Emerging Actress) was instituted in her name to commemorate her work in Australian theatre, as she is recognised as one of Victoria's finest female actors. This award, protected by The Green Room Awards Association, was presented to the recipient by her husband up until his death in 2006. These recipients included; Alison Whyte, Peta Brady and Kat Stewart. •Gerda Nicolson Award for Indigenous female students studying at the Victorian College of the Arts in the areas of performing arts. This award was hosted through the Willan Centre for an undergraduate student.

Filmography

Film
Title Year Role Notes
Country Town 1971 Fiona Davies Film adaptation of the television series Bellbird
The Devil's Playground 1976 Mrs. Allen
The Getting of Wisdom 1977 Minor role
Gallipoli 1981 Rose Hamilton
Next of Kin 1982 Connie
The Clinic 1982 Linda
Belinda 1988 Belinda's Mother
In to Deep 1989 Mrs. Lyall
Television
Title Year Role Notes
Consider Your Verdict 1964 Minor Role Seven Network • Episode: "Queen Versus Grainger"
Homicide 1965 Carol Barwick Seven Network • Season 2, Episode 16: "One Man Crime Wave"
Hunter 1967 Marion Tolhurst Nine Network • 4 episodes
Homicide 1967 Anne Elliot Seven Network • Season 4, Episode 41: "One Last Wish"
1968 Policewoman Reed Seven Network • Season 5, Episode 34: "Valley of Silence"
1968 Tess Barker Seven Network • Season 5, Episode 37: "Objection Sustained"
Hunter 1968 Janet McGregor Nine Network • 1 episode
Division 4 1969 Ellen Finch Nine Network • Season 1, Episode 28: "The Victim"
Matlock Police 1971 Kate Maddern Network Ten • Season 1, Episode 2: "The Big Gun"
Bellbird 1972 Fiona Davies ABC • Season 6 (1 episode: "There's a Doctor in Anne's House")
Boney 1972 Clare Joyce Season 1, Episode 10: "Boney and the Monster"
Ryan 1974 Mary Seven Network • Season 1, Episode 34: "Give Them the World"
Division 4 1975 Mrs. Laston Nine Network • Season 7, Episode 20: "Take No for an Answer"
Homicide 1975 Julie Edwards Seven Network • Season 12 (1 episode: "A Quiet Place")
Quality of Mercy 1975 Minor role ABC • Season 1, Episode 6: "We Should Have Had a Uniform"
The Sullivans 1976 Mrs. Turnbull Nine Network • Season 1, unknown episode(s)
Bluey 19761977 Monica Rourke Seven Network • Season 1 (all 39 episodes)
Cop Shop 1978 Marion O'Reilly Seven Network • 13 episodes
Chopper Squad 1979 Enid Paramor Network Ten • Season 2, Episode 11: "No Strings"
Skyways 1979 Joan Fitzgerald Seven Network • Episode: "The Legend"
Young Ramsay 1980 Beth Emery Seven Network • Season 2, Episode 13: "Dyed in the Wool"
Prisoner 1981 Mrs. Roberts Network Ten • Season 3 (2 episodes)
Prisoner 19831986 Ann Reynolds Network Ten • Seasons 58 (317 episodes)
Neighbours 1989 Robyn Taylor Network Ten • Season 5 (10 episodes)
Bangkok Hilton 1989 Lady Faulkner Network Ten • Miniseries (all 3 episodes)
Boys from the Bush 1991 Betty BBC One • Season 1, Episode 8: "Mateship"
Golden Fiddles 1991 Miss Birrell Nine Network • Miniseries (2 episodes), (final appearance)
Television film
Title Year Role Notes
Nude with Violin 1964 Jane Sorodin ABC movie
Everyman 1964 Cousin ABC movie
The Physicists 1964 Minor Role ABC movie
Ashes to Ashes 1966 Barbara Manson ABC movie
Out of Love 1974 Minor Role Story 3: "Separate Ways"
Short
Title Year Role Notes
The Quick Brown Fox 1980 Mrs. Flint

Awards

  • Penguin Best Sustained Performance (1985) for Prisoner

Nominated

  • Logie Best Supporting Actress (1977) for Bluey
  • Logie Best Supporting Actress (1985) for Prisoner
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