Wendy Hughes

Wendy Hughes (29 July 19528 March 2014) was an Australian actress known for her work in theatre, film and television. Her career spanned more than forty years and established her reputation as one of Australia's finest and most prolific actors. In her later career she acted in '' Happy New Year'' along with stars Peter Falk and Charles Durning. In 1993 she played Dr. Carol Blythe, M. E. in '' Homicide: Life on the Street.'' In the late 1990s, she starred in '' State Coroner'' and '' Paradise Road.''

Career

Born in Melbourne, Australia to English-born parents, Hughes originally studied to become a ballerina but during her teenage years she turned her focus to acting and later graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and, after honing her skills with the Melbourne Theatre Company, had her first film role in ''Petersen'' (1974). During the early 1970s she also had her first television parts, including appearing in ''Power Without Glory'', a television series first broadcast in 1976.

Called "one of the most important players in the development and productivity of Australian film", Hughes worked closely with prominent Australian artists such as the cinematographer John Seale and the writers David Williamson and Bob Ellis. She was one of the leading players in the 1970s' "New Australian Film" renaissance.

As an actress

Hughes's first internationally known role was the character Patricia in '' Lonely Hearts'' (1982). This role commenced a decades-long collaboration with the Dutch-Australian director Paul Cox.

As one of the leading actresses in Australian cinema, Hughes's roles in the 1970s and 1980s included those in ''Newsfront'', '' Kostas'', ''My Brilliant Career'', '' Lucinda Brayford'', '' Touch and Go'', '' Hoodwink'', '' Lonely Hearts'', '' Careful, He Might Hear You'', ''My First Wife'', ''I Can't Get Started'', ''An Indecent Obsession'', '' Echoes of Paradise'', '' Boundaries of the Heart'', ''Warm Nights on a Slow Moving Train'' (1988) and '' Luigi's Ladies''.

Hughes made her American debut in 1987 in John G. Avildsen's film '' Happy New Year'' opposite Peter Falk and Charles Durning. In 1989 she starred opposite Pierce Brosnan in ''The Heist,'' a TV movie made by HBO. She continued to make occasional appearances on television, such as playing Jilly Stewart in the mini-series ''Return to Eden'' in 1983. During the early 1990s, she spent time in the United States, where she played medical examiner Dr Carol Blythe in the television series '' Homicide: Life on the Street.'' She also appeared in the miniseries '' Amerika'' and made a guest appearance as Lieutenant Commander Nella Daren on '' Star Trek: The Next Generation,'' in the episode ''Lessons'', as one of the few love interests that Captain Jean-Luc Picard had on the show. Back in Australia, Hughes played lead roles on television in ''The Man From Snowy River'' ("Snowy River: The McGregor Saga") and '' State Coroner.'' Hughes's film appearances at this approximate time included the fact-based comedy-drama ''Princess Caraboo'' and '' Paradise Road.'' Her later film roles included ''Salvation'' (2007), ''The Caterpillar Wish'' (2006) and ''The Man Who Sued God'' (2001).

Stage appearances by Hughes during this time included as Mrs. Robinson in the 2001 Melbourne version of ''The Graduate,'' Martha in a 2007 staging of ''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' by the Melbourne Theatre Company, the character of Honor in ''Honour'' in 2010, and Henry Higgins's mother in ''Pygmalion'' (2012).

Her last TV appearance was in '' Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries''.

Awards

She was nominated for Australian Film Institute acting awards six times, and won the Best Lead actress award in 1983 for her performance in '' Careful, He Might Hear You''.

Personal life

Hughes had two children, a son with restaurateur Patric Juillet and a daughter Charlotte with actor Chris Haywood. She was also married to actor Sean Scully for a short time.

Death

Hughes died of cancer on 8 March 2014, aged 61. Actor Bryan Brown announced her death to an audience attending the play ''Travelling North'' in Sydney that afternoon, asking the audience to join him in a standing ovation in tribute to the late actress.

Filmography

FILM

TELEVISION:

STAGE/THEATRE
* ''Butterflies Are Free'' (1971)
* ''An Ideal Husband'' (1976)
* ''Batman's Beachhead'' (1976)
* ''Cat On A Hot Tin Roof'' (1981)
* ''Present Laughter'' (1983)
* ''Happy Days - The Musical'' (1999-2000)
* ''The Graduate'' (2001)
* ''Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?'' (2007)
* ''Honour'' (2010)
* ''Pygmalion'' (2012)

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hughes, Wendy
1952 births
2014 deaths
Australian film actresses
Australian people of English descent
Australian television actresses
Actresses from Melbourne
Deaths from cancer in New South Wales
Best Actress AACTA Award winners
Logie Award winners
National Institute of Dramatic Art alumni