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Vale: Monica Maughan

Respected actress Monica Maughan, known for television, film, stage and radio work, has died.

Respected actress Monica Maughan, best known for her television work in Prisoner, has died in Melbourne.

She also won an AFI and Logie award for her work in The Damnation Of Harvey McHugh, played Nana Scott to a young Graham Kennedy in The King, and appeared in numerous Australian productions including The Librarians, MDA, Blue Heelers, Crackerjack, Halifax FP, The Genie from Down Under, The Gillies Report, The Flying Doctors, Come in Spinner, Coln Carpenter, The Box, Matlock Police and Homicide.

Her performance in Nightmares and Dreamscapes “Crouch End” aired on Wednesday night on GO!

But Maughan was most prolific as a stage actress, notably with the Melbourne Theatre Company. She worked with every major theatre company in Australia. She also won Green Room Awards. Born in Tonga, she was a member of the Melboune University Dramatic Club and made her debut opposite Barry Humphries in The Front Page in April 1954.

Maughan was always coy about her age, merely saying, “I can’t remember – 20 or 21 – and I’ve always lied about my age, so there’s no point in trying to make me exact, no point at all.”

Her most recent role was in 2009’s film Blessed.

NB: Monica also appeared in a Radio Play written by yours truly and was very supportive of my early writing work. I would like to extend my sympathy to her family and friends. A wonderful lady and a great actress.

Source: ABC, IMDb, Wikipedia, smh.com.au

14 Responses

  1. Memories of Monica in her school days and teenage times.

    Monica always had a broad smile, a keen sense of humour and a wonderful inner quality. Her acting ability was amazing, even as a young person.

    Condolences to her husband, “Rowley”, who loved her dearly from a very early age, and to their children and grandchildren. Also, to Monica’s siblings.
    She has contributed to the world. She will be missed.

  2. Hmm according to imdb her date of birth was given as September 15, 1938 which would have made her only 71 years old…

    Apart from Prisoner, she will also be remembered for a little known Australian movie “A City’s Child” from 1972 which screened on Channel 9 late at night several times a few years ago and was one of her first ever onscreen appearances.

  3. Sad news another talented actress gone,I remember her from many differents roles,and saw her in a few stage roles.But l remember her best from her days on Prisoner over thirty years ago now.She will be sadly missed by many here in Melbourne ………RIP Monica

  4. How sad that she’s gone, she was an excellent actress who appeared in so many Australian tv shows and will especially be forever remembered as the good and mild mannered prison inmate Pat O’Connell from Prisoner. She will indeed be sadly missed.

  5. Enjoyed watching her over the years appear on what seemed to be almost every Aussie TV series and always such a great actress. Saw her this week on Nightmares and Dreamscapes and thought what a mainstay of Aus TV and still going strong, then find out she’s passed only days later.. Very Sad, she will be missed.

  6. Vale to a dear, dear lady. I made Monica’s acquaintance at the Arts Centre about 5 years ago – and very much enjoyed her wit and company. She was not only talented but generous, caring, funny and a wonderful story-teller. A true lady. Rest in peace Missy M.

  7. I gave up my taxi, and opened the door for her 4 weeks ago in Collins Street. She looked at me with those amazing eyes as I helped her into the c’ab, and she says in that raspy voice of hers ” You’re a true gentleman. There aren’t many of you left…….”

    Recognized her immediately and thanked her for her body of work and she was like “Oh, bless you darling…… ”

    My friend was like “That was Pat from Prisoner!!!!!!”

    She appeared in a cute litte film for the Queer Film Festival a few years back “Pink Hyundi”……

    I guess they’re all gonna start dropping off, sadly…….

  8. Amazing and very talented actress, all the Prisoner fans will be getting out there Pat O’conell episodes, to reminisce the good old days, she will be greatly missed.

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