Abigail (actress)

Abigail Rogan
Born	Abigail Rogan (1946-07-23) July 23, 1946 London, England
Other names	Abigail
Occupation(s)	Actress, singer
Years active	1960s–1990s
Known for	Number 96, Sons and Daughters, Chances
Notable work	Number 96, Alvin Purple, Sons and Daughters, Chances

Abigail Rogan (commonly known simply as Abigail; born 23 July 1946) is a former English-born actress, primarily recognized for her work in television soap operas and film, and for a brief period, as a singer.

After relocating from London in 1968, she became one of Australia's foremost sex symbols during the early 1970s, often portrayed as a seductive blonde reminiscent of icons like Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot.

Her television credits include numerous soap operas such as Number 96, Sons and Daughters, Family and Friends, and Chances.

Early life

Born in London in 1946, Abigail's heritage includes Ceylonese (present-day Sri Lankan) and Dutch Burgher ancestry through her mother. She received her education in France before beginning her career in the United Kingdom with roles in productions like Robin Hood and Continental Theatre. Upon moving to Australia, she initially pursued civil engineering studies while acting part-time. However, after securing the lead female role in a local stage adaptation of the British comedy There's a Girl in My Soup in 1968, she committed fully to a career in entertainment. Settling in Sydney, Abigail appeared alongside Phil Silvers in a commercial and acted in the television series Delta.

Film and television

Known professionally as simply ‘Abigail’, she rose to fame as an original cast member of the soap opera Number 96, portraying artist’s model Bev Houghton. This role cemented her status as one of Australia’s premier sex symbols during the early 1970s. Following disagreements behind the scenes, her character was written out of the show; although early media reports suggested she departed to star in a 1973 film, the part was subsequently recast with Victoria Raymond. Abigail later returned to Number 96 in 1976 playing a new character named Eve.

During this era, she made brief appearances in adult-themed comedies including Alvin Purple (1973) and its sequel Alvin Rides Again (1974). In 1974, while aiming to secure more serious acting opportunities, she performed a striptease act in the burlesque comedy "The Legend of San Peel" at The Barrel Theatre located in Kings Cross.

In 1975, Abigail took on the role of a French Senior Mistress in Class of '75, portrayed Esmerelda in The True Story of Eskimo Nell, and appeared in the risqué comedy Eliza Fraser (1976).

She returned to Number 96 as Eve in November 1976. Plans for a spin-off series titled Fair Game, centered on her character, were abandoned; instead, its pilot was edited into three episodes incorporated back into Number 96.

Abigail also participated regularly in a recurring sketch called "The Checkout Chicks" on The Norman Gunston Show, alongside fellow former cast members from Number 96. This program concluded its run in July 1977. Additionally, she featured on shows such as Glenview High and portrayed secretary Hilary Templeton on the soap opera The Young Doctors (1977). That same year, she made a cameo appearance in Summer City, which is noted for featuring Mel Gibson’s first prominent film role.

In 1984, Abigail appeared in the film Melvin, Son of Alvin. Between 1985 and 1987, she held a regular role as Caroline ‘The Cat’ Morrell on the soap opera Sons and Daughters, earning considerable acclaim.

Her subsequent projects included roles in the movie Breaking Loose (1988), co-starring as Dulcie Dickson on the television series Elly & Jools, appearing in the film Sher Mountain Killings Mystery (1990), as well as parts on soap operas such as Family and Friends, Neighbours, and most notably portraying Bambi Shute—a host of a television sex show—on the series Chances during 1992.

Theatre

Abigail achieved recognition in theatre, focusing primarily on comedic parts. In 1983, she embarked on a tour across New South Wales and Queensland performing in the stage farce A Bedfull of Foreigners.

Publishing and music

Following her departure from Number 96 in 1973, Abigail released her autobiography titled Call Me Abigail, which sold 150,000 copies within just two weeks. That same year marked the beginning of her successful music career, making her one of the earliest soap opera actors to transition into music before Kylie Minogue. Her rendition of Serge Gainsbourg's "Je t'aime... moi non plus" climbed into the Australian top 10 charts. Nevertheless, later singles, including a humorous track recorded with ventriloquist Chris Kirby, did not replicate this level of success.

Commercials

In 2002, Abigail acted as a spokesperson for the weight management company Jenny Craig, stating that she had shed 17 kilograms over seven weeks.

Personal life

Abigail entered into marriage twice: initially with her manager and fellow actor Mark Hashfield, known for roles in Number 96 and The Young Doctors, and subsequently with actor Adrian Wright.

By 2006, she was living on Queensland’s Gold Coast and participated in a radio interview on Sydney's 2GB station to celebrate her 60th birthday.

In March 2011, the Australian television program Today Tonight reported that Abigail was residing as a squatter in an abandoned church. However, this claim was contested by the rival show A Current Affair, which clarified that she and her husband were temporarily staying there with permission after their home had been damaged during the 2011 floods and was undergoing repairs. The original report included covert footage filmed without her approval.

Film

Year	Title	Role	Type
	Les enfants de dieu		Feature film
	Descente a la plague		Feature film
	Imagination		Feature film
1970	Play 543		Short film
1973	Alvin Purple	Girl in see-through blouse	Feature film
1973	The Wicked City		TV movie
1974	Alvin Rides Again	Mae	Feature film
1975	The True Story of Eskimo Nell	Esmerelda	Feature film
1976	Murcheson Creek	Donna Lewis	TV movie
1976	Eliza Fraser	Buxom Girl	Feature film
1977	All at Sea	Denise Demour	TV movie
1977	Summer City	Woman in Pub	Feature film
1984	Melvin, Son of Alvin	Melvin's Mother, Mrs. Simpson	Feature film
1988	Breaking Loose: Summer City II	Helen	Feature film
1990	Sher Mountain Killings Mystery	Muriel Cordeaux	Feature film
1990	Friday on My Mind		TV movie
1995	The Final Stage	The Woman	Feature film
1999	Liang Po Po		Short film
2000	Gitano	Gypsy (voice)	Animated short film

Television

Year	Title	Role	Type
	Robin Hood	Young Child	Single episode
	Continental Theatre		One episode
1969	Delta		Two episodes
1972–1973; 1976	Number 96	Bev Houghton / Eve	Seventy-seven episodes
1974	This Love Affair	Helen	Episode 2: 'Tilting at Windmills'
1975	Class of '75	Angelique Dupree	Ninety-eight episodes
1976	Fair Game	Eve	TV pilot episode
1976	The Bluestone Boys		Single episode
1976	Up The Convicts	Charlotte	One episode
1977	"The Young Doctors"	Hiliary Templeton
1978	Glenview High		One episode
1978	The Zodiac Girls	Herself	TV pilot
1979	Chopper Squad	Alison Burns	Single episode
1980	Home Sweet Home	Patient	One episode
1981	Trial By Marriage	Lavinia	Single episode
1981	Are You Being Served?	Perfume Saleswoman	One episode
1984	Special Squad	Mrs. Quinn	One episode
1985–1987	Sons and Daughters	Caroline Morrell	Four hundred ten episodes
1987	Discovering Australia	Narrator	Documentary film
1989	Neighbours	Betty Bristow	Three episodes
1989	Rafferty's Rules	Michelle Dobbs	One episode
1989	Bodysurfer	Mrs. James	Miniseries, two episodes
1990	Elly & Jools	Dulcie Dickson	Twelve episodes
1990	Family and Friends	Doreen Stubbs
1991	Col'n Carpenter
1991	The Miraculous Mellops	Iron Peg' '	Miniseries, one episode' '
1992' '	Chances	Bambi Shute' '	Twenty-six episodes' '
1993' '	Time Trax	Georgette' '	Single episode' '
1996' '	Wedlocked	Radner' '	One episode' '

Television Appearances (as herself)

Year	Program	Role	Format
1975	The Norman Gunston Show	Herself	8 episodes (featured in 'The Check-Out Chicks' sketch)
1975	Celebrity Squares	Participant	Television series
1994	Number 96: And They Said It Wouldn't Last	Host	Television special
2016	RealTVFilms	Presenter	2 episodes

Stage Work

Year	Production	Character	Venue/Notes
1969	There's a Girl in My Soup		Hole in the Wall Theatre, Perth
1970	Rookery Nook		Playhouse, Perth, with National Theatre Inc.
1975	Saga of San Peel
1977	Wild Oats	Jane	Seymour Centre, Sydney, produced by Old Tote Theatre Company
1981–1982	A Bedfull of Foreigners	Simone	Performed at Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane, Marian St Theatre, Bankstown Town Hall, Sydney; produced by Peter Williams Productions
1987	My Fat Friend		Civic Theatre Restaurant, Perth
1988	Rattle of a Simple Man	Cyrenna	Hyatt Kingsgate Hotel, Auckland
1990	Storm in a D Cup
1990	Lunatic Soup	Cassy	Glen St Theatre, Sydney, with Theatre of Comedy
1991–1992	Charley's Aunt		Performed at Sydney Opera House, Suncorp Theatre Brisbane, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Laycock St Theatre Gosford; produced by Peter and Ellen Williams

Singles

Year	Title	Record Label	Peak Chart Position
1973	"Je T'aime" / "Last Tango in Paris"	Festival Records (Australia)	Reached No. 10, remained for 11 weeks
1973	"Do It Again" / "Please Terry, Do It One More Time" (featuring Chris Kirby)	Festival Records (Australia)	—
1974	"(Just As) I Am" / "These Dreams"	Festival Records (Australia)	Peaked at No. 96 for one week
1976	"Biting My Nails" / "Stay a While"	Festival Records (Australia)	—

Albums

Year	Album Title	Label	Track Details
1973	Abigail	Festival Records (Australia)	Side A: "An Occasional Man," "My Baby Does it Good," "New Fangled Tango," "These Dreams," "Do It Again," "Je T'aime" Side B: "Sugar Me," "The Man I Love," "(Just As) I Am," "Pillow Talk," "Last Tango in Paris," "Please Terry, Do It One More Time" (featuring Chris Kirby)

External links

• Detailed Biography
• Comprehensive Biography with Sources