Elisabeth Kirkby
Elisabeth Kirkby | |
|---|---|
| Born | Elisabeth Wilma Burton Kirkby January 26, 1921 Bolton, Lancashire, England |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, actress, radio presenter, producer, director, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1938–present |
| Known for | Lucy Sutcliffe on Number 96; State Parliamentary Leader for the Australian Democrats in NSW Legislative Council |
Elisabeth Wilma Burton Kirkby (born 26 January 1921), also referred to as Elizabeth Kirkby, is a British-born Australian former politician, actress, radio presenter, producer, director, and screenwriter.
Kirkby began her political journey in 1977 and served as the State Parliamentary Leader for the Australian Democrats within the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1981 until 1998. Subsequently, she was elected as a councillor representing Temora between 1999 and 2004 under the banner of the Australian Progressive Alliance.
Prior to her political endeavors, Kirkby had an extensive career in the entertainment industry. Starting in 1938 as an assistant stage manager in England, she moved into acting across theatre, radio, television, and film. In 1950, following her husband's medical appointment, she relocated to British Malaya, where she concentrated on radio broadcasting alongside producing, directing, and screenwriting. After migrating to Australia in 1965, she continued her acting career and became well-known for portraying Lucy Sutcliffe in the television series Number 96.
Early life
Born on Welbeck Road in Bolton, Lancashire, north-west England, Kirkby was the daughter of James Burton Kirkby and Frances Robinson. Before she turned one year old, her family settled in Turton. Growing up amid the Great Depression, she witnessed numerous cotton mills in her area shutting down. She received her education at Nottingham Girls High School.
Entertainment career
Kirkby's entry into performance began as an assistant stage manager in UK theatre. She joined Manchester Repertory Theatre in 1939, followed by Liverpool Repertory Theatre in 1942, and later performed with Birmingham Repertory Theatre. During the Second World War, she spent three years with the British Army's Auxiliary Territorial Service as an entertainer, writer, and producer for Stars in Battledress. Her television appearances in the UK included telemovies such as Mr. Bolfrey and Love from a Stranger.
After moving to Sydney in 1965, Kirkby produced documentaries and educational content for ABC before transitioning to commercial television. She secured guest roles in series including Rip Tide, The Rovers, Crawford Productions' Hunter and Homicide, as well as The Group.
Her most prominent role was that of Lucy Sutcliffe on the soap opera Number 96, created by writer David Sale who modeled the character after his parents from Lancashire. Kirkby was part of the original cast when the series debuted in March 1972 with initial contracts lasting six weeks. The show ranked as Australia's tenth highest-rated TV program in 1972, climbing to first place in both 1973 and 1974, and placing sixth in 1975. The episode featuring Lucy’s benign tumour storyline achieved the highest ratings. In 1973, Kirkby reprised her role for a feature film adaptation of the series. She also contributed DVD commentary alongside co-star Carol Raye.
Following her time on Number 96, Kirkby appeared in theatre productions in Melbourne such as The Jockey Club Stakes (1975) and made guest appearances on Australian television dramas including The Outsiders.
Political career
Kirkby became a member of the Australian Democrats in 1979 while residing in Martinsville, located in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales. Motivated by her friend and fellow actress Sheila Kennelly to invest in local property, she contested the Hunter Valley seat. Her campaign capitalized on her recognition from Number 96 with the slogan "96's reasons to vote for Liz," achieving 13% of the vote but ultimately not winning. In 1981, she was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council, serving as the state leader for the Democrats. Upon her retirement in June 1998, she held the distinction of being the longest-serving parliamentarian from the Australian Democrats. Subsequently, she served as a councillor for Temora Shire between 1999 and 2004, representing the Australian Progressive Alliance.
Personal life and honours
Kirkby was married to Derek Llewellyn-Jones, a prominent Australian gynaecologist, and is mother to three children, among them actor-producer Tony Llewellyn-Jones and actress Debbie Baile, who also appeared in Number 96.
In 2006, Kirkby completed an Arts Degree and went on to earn a PhD from the University of Sydney in 2014 at age 93, making her Australia’s oldest graduate. Her doctoral research examined unemployment during the Great Depression. She is a strong proponent of lifelong education for seniors. In recognition of her contributions to the New South Wales Parliament, the Temora community, and performing arts, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2012.
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Mr. Bolfrey (TV movie) | Jean |
| 1947 | Love from a Stranger (TV movie) | Mavis Wilson |
| 1974 | Number 96 (TV movie) | Lucy Sutcliffe |
| 1976 | Number 96 ... And they said it wouldn't last (TV documentary movie) | Herself |
| 1979 | Challenging Years (film short) | Jenny Walker |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968-1975 | Homicide | Mrs. Turnbull / Ruth Mason | TV series |
| 1968 | Hunter | Claire Mathison | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1969 | Rip Tide | Joyce Todd | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1969 | The Rovers | Miss Constable | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1971 | The Group | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1972–1975 | Number 96 | Lucy Sutcliffe | TV series |
| 1976 | Number 96: And They Said It Wouldn't Last | Herself | TV special |
| 1977 | Number 96: The Final Episode | Herself with cast | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1977 | The Outsiders | Pat Ryder | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1977 | Glenview High | Mrs. Mackay | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1980 | Players in the Gallery | TV miniseries | |
| 1982 | The Mike Walsh Show | Guest - Herself with Terry Norris | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1986 | Kids' Channel Ten Telethon | Guest - Herself with Number 96 cast | TV special |
| 1996 | Where Are They Now? | Guest - Herself with James Elliott | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2007 | Where Are They Now? | Guest - Herself with Number 96 cast | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2010 | Ten News | Guest - Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2012 | Breakfast | Herself with Number 96 actors & writer David Sale | TV series, 1 episode |
Thesis
- Will History Ever Teach Us? Economic Orthodoxy's Influence on Unemployment during Australia's Great Depression – Doctoral dissertation (University of Sydney)
See also
External links
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- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
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- 1921 births
- Living people
- Military personnel from the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton
- British stage actresses
- Australian soap opera actresses
- Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council
- Australian Democrats politicians
- New South Wales local councillors
- British emigrants to Australia
- Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia
- University of Sydney alumni
- Auxiliary Territorial Service soldiers
- Australian sheep breeders
- Actresses from Bolton
- Women members of the New South Wales Legislative Council
- Women local councillors in Australia
- Australian women centenarians
- 20th-century English women
- 20th-century English politicians
- British women centenarians
- Politicians from Bolton