Hazel Phillips
Hazel Phillips | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 17, 1929 Battersea, London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Entertainer, singer, actress, television talk show host, playwright, composer, lyricist, radio presenter, newspaper columnist |
| Years active | 1950s–present |
| Known for | Portrayal of Marie Crowther in Number 96; Gold Logie winner; extensive career in Australian entertainment |
Hazel Julia Phillips () (born 17 November 1929) is a British-Australian entertainer known for her extensive work as a singer, actress, and television talk show host in Australia.
In addition to her performing career, Phillips is an accomplished playwright, composer, and lyricist with numerous stage credits. She has also served as a radio presenter, newspaper columnist, and briefly managed a dinner cabaret venue.
Throughout her career, Phillips has interviewed prominent Hollywood figures including Bing Crosby, Paul Newman, Omar Shariff, and Fess Parker.
Significantly, she portrayed Marie Crowther in the series Number 96, recognized as the first lesbian character on television worldwide.
Her filmography features the 1970 Australian movie The Set, the 2021 Netflix production Love and Monsters, an upcoming Paramount project starring Sam Neill, as well as a commercial for Ford motors.
Phillips is frequently compared to Betty White due to her enduring success and longevity within the Australian entertainment industry.
Early life
Born Hazel Lovegrove in Battersea, south London, Phillips began performing in singing and dancing at three years old. She earned the title of Miss South England in 1948. At age 20, she became engaged to Bill Phillips, a carpenter who transitioned into television directing. The couple emigrated to Australia under the "Ten Pound Poms" scheme around 1950–51, married soon after arrival, and had two sons: Mark (1953) and Scott (1955). In 1961, Phillips sustained serious chin injuries in a car accident. Their marriage eventually ended due to factors including her surgeries, her husband's infidelity, and complications from an ectopic pregnancy.
Early career
Phillips began her professional journey at radio station 2UE after winning a national talent competition for Miss Television in Australia. She was among the pioneering personalities on Network Seven and gained prominence in 1963 through appearances on the talk show Beauty and the Beast alongside Eric Baume. Later, she became a regular cast member on the satirical program The Mavis Bramston Show, opting for this role over continuing with Beauty and the Beast.
Gold Logie, television, film and theatre
Following her departure from Seven Network, Phillips hosted Girl Talk, a midday talk program on Network Ten. In 1967, she received the prestigious Gold Logie, sharing the honor with Graham Kennedy as the most popular female personality; she was only the second woman to be awarded this after Lorrae Desmond in 1962.
Her television appearances span series such as Number 96, Matlock Police, A Country Practice, G.P., Pacific Drive, and the mini-series Bride of Christ. Film roles include parts in The Set, Midnight Dancer, Walking Emily Home, and Monster Problems.
Phillips’ theatre repertoire since 1956 includes productions like The Circle, Henry V, Pride and Prejudice, The Merry Wives of Windsor, along with stage adaptations of Grease (play) and The Mavis Bramston Show. In 2002, she performed in a cabaret tribute to Marilyn Monroe.
In 2020, during an appearance on Studio 10, Phillips spoke about gender pay inequality in the entertainment industry. She disclosed that female hosts earned substantially less than their male peers such as Graham Kennedy and Don Lane, noting that her own salary during the 1960s was less than one-tenth of theirs.
Honours and awards
| Year | Awarding Body | Award Category | Recognition For | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Government of Australia - Queens Birthday Honours | Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) | Contributions to the entertainment sector, notably in performing arts and television, alongside community fundraising efforts. | Template:Honoured |
| 1967 | Logie Awards | Gold Logie | Girl Talk | Template:Won |
Autobiography
Phillips released her memoir, Black River, Bright Star (), in 2008 through Zeus Publications.
Health
A proponent of alternative therapies, Phillips suffered a minor heart attack in 2009 and later underwent hip replacement surgery.
Australia’s Got Talent
In 2011, Phillips appeared on the fifth season of Australia's Got Talent, delivering performances of songs originally by Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe. She advanced to the over-65 semi-final round but was eliminated via public voting. She still occasionally performs alongside her son Scott’s quartet.
Film and television
| Year | Title | Role | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | The Set | Peggy Sylvester | |
| 1975 | Until Tomorrow | Marge Stewart | |
| 1987 | Midnight Dancer | Doreen | |
| 1996 | Little White Lies | ||
| 2000 | Walking Emily Home | Auntie | |
| 2012 | Trinkets | Rose Hayes | short film |
| 2012 | Edna | Edna | short film |
| 2020 | Monster Problems | Janice |
| Year | Title | Role | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | The Comedy Game | — | |
| 1972 | The Virgin Fellas | — | |
| Birds in the Bush | Maggie | ||
| Boney | Candy Barr | Episode: "Boney Buys a Coffin" | |
| Matlock Police | Thelma Brewster | Episode: "Titch" | |
| 1973 | Lucy McCain | Episode: "The Recurrence of Brandy McBain" | |
| Number 96 | Marie Crowther | ||
| Ryan | Lorna | Episode: "Way Back" | |
| 1975 | Until Tomorrow | Marge Stewart | |
| 1977; 1979 | The Mike Walsh Show | Guest - Herself | Single episode appearances on TV series |
| 1978 | Chopper Squad | Maureen McNair | Episode: "Lifeboat" |
| 1979; 1982 | The Mike Walsh Show | Guest - Herself | Multiple TV series appearances |
| 1982 | The Mike Walsh Show | Guest - Herself | |
| 1986 | Kids 21st Birthday Channel Ten Telethon | Guest - Herself | |
| 1989 | Fields of Fire III | Usherette | |
| 1990 | A Country Practice | Blanche Perkins | Episode: "Sisters II: Part 2" |
| 1991 | Brides of Christ | Mrs. Purley | Episode: "Diane" |
| 1991-92 | G.P. | Rita Edwards | Two episodes |
| 1995 | Midday With Kerri-Anne | Herself - Guest | |
| 1995 | Fire | Belle | Episode: "The Rip Off" |
| 1996 | Pacific Drive | — | |
| 1997 | Monday To Friday | Herself - Guest | |
| 1997 | The Wayne Manifesto | Dottie Fingleton | Three episodes |
| 1998; 1999 | Good Morning Australia | Herself - Guest | |
| 1998; 2000 | Denise | Herself - Guest | |
| 1998 | Misery Guts | American Tourist | Episode: "Road to Riches" |
| 1999 | Good Morning Australia | Herself - Guest | |
| 2000 | Denise | Herself | |
| 2000 | Walking Emily Home | Auntie | TV movie |
| 2007 | Mortified | Aunt Ally | Episode: "The Family Tree" |
| 2007 | Talking Heads | Herself - Guest | |
| 2011 | Australia's Got Talent | Herself - Contestant / Performer | |
| 2012 | The Morning Show | Guest - Herself | |
| 2012 | Today Tonight | Guest - Herself with Carmen Duncan & Denise Drysdale | |
| 2020 | The End | Beth's Grandma | |
| 2021 | Edna (short film) | Edna | |
| 2022 | Upright (TV series) | Val (guest role) (episode 2.2) | |
| 2023 | Studio 10 | Herself |
Television appearances
| Year | Program | Appearance |
| 1960 | Bentley's Bandbox | Featured as herself |
| 1961 | The Lorrae Desmond Show | Appeared as herself |
| 1964 | The Mavis Bramston Show | Performed multiple characters |
| 1964 | Beauty and the Beast | Served as a panellist |
| 1966 | The Barry Crocker Show | Guest appearance |
| 1966 | Girl Talk | Hosted the program |
| 1969 | The Don Lane Show | Guest participant |
| 1994 | The Mavis Bramston Show 30th Anniversary Special | Special guest |
| 2007 | Beauty and the Beast | Panellist role |
| 2011 | Australia's Got Talent | Performed as a singer |
| 2012 | The Morning Show | Featured guest |