Deborah Gray
Encyclopedia
Deborah Gray is a former Australia
n high fashion model and actress who is now best known as an internationally best selling author of "magickal" non-fiction spell books and jazz singer.
. She appeared on catwalks, leading fashion magazine covers and starred in TV commercials.
Number 96
. In the show's story Gray's character Miss Hemingway has a psychological aversion to wearing clothes so seeks help from Number 96's resident psychologist. The comedic storyline was specifically devised to boost the show's declining ratings in 1977; after more than five years on air the ratings for the once top-rated series were falling and the producers responded by going back to the show's original point of controversy: its nudity.
The first appearances by Gray screened in April 1977. Initially she would appear striding into a room and slipping off her expensive mink coat to reveal nothing at all underneath. Over several weeks her character would be seen to be gradually "cured" of her problem, depicted on screen by Miss Hemingway adding one item of clothing with each appearance in the show. However the immense publicity surrounding Gray's acting debut was not enough to boost the program's ratings sufficiently; Number 96 succumbed to its declining viewing figures and was cancelled in July 1977.
, acted in a guest role in the police drama series Bellamy
(1981), and was a regular co-host in an Australian Candid Camera
style television series titled Catch Us If You Can
. Gray started an all-girl cabaret act named Deborah Gray and the Flames (one of the flames was future Perfect Match
hostess Debbie Newsome). Gray went on to appear on the cover of Australian Playboy Magazine and was showcased in its best-selling actor profile and pictorial, and acted in two 1981 feature films, the comedy feature Pacific Banana, and The Best of Friends. Gray co-wrote and sang the title song from Pacific Banana with fellow co-star Luan Peters
. Other musical forays at the time were the song Mellow Loving, a top ten dance hit, Love Song of O, and the European top 40 hit No Time to Lose which was released by the German Hansa Label/Coconut Records.
By 1986 Gray, tired of the 'sex-symbol' actress tag and, alarmed at the local film industry's growing penchant for violent films, left acting altogether to pursue writing and music full time. She moved to New York in 1986 to study jazz vocalization and songwriting. She lived there for 9 years, performing in many of the known cabaret and jazz clubs (Maxims, Blue Note, Bradleys, The Supper Club, Tatous) and recording her first all original jazz CD featuring trumpeter Roy Hargrove
. As of 2007 Gray is based in Australia where she continues her jazz performing and recording and is an author, songwriter and producer. Her 'magickal' themed non-fiction books have been translated into 10 languages.
Gray is set to release her new Jazz CD 'Jazz Fresh' in late 2007 and is currently shooting scenes for her appearance in in the FFC funded documentary hosted by American Pulp Fiction director Quentin Tarantino titled 'Not Quite Hollywood', a film homage to the breakthrough days of Australian films of the 70's and early 80's (set to be released internationally late 2008)
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n high fashion model and actress who is now best known as an internationally best selling author of "magickal" non-fiction spell books and jazz singer.
Biography
Gray was signed to a modelling contract by Vivien's Management after winning the Teen Model of the Year competition in her hometown of CanberraCanberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. She appeared on catwalks, leading fashion magazine covers and starred in TV commercials.
Number 96
In 1977 at the age of 19, she branched out into acting and burst onto TV screens and into Australian TV history with her role on the television soap operaSoap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Number 96
Number 96 (TV series)
Number 96 was a popular Australian soap opera set in a Sydney apartment block. Don Cash and Bill Harmon produced the series for Network Ten, which requested a Coronation Street-type serial, and specifically one that explored adult subjects...
. In the show's story Gray's character Miss Hemingway has a psychological aversion to wearing clothes so seeks help from Number 96's resident psychologist. The comedic storyline was specifically devised to boost the show's declining ratings in 1977; after more than five years on air the ratings for the once top-rated series were falling and the producers responded by going back to the show's original point of controversy: its nudity.
The first appearances by Gray screened in April 1977. Initially she would appear striding into a room and slipping off her expensive mink coat to reveal nothing at all underneath. Over several weeks her character would be seen to be gradually "cured" of her problem, depicted on screen by Miss Hemingway adding one item of clothing with each appearance in the show. However the immense publicity surrounding Gray's acting debut was not enough to boost the program's ratings sufficiently; Number 96 succumbed to its declining viewing figures and was cancelled in July 1977.
After Number 96
After Number 96 she continued her acting career as a popular TV and film actress, and was considered a leading sex symbol at the time. She played a continuing dramatic role in soap opera The Young DoctorsThe Young Doctors
The Young Doctors is an Australian early evening soap opera. The series was set in the fictional Albert Memorial hospital and primarily concerned with romances between younger members of the hospital staff, screened on the Nine Network from Monday, 8 November 1976 until Wednesday, 30 March...
, acted in a guest role in the police drama series Bellamy
Bellamy (TV series)
Bellamy is an Australian television series made by the Reg Grundy Organisation for the Ten Network in 1981.The series focused on a maverick cop named Steve Bellamy . His partner was Detective Mitchell...
(1981), and was a regular co-host in an Australian Candid Camera
Candid Camera
Candid Camera is a hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as Candid Microphone June 28, 1947...
style television series titled Catch Us If You Can
Catch Us If You Can (game show)
Catch Us If You Can was an Australian game show television series, modeled after Candid Camera, produced in 1981.The host was Bryan Davies, assisted by Deborah Gray and Edith Bliss....
. Gray started an all-girl cabaret act named Deborah Gray and the Flames (one of the flames was future Perfect Match
Perfect Match (Australian game show)
Perfect Match is an Australian dating game show based on the format of The Dating Game. Perfect Match was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation.It originally aired on Network Ten for 30 minutes most weekdays from 5:30pm between 1984 and 1989...
hostess Debbie Newsome). Gray went on to appear on the cover of Australian Playboy Magazine and was showcased in its best-selling actor profile and pictorial, and acted in two 1981 feature films, the comedy feature Pacific Banana, and The Best of Friends. Gray co-wrote and sang the title song from Pacific Banana with fellow co-star Luan Peters
Luan Peters
Luan Peters , also known as Karol Keyes, is an English actress.Born as Carol Hirsch, she made her stage debut in a pantomime aged four, then went on to win a drama scholarship at aged 16 after a performance of Twelfth Night...
. Other musical forays at the time were the song Mellow Loving, a top ten dance hit, Love Song of O, and the European top 40 hit No Time to Lose which was released by the German Hansa Label/Coconut Records.
By 1986 Gray, tired of the 'sex-symbol' actress tag and, alarmed at the local film industry's growing penchant for violent films, left acting altogether to pursue writing and music full time. She moved to New York in 1986 to study jazz vocalization and songwriting. She lived there for 9 years, performing in many of the known cabaret and jazz clubs (Maxims, Blue Note, Bradleys, The Supper Club, Tatous) and recording her first all original jazz CD featuring trumpeter Roy Hargrove
Roy Hargrove
Roy Anthony Hargrove is an American jazz trumpeter. He won worldwide notice after winning two Grammy Awards for differing types of music, in 1997, and in 2002...
. As of 2007 Gray is based in Australia where she continues her jazz performing and recording and is an author, songwriter and producer. Her 'magickal' themed non-fiction books have been translated into 10 languages.
Currently
She produced and hosted the 2005 documentary Wish on a Spell, the DVD released internationally by leading American independent distributor Monterey Media, in mainstream stores throughout USA, Canada and Australia and via the web. Gray also appeared in the documentary Number 96: The Later Years, a special feature included in the 2006 DVD release of the Number 96 feature film.Gray is set to release her new Jazz CD 'Jazz Fresh' in late 2007 and is currently shooting scenes for her appearance in in the FFC funded documentary hosted by American Pulp Fiction director Quentin Tarantino titled 'Not Quite Hollywood', a film homage to the breakthrough days of Australian films of the 70's and early 80's (set to be released internationally late 2008)
External links
- Deborah Gray's current website
- Latest work including Wish on a Spell
- Jazz Cd's and Live Band touring updates
- http://www.myspace.com/deborahgrayjazz Deborah's music pages at www.myspace.com/deborahgrayjazz