Lorrae Desmond
Encyclopedia
Lorrae Desmond, MBE
(born Beryl Hunt on 2 October 1932 in Mittagong, New South Wales
) is a Australia
n singer, entertainer, and character actress, with a career spanning over 50 years. She remains best known for her role as Sister Shirley Gilroy (née Dean) in the television
series A Country Practice
, which she played from 1981 to 1992.
Lorrae travelled to Britain in the 1950s and became a celebrity there. She even featured in her own comedy series Trouble for Two in 1958, was in the cast of several Terry-Thomas
TV specials, and competed to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest
in 1957.
In his book Bounder, published in the autumn of 2008, author Graham McCann states that Desmond might possibly have married Terry-Thomas
who had been her constant companion for seven years. Instead the actor overcame a 26-year age gap to marry Belinda Cunningham. Desmond refuted this in an ABC interview in April 2008, saying that she dated Thomas for 10 years, but they would have never married.
In 1962, she made history by being the first woman to win the Gold Logie
, for her work on The Lorrae Desmond Show.
Desmond married Sydney surgeon Dr Alex Gorshenin in 1963. They travelled to the US together where he continued to study. They moved back to Sydney but the marriage did not last long.
The Australian Government invited her to tour Vietnam from 1967 to 1971, to entertain the troops. Desmond was awarded an MBE in 1970 for services to entertainment and the welfare of the Australian Forces in Vietnam.
Other television appearances include Number 96
in 1973 and Arcade
(1980). She also had a guest appearance on Home and Away
.
Lorrae appeared as Sister Shirley Gilroy in A Country Practice
from 1981 to 1992. In 1984 she won the Logie for Best Supporting Actress for this role.
Desmond was a supporter of the Paralympic Games in Sydney 2000.
In a quote about the industry she said:
In 2001, she obtained the rights to write the lyrics for a musical play based on Bryce Courtney's novel Smoky Joe's Cafe
, about the effects of the Vietnam War on a veteran. The play, entitled Honey, premiered in 2007 at the Riverside Theatre Parramatta
.
She was also a magazine columnist for "That's Life" , where she wrote an article called Ask Lorrae, where readers would write in, asking for various advice information.
Desmond took part in an A Country Practice reunion special in 2006, as part of the "Television Turns 50" celebrations, and the series' 30th anniversary reunion in 2011.
She toured Australia performing in High Society
, and her own one-woman show.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born Beryl Hunt on 2 October 1932 in Mittagong, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
) is a Australia
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 singer, entertainer, and character actress, with a career spanning over 50 years. She remains best known for her role as Sister Shirley Gilroy (née Dean) in the television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series A Country Practice
A Country Practice
A Country Practice is an Australian television drama series. One of the longest-running of its kind, produced by James Davern of JNP Productions, it ran on the Seven Network for 1,058 episodes from 18 November 1981 to 22 November 1993. It was produced in ATN-7's production facility at Epping,...
, which she played from 1981 to 1992.
Lorrae travelled to Britain in the 1950s and became a celebrity there. She even featured in her own comedy series Trouble for Two in 1958, was in the cast of several Terry-Thomas
Terry-Thomas
Thomas Terry Hoar Stevens was a distinctive English comic actor, known as Terry-Thomas. He was famous for his portrayal of disreputable members of the upper classes, especially cads and toffs, with the trademark gap in his front teeth, cigarette holder, smoking jacket, and catch-phrases such as...
TV specials, and competed to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
in 1957.
In his book Bounder, published in the autumn of 2008, author Graham McCann states that Desmond might possibly have married Terry-Thomas
Terry-Thomas
Thomas Terry Hoar Stevens was a distinctive English comic actor, known as Terry-Thomas. He was famous for his portrayal of disreputable members of the upper classes, especially cads and toffs, with the trademark gap in his front teeth, cigarette holder, smoking jacket, and catch-phrases such as...
who had been her constant companion for seven years. Instead the actor overcame a 26-year age gap to marry Belinda Cunningham. Desmond refuted this in an ABC interview in April 2008, saying that she dated Thomas for 10 years, but they would have never married.
In 1962, she made history by being the first woman to win the Gold Logie
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
, for her work on The Lorrae Desmond Show.
Desmond married Sydney surgeon Dr Alex Gorshenin in 1963. They travelled to the US together where he continued to study. They moved back to Sydney but the marriage did not last long.
The Australian Government invited her to tour Vietnam from 1967 to 1971, to entertain the troops. Desmond was awarded an MBE in 1970 for services to entertainment and the welfare of the Australian Forces in Vietnam.
Other television appearances include 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 1973 and Arcade
Arcade (TV series)
Arcade is an Australian television soap opera shown in 1980 that became one of the biggest flops in the history of Australian television. It aired on Network Ten with the premiere episode shown on Sunday, 20 January 1980. The series then ran five nights a week, Mondays to Fridays, as a 30 minute...
(1980). She also had a guest appearance on Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
.
Lorrae appeared as Sister Shirley Gilroy in A Country Practice
A Country Practice
A Country Practice is an Australian television drama series. One of the longest-running of its kind, produced by James Davern of JNP Productions, it ran on the Seven Network for 1,058 episodes from 18 November 1981 to 22 November 1993. It was produced in ATN-7's production facility at Epping,...
from 1981 to 1992. In 1984 she won the Logie for Best Supporting Actress for this role.
Desmond was a supporter of the Paralympic Games in Sydney 2000.
In a quote about the industry she said:
What I really wanted to do was write lyrics for songs. I did do a few weeks in Home And Away after ACP, but I’m a bit sick of performing—after you've been doing it for 50 years you're just going around in circles! The thing I liked most about being a performer was putting the act together, which is why I've come back to writing. It's still pleasant to be recognised as Shirley because people are always nice to me. And with those ACP repeats on Hallmark, it goes from generation to generation.
In 2001, she obtained the rights to write the lyrics for a musical play based on Bryce Courtney's novel Smoky Joe's Cafe
Smoky Joe's Cafe
Smoky Joe's Cafe, a novel by Bryce Courtenay, deals with the psychological and physical scars on "Thommo" left by the Vietnam War and Agent Orange...
, about the effects of the Vietnam War on a veteran. The play, entitled Honey, premiered in 2007 at the Riverside Theatre Parramatta
Riverside Theatre Parramatta
Riverside Theatres is a multi venue performing arts centre located in the CBD of Parramatta in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.Regular companies and productions that perform there include:*The Premier State Ballet...
.
She was also a magazine columnist for "That's Life" , where she wrote an article called Ask Lorrae, where readers would write in, asking for various advice information.
Desmond took part in an A Country Practice reunion special in 2006, as part of the "Television Turns 50" celebrations, and the series' 30th anniversary reunion in 2011.
She toured Australia performing in High Society
High Society (musical)
High Society is a musical with a book by Arthur Kopit and music and lyrics by Cole Porter.Based on the Philip Barry play The Philadelphia Story and the 1956 musical screen adaptation with Porter's songs, High Society, the plot centers on pretentious Long Island socialite Tracy Lord, who is planning...
, and her own one-woman show.
Awards and honours
- 1962: Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian TelevisionGold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian TelevisionThe Gold Logie Award has been awarded annually to the Most Popular Personality on Australian Television at the TV Week Logie Awards since 1960...
for The Lorrae Desmond Show - 1970: Member of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(MBE) for services to entertainment and the welfare of the Australian Forces in Vietnam. - 1984: Logie Award – Best Supporting Actress In A Series for A Country Practice
- 2009: Mo AwardsMo AwardsThe Mo Awards are long running annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia....
– John Campbell Fellowship Award