Pat Evison
Encyclopedia
Dame Helen June Patricia Evison, DBE (née Blamires; 2 June 1924 – 30 May 2010), known as Pat Evison, was a New Zealand actress.
, the University of Auckland
and the Auckland Teachers' Training College
. In 1940, she became one of the first New Zealand students to be awarded a scholarship to the Old Vic
Theatre Centre in London, where she studied directing. She then worked as an assistant director at the Young Vic, before returning to New Zealand where she worked as a freelance director and actor at the Downstage Theatre
in Wellington.
, performing in radio plays recorded onto acetate disc
s. Following her return to New Zealand from London, she began acting in television roles, with a small role in the television play All Earth to Love, and guest appearances and a regular role on the sketch comedy series In View of the Circumstances.
In 1971, Evison in the television drama serial Pukemanu as storekeeper Phyllis Telford, a role written specially for her by series creator Julian Dickon. In her 1998 autobiography Happy Days in Muckle Flugga, Evison stated that the role as Mrs Telford changed her life, and she was thereafter recognised throughout New Zealand as "Mrs Pukemanu".
She is likely best-known for her roles in Australian television
, such as Jessie Windom in Prisoner
and Violet Carnegie in The Flying Doctors
.
for Best Supporting Actress
, for her role as Mel Gibson
's character's mother in the film Tim
. Her co-stars also won AFI Awards for their roles: Gibson winning Best Lead Actor
for the title role, and Alwyn Kurts
winning Best Supporting Actor
for his role as Tim's father.
She was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1993 New Year's Honours for services to acting.
Early life and education
Evison was born in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1924, and was educated at Masterton. She attended Victoria University of WellingtonVictoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
, the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
and the Auckland Teachers' Training College
Auckland College of Education
Auckland College of Education was a college of education located in Auckland, New Zealand. On 1 September 2004 it amalgamated with the University of Auckland and formed a new Faculty of Education with the university’s School of Education.-History:...
. In 1940, she became one of the first New Zealand students to be awarded a scholarship to the Old Vic
Old Vic
The Old Vic is a theatre located just south-east of Waterloo Station in London on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road. Established in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, it was taken over by Emma Cons in 1880 when it was known formally as the Royal Victoria Hall. In 1898, a niece of Cons, Lilian...
Theatre Centre in London, where she studied directing. She then worked as an assistant director at the Young Vic, before returning to New Zealand where she worked as a freelance director and actor at the Downstage Theatre
Downstage Theatre
The Downstage Theatre is a theatre in Wellington, New Zealand, and the country's longest running professional theatre, established in 1964.The founders at the inaugural meeting in the Wellington Public Library on 15 May 1964 were actors Peter Bland, Tim Elliott and Martyn Sanderson, with...
in Wellington.
Acting career
Evison first began acting while studying an arts degree at Victoria UniversityVictoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
, performing in radio plays recorded onto acetate disc
Acetate disc
An acetate disc, also known as a test acetate, dubplate , lacquer , transcription disc or instantaneous disc...
s. Following her return to New Zealand from London, she began acting in television roles, with a small role in the television play All Earth to Love, and guest appearances and a regular role on the sketch comedy series In View of the Circumstances.
In 1971, Evison in the television drama serial Pukemanu as storekeeper Phyllis Telford, a role written specially for her by series creator Julian Dickon. In her 1998 autobiography Happy Days in Muckle Flugga, Evison stated that the role as Mrs Telford changed her life, and she was thereafter recognised throughout New Zealand as "Mrs Pukemanu".
She is likely best-known for her roles in Australian television
Australian television
Television in Australia began experimentally as early as 1929 in Melbourne with stations 3DB and 3UZ using the Radiovision system by Gilbert Miles and Donal McDonald, and later from other locations, such as Brisbane in 1934....
, such as Jessie Windom in Prisoner
Prisoner (TV series)
Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...
and Violet Carnegie in The Flying Doctors
The Flying Doctors
The Flying Doctors is an Australian drama series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday lifesaving efforts of the real Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia....
.
Awards and honours
In 1979, Evison won the Australian Film Institute AwardAustralian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
for Best Supporting Actress
Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role is an award in the annual Australian Film Institute Awards. It has been awarded annually since 1976.-Previous winners:*1976: Melissa Jaffer – Caddie...
, for her role as Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
's character's mother in the film Tim
Tim (film)
Tim is an Australian romantic drama film. Released in 1979, it was written and directed by Michael Pate, based on the 1974 novel by Colleen McCullough....
. Her co-stars also won AFI Awards for their roles: Gibson winning Best Lead Actor
Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
The AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role is an award in the annual AACTA Awards, presented by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts...
for the title role, and Alwyn Kurts
Alwyn Kurts
Alwyn Kurts, also known as Alwyn Kurtis, was an Australian drama and comedy actor.Kurts originally worked as a war correspondent, before moving onto radio with his program "Raising a Husband" on radio station 3XY....
winning Best Supporting Actor
Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role is an award in the annual Australian Film Institute Awards. It has been awarded annually since 1974.-Previous winners:*1974: Barry Humphries – The Great McCarthy...
for his role as Tim's father.
She was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1993 New Year's Honours for services to acting.