Vivienne Garrett
Encyclopedia
Vivienne Garrett is an Australian-based theatre and television actor. She was born in Sydney and now lives in Perth. Garrett graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art
in 1970.
While still a teenager, her first acting roles were in 1971 in guest roles in police dramas Homicide and Matlock Police
.
She is best known for her role of Rose Godolfus, daughter of deli owner Aldo, in top-rated soap opera Number 96
. She was a member of the original cast of Number 96 when it began in March 1972. Number 96 brought sexual situations and nude scenes to Australian television for the first time. Though series star Abigail
became famous as the first actress to appear topless on Australian television, in fact it was Garrett who deserves the credit, who was topless in the first episode of the serial. However the scene was seen only in Sydney; by the time the episode went to air in other localities in the days following, the shot had been cut by censors after complaints from viewers in Sydney. Garrett remained in the show for five months, breaking her contract and leaving the series over a storyline where Rose was gang raped by a group of bikers – and the script called for her to be actually enjoying it.
After leaving the series she worked in repertory theatre before abandoning her Western lifestyle to live and meditate in a religious community in India for 18 months. After this she returned to Australia and worked on student films for Australian Film Television and Radio School
, again acted in theatre and on television, and appeared in the feature film Caddie
(1976). She also briefly resumed the role of Rose for a limited number of episodes of Number 96 in September 1975, and appeared in a recurring sketch in comedy series The Norman Gunston Show called The Checkout Chicks. This sketch, a send-up of melodramatic soap operas set in a supermarket, mostly featured other former Number 96 actors – Abigail, Candy Raymond
, Philippa Baker, Judy Lynne
, Anne Louise Lambert.
Theatre roles include Hamlet, The Crucible, Butterflies are Free, On Our Selection, Top Girls. In the 1980s she had a role in miniseries Bodyline
(1984). Subsequent film roles include Boundaries of the Heart (1988), Let's Get Skase
(2001), and The Shark Net (2003; TV movie).
As of 2006 Garrett could be heard on Australian television as a voice-over artist. She has also worked as an acting lecturer at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
.
National Institute of Dramatic Art
The National Institute of Dramatic Art is an Australian national training institute for students of theatre, film, and television, based in the Sydney suburb of Kensington. It is supported by the federal Office for the Arts, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. NIDA is located adjacent...
in 1970.
While still a teenager, her first acting roles were in 1971 in guest roles in police dramas Homicide and Matlock Police
Matlock Police
Matlock Police was an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the 0-10 Network between 1971 and 1975....
.
She is best known for her role of Rose Godolfus, daughter of deli owner Aldo, in top-rated soap opera 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...
. She was a member of the original cast of Number 96 when it began in March 1972. Number 96 brought sexual situations and nude scenes to Australian television for the first time. Though series star Abigail
Abigail (actress)
Abigail is an actress who emigrated to Australia in 1968 and via the media of television became one of that country's significant sex symbols of the mid-1970s. Although born in England, she was educated in France. Her mother was a Ceylonese of Dutch Burgher/Eurasian ethnicity...
became famous as the first actress to appear topless on Australian television, in fact it was Garrett who deserves the credit, who was topless in the first episode of the serial. However the scene was seen only in Sydney; by the time the episode went to air in other localities in the days following, the shot had been cut by censors after complaints from viewers in Sydney. Garrett remained in the show for five months, breaking her contract and leaving the series over a storyline where Rose was gang raped by a group of bikers – and the script called for her to be actually enjoying it.
After leaving the series she worked in repertory theatre before abandoning her Western lifestyle to live and meditate in a religious community in India for 18 months. After this she returned to Australia and worked on student films for Australian Film Television and Radio School
Australian Film Television and Radio School
The Australian Film, Television and Radio School is the Australian national centre for professional education and advanced training in film, television, radio and digital media. The School is an Australian Commonwealth government statutory authority...
, again acted in theatre and on television, and appeared in the feature film Caddie
Caddie (film)
Caddie is an Australian film, directed by Donald Crombie, released in 1976, and belonging to the Australian film renaissance which occurred during that decade....
(1976). She also briefly resumed the role of Rose for a limited number of episodes of Number 96 in September 1975, and appeared in a recurring sketch in comedy series The Norman Gunston Show called The Checkout Chicks. This sketch, a send-up of melodramatic soap operas set in a supermarket, mostly featured other former Number 96 actors – Abigail, Candy Raymond
Candy Raymond
Candida Raymond is an Australian actress active in film during the 1970s and early 1980s. she attended St Ives High School in Sydney. She is the sister of actress Victoria Raymond....
, Philippa Baker, Judy Lynne
Judy Lynne
Judy Lynne is an American actress who spent many years working in Australia.She is best known for her role as Doctor Susan Richards in the television soap opera The Young Doctors....
, Anne Louise Lambert.
Theatre roles include Hamlet, The Crucible, Butterflies are Free, On Our Selection, Top Girls. In the 1980s she had a role in miniseries Bodyline
Bodyline
Bodyline, also known as fast leg theory bowling, was a cricketing tactic devised by the English cricket team for their 1932–33 Ashes tour of Australia, specifically to combat the extraordinary batting skill of Australia's Don Bradman...
(1984). Subsequent film roles include Boundaries of the Heart (1988), Let's Get Skase
Let's Get Skase
Let's Get Skase is a 2001 Australian comedy starring Lachy Hulme, Alex Dimitriades, Craig McLachlan and Bill Kerr. It is based on the life of failed Australian businessman Christopher Skase, who after the collapse of his Qintex business, fled to Majorca, Spain. Skase died at around the time of the...
(2001), and The Shark Net (2003; TV movie).
As of 2006 Garrett could be heard on Australian television as a voice-over artist. She has also worked as an acting lecturer at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts , Edith Cowan University was established in 1980 to provide performing arts tuition comparable to the highest calibre of national and international training benchmarks to be able to meet industry needs around the globe.The school is located in the...
.