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Born: October 2 in
Mittagong, NSW.
She was a performer at heart even as
a child. Before she left her hometown to try her hand at
entertaining, she began training as a hairdresser at her
mother's insistence. When she finally qualified, she
began performing at dances and weddings. Lorrae was born
Beryl Hunt but later changed her name to Lorrae Desmond
by combining the name of a hairdressing colleague with
her father's name.
| Send fan mail to: |
Lorrae Desmond
c/o Tynan Reidy Agency
36 William Street
Paddington, NSW 2021
Australia |
|
 She left
for England in 1952 and since then has performed all over
the world, including Vietnam during the war. She received
an MBE for her five tours of Vietnam and the Middle East.
Her all-around performing talent is very evident in her
singing, dancing, and, of course, her acting. You can't
help but love her. :-)TELEVISION:
- 1997:
Isabel DuPre on "Home and Away"
- 1981
to 1992: Shirley
(Dean) Gilroy on
"A
Country Practice"
(eps 1 to 924)
- 1980:
Arcade
- 1973:
Marion Carlton on "Number
96" (various eps
between 206
and 221)
(this role saw Lorrae portraying a catering
teacher who taught one of her students more than
just cooking!)
- 1960's:
"The Lorrae Desmond Show". In 1962,
Lorrae became the first woman to win a Gold
Logie, for this TV show.
STAGE:
- 1992:
Margaret in "High Society" National
Tour (with the Melbourne Theatre Company)
FILM/VIDEO:
- 1999:
Margaret in "Tom's
Funeral"
-- this movie apparently was
due to be filmed in early 1999 and released later
this year.
- 1996:
Lorrae hosted a video documentary produced by the
Australian Cinema and Theatre Society called
"Once upon A Dream", which tells the
story of Sydney's Capitol Theatre site, from 1893
through to its restoration in 1995. [ Click here to view purchasing
info. Or purchase it directly from the National Archives
of Australia. ]
MUSICAL
RECORDINGS:
- 1994:
"Lorrae
Desmond at the School of Arts Cafe",
a Canberra Stereo Public Radio/Artsound Inc.
recording
This is a very nice CD, with a full range of
cabaret style music mixed with anecdotes
(including a nice rendition of the ACP theme song
with lyrics written by Lorrae herself).
[
Click here to view information
about purchasing for this CD from the School of
Arts. ]
BOOKS:
- 1995:
"Celebrity Cookbook", featuring the
favourite recipes of 65 celebrities who performed
at the School of Arts Cafe (including Lorrae). [ Click here to view information
about purchasing for this book from the School of
Arts. ]
OTHER
NOTES:
- 1998:
Lorrae was the Australia Day Ambassador for
Greater Lithgow City
- Lorrae
regularly appears at the annual Celebrity Cricket
Match at the Wandin Valley Estate Winery
(generally in March).
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|
| Sources:
10th birthday magazine, IMDB, personal observation, and
other private sources. The Vietnam-era photo of Lorrae is
used here with the permission of Trevor Hopper at Ausvets (Australian War Veterens
On The Net)...please
DO NOT take this photo to use on another web site under
any circumstances. Thanks. |
