Betty Lucas
Birth nameBetty Helen Lucas
Birth date31 May 1924
Birth placeCoogee, New South Wales, Australia
Death date7 April 2015 (aged 90)
Other namesBetty Lucas Peterson
OccupationActress, theatre director
Years active1945–2011
SpouseRalph Peterson

Betty Helen Lucas (31 May 1924 – 7 April 2015),[1] also known as Betty Lucas Peterson, was an Australian character actress and theatre director, known for her numerous roles on stage and television, starting from the post-WWII years in 1945.

Early life

Lucas was born in the Sydney suburb of Coogee, New South Wales[2] to Walter Lucas and Marion Gibson. She trained with May Hollinworth at her Metropolitan Theatre.

Career

She moved to London in the early 1950s and appeared in stage roles, returning to Australia in 1965, she featured in TV serials, including played prominent roles in Prisoner as Clara Goddard in 1979, Taurus Rising as Faith Drysdale in 1982, and Richmond Hill as Mavis Roberts in 1988,[3] Her numerous credits in TV roles in guest appearances in serials included Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police, Certain Women, A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors, Blue Heelers, All Saints, Always Greener. and Packed to the Rafters[4]

Personal life

Lucas married in 1946 the actor, producer and writer Ralph Peterson, he died in 1996[5] and their son, Joel Peterson (1954–2017), became a cinematographer.[6]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1957Three in OneFredaFeature film (segment: "The City")
19713 to GoMother (Segment "Michael")Short film
1971Girl in AustraliaTrain PassengerFeature film
1974Between WarsMrs. TrenbowFeature film
1980Rat RaceReginaFeature film, FRANCE
1983Stanley (aka Stanley: Every Home Should Have One)Lady DunstanFeature film
1984My First WifeHelen's MotherFeature film
1990Wendy Cracked a Walnut (aka ...Almost)Mrs. TaggartFeature film
1998TheyEightShort film
2005FeedJanetFeature film
2006JindabyneVanessaFeature film
2006Pass TimeHarriettShort film
2009The Ballad of Betty & JoeThe Fortune TellerShort film
2010Herman and MarjorieMarjorieShort film
2011CupidFridaShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1957The Shadow of DoubtTeleplay
1961WhiplashGuest lead role: Jo ActonTV series, episode: "The Legacy"
1962ITV Play of the WeekGuest role: Rose JamesonTV series, episode: "Lean Liberty"
1965Dark CorridorTeleplay
1967, 1970–73HomicideBarbara Mason / Lisa Walters / Elsie Roberts / Florrie / Margaret Belmont / Shirley Barrett / Sybil ReidTV series, 7 episodes
1968The Queen's BishopQueen PaulineTeleplay
1968Fiends of the FamilyVirginiaTeleplay
1969–73Division 4Rene Fisher / Mrs. McKenzie / Edie Suttle / Betty ParsonsTV series, 4 episodes
1971What For Marianne?Mrs. MaldenTV film
1971, 1973Matlock PoliceNora Gould / Bess AndersonTV series, 2 episodes: "The End of the Road", "Poor Jacko"
1974Things That Go Bump in the NightIreneTV series, episode: "I See a Dark Stranger"
1974This Love AffairGuest roleTV series, 1 episode
1974Silent NumberGuest roleTV series, 1 episode
1974–75Certain WomenHeatherTV series, 9 episodes
1975The Seven Ages of ManGuest roleTV series, 1 episode
1976Do I Have to Kill My Child?FlorenceTV film
1976The AlternativeMelanie's MotherTV film
1978Case for the DefenceFiona MalcolmTV series, episode: "A Plea of Insanity"
1978Cop ShopMary ReynoldsTV series, 2 episodes: "1.205", "1.206"
1979PrisonerClara GoddardTV series, 10 episodes
1979The Young DoctorsSophie BertramTV series, 3 episodes
1980Cop ShopMary ReynoldsTV series, 2 episodes: "1.205", "1.206"
1981BellamyRoseTV series, episode 9: "Hot Shot"
1981PunishmentGuest roleTV series, 1 episode
1981Homicide SquadShirley NivenTV film
1981; 1984; 1991A Country PracticeMrs. Bourke / Nancy Holt / Dot DaltonTV series, 6 episodes
1982The Don Lane ShowGuestTV series, 1 episode
1982Taurus RisingFaith DrysdaleTV series
1982Silent ReachSister BeatrixTV miniseries, 2 episodes
1983The Body CorporateJoan StelowTV film
1983All the Rivers RunJanet RaeburnTV miniseries, 2 episodes: "Part 4", "Part 7"
1983Skin DeepBetty KennedyTV film
1984Runaway IslandThe HagTV series, 2 episodes: "The Treasure of the Conquistadores: Parts 1 & 2"
1987; 1989The Flying DoctorsEthel Cameron / PhillipaTV series, 2 episodes: "Give a Dog a Bad Name", "A Rhyme for Reason"
1987Willing and AbelLead guest role: MaisieTV series, 1 episode
1988Richmond HillMavis RobertsTV series, episodes: "1.11", "1.35", "1.90"
1988The Last ResortTV series
1988The Dirtwater DynastyLand LadyTV miniseries, 1 episode
1989The Family BusinessRegular roleTV series, 13 episodes
1989Tanamera – Lion of SingaporeLady BradshawTV miniseries, 7 episodes
1990More WinnersMrs. FinkelTV film series, episode: "Mr Edmund"
1991; 1995G.P.Elwyn Matthews / Miss ShepherdTV series, 2 episodes: "Darby & Joan", "Those Who Can't"
1993Seven Deadly SinsTV series, 1 episode
1993Hey Dad..!R.J. ThomasTV series, episode: "Fishy Business"
1993Joh's JuryEvelynTV film
1994Mother and SonMavisTV series, episode: "The Lamingtons"
1996Pacific DriveVonnie WentworthTV pilot
1996Water RatsSybil GrahamTV series, episode: "Goldstein & Son"
1996Heartbreak HighViolet AbernathyTV series, episode: "4.16"
1998Murder CallPrudence SmithTV series, episode: "Mix 'n' Match"
1999, 2002, 2006, 2009All SaintsSister Bernard / Hannah McNamara / Mae MooneyTV series, 6 episodes
2000, 2003Blue HeelersMary Barton / Dorothy Falcon-PriceTV series, 2 episodes: "Welcome Back", "Father's Day: Part 2"
2001–02Always GreenerFlorence HolidayTV series, 5 episodes
2002Young LionsGrace BeaumontTV series, episode: "Asylum Seekers"
2005The SurgeonMiriam BeckTV series, 2 episodes: "1.5", "1.7"
2010Packed to the RaftersMrs. LuscombeTV series, episode: "To Tell or Not to Tell"

References

  1. ^ Betty PETERSON
  2. ^ "Betty Lucas". AusStage.
  3. ^ "Interview with Betty Lucas (actor)". 2004.
  4. ^ Betty Lucas at IMDb
  5. ^ Betty Lucas: Actor played many roles on and off stage, Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  6. ^ Joel Peterson, filmmaker whose career covered West Papua to Windsor Castle, Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 19 October 2017.