Betty Bobbitt
Encyclopedia
Betty Bobbitt, born 7 February 1939, in Philadelphia in the United States
, is an Australia
n-based actor.
Bobbitt's entertainment career in Australia began shortly after arrival in the country when she was hired to appear as a regular on a Melbourne
television variety show
, Daly At Night, in 1962. She later appeared in many stage productions with the Melbourne Theatre Company.
However, Bobbitt became best known for her portrayal of lesbian
character Judy Bryant in the popular Australian television series
, Prisoner
. She first appeared in the series in February 1980. Her character was intended for a short-term appearance, but she became immensely popular, and was retained in the series. Bobbitt continued in the role until May 1985, making her one of the show's longest serving characters.
After leaving the series, she continued with theatre roles, made several guest-starring television appearances, and appeared in a few film roles. She recently appeared in the Melbourne Theatre Company
's production of Cruel & Tender by Martin Crimp.
Bobbitt also performed with fellow Prisoner
cast members Colette Mann
and Jane Clifton
in a three-woman troupe named The Mini Busettes in the 1980s. They performed around Australia in RSL clubs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, is an 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-based actor.
Bobbitt's entertainment career in Australia began shortly after arrival in the country when she was hired to appear as a regular on a Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
television variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
, Daly At Night, in 1962. She later appeared in many stage productions with the Melbourne Theatre Company.
However, Bobbitt became best known for her portrayal of lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
character Judy Bryant in the popular Australian television series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
, 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...
. She first appeared in the series in February 1980. Her character was intended for a short-term appearance, but she became immensely popular, and was retained in the series. Bobbitt continued in the role until May 1985, making her one of the show's longest serving characters.
After leaving the series, she continued with theatre roles, made several guest-starring television appearances, and appeared in a few film roles. She recently appeared in the Melbourne Theatre Company
Melbourne Theatre Company
The Melbourne Theatre Company is a theatre company based in Melbourne. Founded in 1953, it is the oldest professional theatre company in Australia, and has its own theatre, The MTC Theatre – which houses the 500-seat Sumner Theatre and the 150-seat Lawler Studio – located in Melbourne's Arts...
's production of Cruel & Tender by Martin Crimp.
Bobbitt also performed with fellow 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...
cast members Colette Mann
Colette Mann
Colette Mann is an Australian actress, most notable for playing the role of Doreen Anderson , in the Australian series Prisoner from 1979–1982, with return appearances in 1983 and in 1984....
and Jane Clifton
Jane Clifton
Jane Clifton is a Gibraltar-born actress and singer who lived as a child in Cardiff, Wales. In 1961 she emigrated to Perth, Australia. Her best known acting role is probably that of tough prison bookie Margo Gaffney in Prisoner...
in a three-woman troupe named The Mini Busettes in the 1980s. They performed around Australia in RSL clubs.