Lynda Keane
Encyclopedia
Lynda Keane is a British-born Australian acting coach, producer, film and television actress. She guest starred on numerous television series during the 1960s and 70s, most notably Bellbird
, Homicide, Number 96, The Box
, and Prisoner
.
She is the founder Lynda Keane Talent School with her husband Greg Anderson
as well as the affiliated Keane Kids Management, Keane Kids Studio and Lynda Keane Studios. Among its students have included Brooke Mikey Anderson
, Brett Blewitt
, Brett Climo
, Alyssa Jane Cook, Jamie Croft
, Bree Desborough
, Gavin Harrison
, Matthew Krok
, Toni Pearen
, Charlie Robinson
, Ben Unwin
, Kym Valentine
, Nikki Webster
, Kristy Wright
, Dominic, Sebastian Elmaloglue
and Rebekah Elmaloglou
.
in London, performing professionally since she was 15 months old, before her family emigrated to Australia when she was ten. Her parents, at that time, owned and operated one of London's leading talent
schools. She continued her career there starring in the 1960 children's series The Adventures of the Terrible Ten and its sequel The Ten Again in 1963. She also guest starred on Bellbird
, Hey You and Homicide between 1967–69, appearing on the latter series several times.
In 1970, she married her childhood sweetheart
musician Greg Anderson
. Keane also began to have a more active career during the 1970s with roles on The Rovers
(1970), Number 96
(1972) and several appearances on Division 4
and Matlock Police
.
She played the regular role of dancer Barbie Gray in serial The Box
from February 1974 until early 1975. She had a minor role in the television movie The Hotline
(1974) as well as one-time appearances on King's Men (1976) and The Outsiders
(1976).
She began to cut back on acting in order to concentrate on her career as a producer and acting teacher. In 1975, with her husband Greg Anderson
, she opened "Gala Productions" and the "Lynda Keane Talent School" a year later. Her success with the school would also lead to the Keane Kids Management, the Keane Kids Studio and the Lynda Keane Studios. In November 1979, she traveled to New York with a group of her students, whose ages ranged between 8 to 16 years old, where they performed songs, dancing and acting performances to raise money for refugees. Keane, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, hoped to raise as much as $50,000. That same year, Keane was cast as Denise "Blossom" Crabtree
in the cult soap opera Prisoner
. Her character was introduced as the mistress
of Fred Ferguson, estranged husband of prison inmate Monica Ferguson
. This was followed by a guest role in Neighbours
in 1985,.
Keane did not make an acting appearance for 15 years. During this time she and her partner Anderson helped train many child actors of the 1980s and 90s through their talent school. In 1997, she returned to acting with minor roles in the drama film The Castle
and the police drama Blue Heelers
. From 2000 to 2005, she also made television guest appearances on Stingers
, The Secret Life of Us
, Short Cuts
and MDA
.
Bellbird (TV series)
Bellbird was an Australian soap opera set in a small Victorian rural township. The series was produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation at its Ripponlea TV studios in Elsternwick, Melbourne, Victoria. The series was produced between 28 August 1967 and December 1977...
, Homicide, Number 96, The Box
The Box (TV series)
The Box was an Australian soap opera than ran on Network Ten from February 1974 until 1977.The Box was produced by Crawford Productions who at the time was having great success producing police procedural television series in Australia...
, and 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 is the founder Lynda Keane Talent School with her husband Greg Anderson
Greg Anderson
Greg Anderson may refer to:*Cadillac Anderson , Gregory Wayne "Cadillac" Anderson, basketball player*Greg Anderson , Canadian actor*Greg Anderson , NHRA pro stock drag racer...
as well as the affiliated Keane Kids Management, Keane Kids Studio and Lynda Keane Studios. Among its students have included Brooke Mikey Anderson
Brooke Mikey Anderson
Brooke Paige "Mikey" Anderson is an Australian actress, who has acted in two episodes of the series Lost....
, Brett Blewitt
Brett Blewitt
Brett Blewitt, is an Australian actor who played Brett Stark on the Australian soap opera Neighbours from 1993 to 1996...
, Brett Climo
Brett Climo
Brett Climo is an Australian actor.His television credits include: Sons and Daughters, A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors, The Man from Snowy River, Pacific Drive, Murder Call, Water Rats, Blue Heelers, Stingers, All Saints and The Elephant Princess.-External links:...
, Alyssa Jane Cook, Jamie Croft
Jamie Croft
Jamie Croft is an Australian actor.Croft began his career in the television soap opera A Country Practice. Subsequent credits include: Police Rescue, Water Rats, Above the Law, Sun on the Stubble and Farscape.He has also appeared in many movies and mini-series including, That Eye, The Sky, Mighty...
, Bree Desborough
Bree Desborough
Bree Desborough is an Australian actress. She is best known for her role as Justine Welles in the soap opera Home and Away.-Career:...
, Gavin Harrison
Gavin Harrison
Gavin Harrison is a British drummer and percussionist. He is best known for playing with the British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree which he joined in 2002. As of 2008, he also plays with the band King Crimson....
, Matthew Krok
Matthew Krok
Matthew Krok is a former Australian child actor best known for playing the role of schoolboy Arthur McArthur on the Australian sitcom Hey Dad...! from 1991 to 1994...
, Toni Pearen
Toni Pearen
Toni Pearen is an Australian actress, singer, songwriter and TV presenter born in Cronulla, Sydney on 5 June 1972. She initially became recognisable through her role on soap opera E Street from 1989 until 1992. She had a pop music career in the early 1990s which included the release of an album and...
, Charlie Robinson
Charlie Robinson
Charles Henry Robinson was a Major League Baseball catcher during the 1884 & 1885 seasons.-External links:*...
, Ben Unwin
Ben Unwin
Ben Unwin is an Australian actor. He is best known for portraying the character Jesse McGregor on the Australian soap opera Home and Away from 1996 to 2000 and 2002 to 2005....
, Kym Valentine
Kym Valentine
Kym Valentine is a Maltese Australian actress best known for her portrayal of Libby Kennedy in the soap opera Neighbours.-Early and personal life:...
, Nikki Webster
Nikki Webster
Nikki Webster is an Australian pop performer. She is best known for her starring role in the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony and her single "Strawberry Kisses".-Recording career:...
, Kristy Wright
Kristy Wright
Kristy Wright is an Australian actress.Wright was born in Sydney, Australia, the oldest child in her family, with three stepbrothers and two half-sisters. Hoping to win a contest for acting lessons, she sent in her photograph and ended up with a full year's paid tuition...
, Dominic, Sebastian Elmaloglue
Sebastian Elmaloglou
Sebastian Elmaloglou is an Australian stage, film and television actor best known for portraying the role of Max Sutherland on the long-running Australian soap opera Home and Away from 2002 to 2004.-Background:...
and Rebekah Elmaloglou
Rebekah Elmaloglou
Rebekah Elmaloglou is an Australian actress who is best known for portraying the role of Sophie Simpson on the long-running Australian soap opera Home and Away from 1989 to 1993 and again on a recurring basis from 2002 to 2005...
.
Career
Lynda Keane began her career as a child actorChild actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
in London, performing professionally since she was 15 months old, before her family emigrated to Australia when she was ten. Her parents, at that time, owned and operated one of London's leading talent
schools. She continued her career there starring in the 1960 children's series The Adventures of the Terrible Ten and its sequel The Ten Again in 1963. She also guest starred on Bellbird
Bellbird (TV series)
Bellbird was an Australian soap opera set in a small Victorian rural township. The series was produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation at its Ripponlea TV studios in Elsternwick, Melbourne, Victoria. The series was produced between 28 August 1967 and December 1977...
, Hey You and Homicide between 1967–69, appearing on the latter series several times.
In 1970, she married her childhood sweetheart
Childhood sweetheart
Childhood sweetheart is a reciprocating phrase for a relationship between young persons, traditionally of the opposite sex occurring in their formative years...
musician Greg Anderson
Greg Anderson
Greg Anderson may refer to:*Cadillac Anderson , Gregory Wayne "Cadillac" Anderson, basketball player*Greg Anderson , Canadian actor*Greg Anderson , NHRA pro stock drag racer...
. Keane also began to have a more active career during the 1970s with roles on The Rovers
The Rovers (TV series)
The Rovers was an Australian ocean-based family adventure television show originally screened 1969 - 1970 on the 0-Ten network.Produced by NLT Productions, the series starred Rowena Wallace, Edward Hepple, Noel Trevarthen and Grant Seiden....
(1970), 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...
(1972) and several appearances on Division 4
Division 4
Division 4 was an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the Nine Network between 1969 and 1975 for 300 episodes....
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 played the regular role of dancer Barbie Gray in serial The Box
The Box (TV series)
The Box was an Australian soap opera than ran on Network Ten from February 1974 until 1977.The Box was produced by Crawford Productions who at the time was having great success producing police procedural television series in Australia...
from February 1974 until early 1975. She had a minor role in the television movie The Hotline
The Hotline
The Hotline is a daily political briefing published by the Atlantic Media Company from its headquarters at The Watergate complex in Washington, DC. It is edited by Reid Wilson with Josh Kraushaar...
(1974) as well as one-time appearances on King's Men (1976) and The Outsiders
The Outsiders (TV series)
The Outsiders is an American drama series that aired in 1990 on Fox. Based on the characters from the 1967 novel of the same title by S. E. Hinton, the series was executive produced by the 1983 film's director Francis Ford Coppola.-Synopsis:...
(1976).
She began to cut back on acting in order to concentrate on her career as a producer and acting teacher. In 1975, with her husband Greg Anderson
Greg Anderson
Greg Anderson may refer to:*Cadillac Anderson , Gregory Wayne "Cadillac" Anderson, basketball player*Greg Anderson , Canadian actor*Greg Anderson , NHRA pro stock drag racer...
, she opened "Gala Productions" and the "Lynda Keane Talent School" a year later. Her success with the school would also lead to the Keane Kids Management, the Keane Kids Studio and the Lynda Keane Studios. In November 1979, she traveled to New York with a group of her students, whose ages ranged between 8 to 16 years old, where they performed songs, dancing and acting performances to raise money for refugees. Keane, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, hoped to raise as much as $50,000. That same year, Keane was cast as Denise "Blossom" Crabtree
Prisoner characters - Inmates
A list of all inmates of Wentworth Detention Centre in the television series Prisoner.Note that episode numbers cited are for first and last appearances; many characters had spells where they were absent and subsequently returned....
in the cult soap opera 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...
. Her character was introduced as the mistress
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
of Fred Ferguson, estranged husband of prison inmate Monica Ferguson
Prisoner characters - Inmates
A list of all inmates of Wentworth Detention Centre in the television series Prisoner.Note that episode numbers cited are for first and last appearances; many characters had spells where they were absent and subsequently returned....
. This was followed by a guest role in Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
in 1985,.
Keane did not make an acting appearance for 15 years. During this time she and her partner Anderson helped train many child actors of the 1980s and 90s through their talent school. In 1997, she returned to acting with minor roles in the drama film The Castle
The Castle (film)
The Castle is a 1997 Australian comedy film directed by Rob Sitch. It starred Michael Caton, Anne Tenney, Stephen Curry, Sophie Lee, Eric Bana and Charles 'Bud' Tingwell. The screenwriting team comprised Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Jane Kennedy of Working Dog Productions.The Castle was...
and the police drama Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :...
. From 2000 to 2005, she also made television guest appearances on Stingers
Stingers
Stingers was an Australian police drama television series. It ran for eight seasons on the Nine Network before it was canceled in late 2004 due to declining ratings and the late timeslot Channel Nine gave the program...
, The Secret Life of Us
The Secret Life of Us
The Secret Life of Us was a television drama series set in the beachside suburb of St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. The series was produced by Southern Star Entertainment and screened in Australia from 2001 to 2005 on Network Ten and on Channel 4 in the UK...
, Short Cuts
Short Cuts (TV series)
Short Cuts was an Australian children's television series that first screened on the Seven Network in 2001. The 26-episode series was aimed at teenagers. It was financed by the Australian Film Finance Corporation and Burberry Productions...
and MDA
MDA (TV series)
MDA is an Australian television series that aired between 2002 and 2005 on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation . It concerned the day-to-day operation of legal firm MDA, which specialised in medical defence.-Synopsis:...
.