Anne Charleston

 ( Actresses From Melbourne ) 

Anne Charleston (born 30 December 1942) is an Australian-born actress prominent in television, radio and theatre, notable for her career locally and in both England and Ireland.

Charleston is best known for her her television roles in the soap opera Neighbours, joining the cast in 1986, as matriarch Madge Bishop (1986-1992, 1996-2001, 2015, 2022), alongside co-star Ian Smith who played her husband Harold Bishop and later Tom Oliver as Lou Carpenter, (She returned to the series briefly in 2025, however playing a different character of Agnes Adair).

She subsequently was based in the United Kingdom in the British soap opera Emmerdale playing Lily Butterfield from 2006 until 2009. She has also featured in numerous British theatre roles and pantomimes.

Charleston became known for her work in the cult following series Prisoner, in which she played three different characters between 1979 and 1984.

Anne had begun her career on stage in the mid-1950s, before moving into small screen roles in the early 1960s, appearing in various telemovies and serials including several guest roles in various Crawford Production drama's.

She had recurring roles in many early local soap opera's including the ABC rural series Bellbird, Class of 74 and briefly Number 96

The role was intended to be a long term character in Prisoner; however, in 1985, Grundys cast her in a leading regular role in new soap opera Possession, but the series was cancelled by the nine network later that same year due to lower than desired ratings.

She also appeared in J C Williamson's Woman in a Dressing Gown starring Googie Withers, Juggler's Three for the Melbourne Theatre Company Workshop, and The Secretary Bird starring Patrick Macnee. Other theatre includes Busybody, Port Wine, Night of the Ding Dong, Burst of Summer, Murder in the Cathedral, The Rivals, The Tower, Everyman, Antigone, The Man of Destiny, Otherwise Engaged and The Shifting Heart.

In 1992, Charleston left the series and emigrated to the Republic of Ireland. Four years later she accepted the offer to return to Neighbours, reprising the role from 1996. In her second stint in the series, Charleston observed that Madge had been transformed from being bold and fiery to a more meek and passive character, a change that led to her ultimate decision to leave the series in 2000, Her final episode was broadcast in Australia during April 2001.

She returned to Neighbours in 2015 alongside co-star Ian Smith to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the serial. Charleston also appeared in a documentary celebrating the anniversary titled , which aired in Australia and the UK in March 2015.

Following the news of Neighbours' cancellation, Charleston reprised her role of Madge, imagined by Susan Kennedy as to how she might look if still alive, in the show's then-final episode, which aired on 28 July 2022.

On 2 December 2024, it was announced that Charleston would be returning to Neighbours in a new role as part of Harold's departure storyline, following Ian Smith's cancer diagnosis. She debuted as Agnes Adair in March 2025 during Neighbours' 40th anniversary week, and was subsequently added to the show's opening credits.

In 2013, Charleston played a role in the Prisoner remake, Wentworth. The role saw her portraying the mother-in-law of prisoner Liz Birdsworth.

After leaving Neighbours for the first time, Charleston lived in Ireland for several years, and returned there after leaving the series again in 2001. With the high levels of popularity enjoyed by Neighbours in the UK, Charleston has now relaunched her career there. She has undertaken theatre and radio work in the UK and Ireland since leaving Neighbours in 2001, and is also a regular performer in pantomime. In 2001, she appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.

Charleston took the role of Dossa in comedy series Dossa and Joe, and then had the regular role of Betty Waddell in the relaunched series of Crossroads in 2003. In 2004 she was a contestant in the second series of the Living TV reality television show, I'm Famous and Frightened!

In 2005, she had cosmetic surgery performed on her neck, live on British television, on the Channel 5 programme Cosmetic Surgery Live. In the same year, she also "regressed into a previous life", as a poor Irish farm girl, when she appeared in the programme Have I Been Here Before?.

In August 2012, Charleston was a contestant on BBC TV's Celebrity Masterchef.

Of her new role, Charleston said: "I am over the moon to be joining one of my favourite soaps. I am delighted to be playing such a fantastic character." Series Producer Kathleen Beedles added: "We are thrilled to confirm that Anne will be playing the character of Lily. Viewers can expect to see sparks fly when Edna and Lily are reunited and we are looking forward to welcoming Anne on-set." Charleson's first taping day was on Monday 25 September 2006, and she first appeared on screen on Friday 3 November 2006. She appeared in only three episodes. The character returned in October 2007 for a four-month run, and returned again in 2008 on a regular contract. Charleston quit in April 2009 and the character was subsequently written out of the serial and made her last appearance on 3 August 2009.

Anne starred in Aladdin at Belfast Grand Opera House in 1995–1996 with Rod Hull and Emu.

In January 2010, it was announced that Charleston would be joining the touring production of Calendar Girls as Jessie (Miss January).

In July 2012, it was revealed that Charleston would appear alongside Mischa Barton in an Irish stage production of Steel Magnolias, playing Ouiser Boudreaux in the production. It was due to premiere at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin in September, and be followed by a nationwide tour. OC's Mischa 'Steels' the show Irish Herald. 11 July 2012 Mischa Barton live on Moncrieff tomorrow Newstalk. 11 July 2012

In 2012, Charleston toured the UK in a production of The Cemetery Club alongside Anita Harris, Shirley Anne Field and Peter Ellis.

The 2014–15 pantomime season saw Anne playing the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at the Redditch Palace Theatre.