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Colette Mann (born 17 February 1950) is an Australian actress, singer, TV and radio presenter, choreographer, writer and media personality, who has been in the entertainment industry for over 50 years. She is known for her roles in Prisoner (1979–1984) as Doreen May Anderson Burns, and Neighbours (2012–2022) as Sheila Canning.
In 2001, Mann studied under Mark Rylance at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. In 2023, she studied American accent at Brave Studios under Tyler Coppin.
Mann has appeared in The Flying Doctors, MDA and Blue Heelers. In 1988, she portrayed the role of Edith Fraser in the American television movie Outback Bound, which also starred American actors Donna Mills and John Schneider. From late 1995, she briefly took over the role of Cheryl Stark in the soap opera Neighbours for eight weeks when Caroline Gillmer was taken ill. From February 2012, Mann joined the cast of Neighbours again, this time as regular character Sheila Canning. In February 2022 she permanently left the show.
Mann appeared in 1983 film Kitty and the Bagman with two of her former Prisoner castmates, Val Lehman and Gerard Maguire. She later appeared in 2000 feature film The Dish, alongside Sam Neill and Tom Long.
She has also appeared for numerous Screen Star Events in the UK. In 2023 she appeared at the Screen Star 15 year event alongside Tammy MacIntosh and Jacquie Brennan.
In 2022, Mann revealed that she filmed a cameo alongside Val Lehman and Fiona Spence for the final episode of season 7 of Wentworth. The series at the time had not been formally renewed for its final season, and ultimately the scene did not go to air.
Mann has also been a presenter on numerous TV shows including The Don Lane Show, Hey Hey It's Saturday, What's Cooking, Good Morning Australia and The Circle. She has been a fill-in presenter for Glenn Ridge on talk back radio MTR 1377. In July 2019, she appeared on Jeremy Vine Channel 5.
She has appeared in television commercials for Bare Funerals and National Lottery UK.
In the 1980s, Mann was part of a three-woman troupe called the Mini Busettes with fellow Prisoner actresses Jane Clifton and Betty Bobbitt. They performed for three seasons at Melbourne's Le Joke comedy venue and at many Sydney league clubs.
Mann played the role of Buttercup in Opera Australia production of HMS Pinafore by Gilbert and Sullivan in 2005. She then appeared on stage as Shirley, the battleaxe owner of Broken Hill pub, in Priscilla Queen of the Desert - the Musical in 2010.
In 2023, Mann joined the pantomime in the UK for Beauty and the Beast for its 2023 season.
In 1996, Mann walked the Kokoda Track for A Current Affair, alongside fellow celebrities Dermott Brereton, Grant Kenny, Daryl Braithwaite, Angry Anderson and Kerryn Phelps.
Career
Film and television
In her first high-profile role, Mann appeared in the Network Ten soap opera Prisoner as Doreen Burns, in which she was an original cast member during the first four seasons (1979–1982). Mann resigned from the role in March 1982"Soap Stars Quit" – TV Week, published 20 March 1982, p.03. to pursue other projects and her final episode (episode 304) was broadcast in August 1982. She did however continue to make guest appearances in 1983 and 1984.
Stage
Mann was a member of the original Australian cast of Godspell in 1971. She performed the song "Turn Back, O'Man" in the production.
Author
Mann has written two books, It's a Mann's World (1990) and Give Me a Break (2002). She also writes for New Idea magazine as a feature writer about her family and sons.
Personal life
Mann has two sons, Sam and Charlie. As she began her tenure on Neighbours in 2012, Mann's marriage broke down.
Filmography
Film
Feature film Feature film Feature film Video of short segments Film short Film short Film short
Television
1974 The Champion TV movie 1978 Cop Shop Chris 1 episode 1979–1984 Prisoner Doreen Anderson / Doreen Burns / Doreen Regular (seasons 1 & 4), recurring (seasons 5-6) 1979 The Franky Doyle Story Doreen Anderson TV movie 1981 Prisoner in Concert Doreen Burns TV special 1988 Always Afternoon Doreen Miniseries, 1 episode Outback Bound Edith Fraser TV movie 1991 The Flying Doctors Trisha / Grace 2 episodes 1993 Stark Dixie Miniseries, 3 episodes 1994 Mrs. Carney 4 episodes 1995 The Client Lorraine Episode: "Child's Play" 1995–1996 Neighbours Cheryl Stark 23 episodes 1997 JAG E.R. Nurse Episode: "Ghosts" 1999 Party of Five Nurse Episode: "Fate, Hope and Charity" 2002 History's Mysteries Re-enactor 1 episode 2003 MDA Daphne Lowe Episode: "A Time and a Place" Blue Heelers Denise Pertucci Episode: "Motherhood" 2005 H.M.S. Pinafore Little Buttercup TV special 2010 Sleuth 101 Ann Episode: "Late and Live" 2012–2022 Neighbours Sheila Canning Regular cast, 1101 episodes 2016 Sheila Canning Web series, 2 episodes 2017 Neighbours vs Time Travel Sheila Canning Web series, 3 episodes 2019 Wentworth New Inmate (cameo) Season 7, episode 10 (scene deleted) 2021; 2022 Fisk Mrs Daphne Popovitch / Irma 2 episodes 2024 Lykkeland Bee 8 episodes 2025 Full Story Dr Sutton
Other appearances
1992 The Main Event Contestant 1 episode 1993 What's Cooking Co-host 1995 Sale of the Century: Battle of the TV Classics Contestant 4 episodes 1997 Frontline Herself 1 episode 2006 Temptation Contestant (with Val Lehman) 1 episode 2007–2011 20 to 1 Self 15 episodes 2016 All Star Family Feud Contestant (with Val Lehman) 1 episode
Theatre
As cast
Playbox Theatre, Melbourne Total Theatre, Melbourne Playbox Theatre, Melbourne MTC MTC Bay Street Theatre, Sydney Comedy Theatre, Melbourne Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC Australian tour with Theatre West, STC Arts Centre Melbourne, Glen St Theatre, Sydney, Theatre 3, Canberra, Adelaide Festival Centre with Handspan Theatre Merlyn Theatre, Melbourne with Playbox Adrian Bohm Productions Shakespeare’s Globe, London VIC, ACT & NSW tour with HIT Productions Opera Australia STC with MTC Regent Theatre, Melbourne with Backrow Productions Twelfth Night Theatre, Brisbane Albury Regent Theatre Queensland Theatre with QPAC / Darwin Festival Harlequin Theatre and Cinema, UK Palais Theatre, Melbourne with Victorian Opera
As crew
Merlyn Theatre, Melbourne with Playbox Capers Dinner Theatre, Melbourne Fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne
Awards
External links
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