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Rowena Wallace (born 23 August 1947) is an English-born Australian stage and screen actress, most especially in the genre of television soap opera. She is best known for her Gold Logie-winning role as conniving Patricia "Pat the Rat" Hamilton/Morrell/Palmer in Sons and Daughters, being the first soap star to win the Gold Logie. After leaving the series and being replaced in the role by Belinda Giblin, Wallace returned in the final season as Patricia's sister Pamela Hudson.
She started her career on the small screen in the late 1960s in serial You Can't See 'Round Corners as well as appearing in that serial's film version and then had regular roles in TV series including Crawford Productions Division 4, Number 96 and Cop Shop and in 1980–1981 became well known for her stint as Anne Griffin in cult series Prisoner.
After Sons and Daughters, she subsequently appeared primarily in guest roles and cameos in numerous TV serials, before again returning to more permanent fixtures in regular roles from 2000 to 2003 in Home and Away as June Reynolds, in Neighbours in 2007 as Mary Casey and in Deadly Women as gangland figure Judy Moran in 2012.
She has appeared as herself as a panellist on talk show Beauty and the Beast and featured regularly on Bert Newton's popular morning breakfast show Good Morning Australia.
At age fifteen, having left school and attended a business college at the insistence of her parents, Wallace decided to become an actress. She joined an advertising agency while still performing in the theatre at night.
While she was working in Brisbane, Barry Creyton persuaded the producers of a new series to fly Wallace down to Sydney to audition for the lead role in their show. As a result Wallace won the role of Margie Harris in You Can't See 'Round Corners in 1967 and moved to Sydney. She would also feature in the 1969 film version.
After completing Round Corners, she went on to star as the juvenile lead in a short-run TV series called The Rovers; meanwhile, she also starred in the hit comedy stage production between takes of The Rovers with John McCallum and Googie Withers. The show, Relatively Speaking, played to packed audiences in Melbourne.
On 12 February 1970, the film Squeeze a Flower had its world premiere in Sydney. Wallace starred in the movie as the female lead, opposite international Italian film star Walter Chiari. By 1972, she had found work intermittently. In 1973 she married George Assang, some 20 years her senior, a Thursday Island-born jazz singer and actor known professionally as Vic Sabrino. The marriage lasted just over a year, and Wallace has had no long-term relationships since then.
"The Rovers" was a production that soon led to the Number 96 smash hit TV series.
Produced by NLT Productions, executive producer was Bill Harmon and producer Don Cash, who would become famous for creating Number 96. The series was created by Roger Mirams and starred Rowena Wallace, Edward Hepple, Noel Trevarthen and child actor Grant Seiden.
The storylines revolve around the adventures of the crew of the Pacific Lady, an island schooner owned by Captain Sam McGill (or 'Cap' for short), played by Hepple, Bob Wild (a freelance photographer) played by Trevarthen and Rusty Collins, a wildlife journalist (played by Wallace).
In 1984 Wallace won a Gold Logie for the portrayal during an era when Gold Logies were usually won by major television personalities and hosts but not actors. She was the first woman soap actress to win the award since it was opened up to Most Popular Australian Personality. She was not the first female to win the Gold Logie, that honour going to Australian actress Lorrae Desmond. Wallace also received four Logie Awards.
Wallace left Sons and Daughters after three years, with her final scenes going to air early in 1985 just after her Gold Logie win. Wallace claimed in a reunion documentary that she left due to exhaustion from playing such an intense character. She also claimed she regretted walking away from the role as she did not get the later acting offers she had anticipated. The popularity of her character led to it being recast, with Belinda Giblin assuming the role of a returning Patricia after extensive cosmetic surgery had altered her facial features. Late in the show's run, with ratings in decline, Wallace was returned to the series in an attempt to boost the show's popularity. With Giblin remaining in the show, Wallace now played a new character, that of Patricia's long-lost identical twin sister Pamela. Her return lasted ten weeks but did little to halt the show's dwindling ratings, and the show was cancelled shortly afterwards.
In 2007 Wallace joined the cast of Neighbours for several months. She played Mary Casey, an unstable woman who ended up in prison for the false imprisonment of Pepper Steiger. Mary's cellmate turned out to be Sky Mangel.
In September 2016 Wallace had a cameo in Wonthaggi Theatrical Group's production of Little Shop of Horrors as the narrator.
At the age of nineteen, Wallace was diagnosed with scoliosis. She has required painkillers almost continuously since then.
Between July 1999 and November 2003, Wallace was collecting a disability support pension, despite being actively employed by television series such as Water Rats, Beauty and the Beast and Good Morning Australia. In October 2005, she was charged with social security fraud, and given a suspended sentence of six months' imprisonment.
In August 2010, Wallace was the subject of a Today Tonight special feature on the Seven Network, where she was reportedly nearly broke and on the verge of becoming homeless. The following week, a number of offers to take her in were made by Australians around the country.
In March 2011, she was the subject of more media coverage, this time because the unit she occupied at subsidised rent in Wonthaggi, Victoria was due for demolition in August 2011 and she feared she would have nowhere to live. The rent in Wonthaggi had doubled or even tripled due to the Victorian Desalination Plant being constructed nearby, but her pension would not even cover her rent.
Number 96 and Prisoner
In the late 1970s she appeared frequently on Australian television, with an ongoing role in the soap opera Number 96 in 1975–1976, followed by a regular role in the police drama Cop Shop, playing policeman's wife Pamela Taylor. After leaving that series she played a mentally unbalanced remand prisoner named Anne Griffin in Prisoner for several weeks in late 1980.
Sons and Daughters
Rowena Wallace's most famous role was in the soap opera Sons and Daughters, in which she played Patricia Dunne/Hamilton/Morrell/Palmer, starting in 1981. Nicknamed "Pat the Rat", the character became an immensely popular 'bitch' figure in the series; it was the series' most famous character.
Home and Away and Neighbours
Between years 2000 and 2003 Wallace appeared in the weeknight soap opera Home and Away as June Reynolds.
Other roles
In 2012 Wallace starred as Melbourne gangland matriarch Judy Moran in the Foxtel series Deadly Women
Personal life
Wallace was briefly married to George Assang from 1973 to 1974.
Filmography
Film
1969 You Can't See 'round Corners Margie Harris Feature film 1970 Squeeze a Flower June Phillips Feature film 1976 A Break In The Music Unknown Film short 1981 Puberty Blues Mrs. Knight Feature film 1982 Liz Llewellyn Feature film 1985 Relatives Nancy Peterson Feature film 1986 Backstage Evelyn Hough Feature film 1987 Strike of the Panther Lucy Andrews Feature film 1989 Cappuccino Anna Feature film 1995 Blackwater Trail Beth Feature film 1998 Desire Unknown Film short (Tropfest) 2012 Ryder Country Rebecca Ryder Feature film 2019 Magdala Rose Lady Corba de Péreille Feature film
Television
1964 Theatre Royal Regular role: Self TV series 1964 Beauty and the Beast Self – Panelist TV series 1967–1968 You Can't See 'Round Corners Regular role: Margie Harris TV series, 26 episodes 1968 Contrabandits Guest role: Carole TV series, 1 episode: "A Game for Two Players" 1968 Hunter Guest role: Sue TV series, 1 Episode: "Sue" 1969 Riptide Guest role: Cathy Smith TV series, episode 3: "Affair at Mangrove Creek" 1969 Riptide Guest role: Xena TV series, episode 21: "Good Friday Island" 1969–1970 Regular role: Rusty Collins TV series, 39 episodes 1970–1971 Dynasty Guest roles: Betty Westlake / Jill Campbell TV series, episode 4: "Young Jim Westlake", "Corrida for A Stuntman" 1970–1971 Barrier Reef Regular role: Tracey Deane TV series, 22 episodes 1971 Spike Milligan Self TV special 1971 What for Marianne? TV film 1971 Spyforce Guest role: Patricia "Trish" Mathews TV series, episode 24: "The Lovers" 1971; 1973 Matlock Police Guest roles: Sally Broughton / Kate White / Susan Stone TV series, 3 episodes: "Olsen's Ghost", "Cup Fever", "Jeff's Missing" 1971–1974; 1975 Division 4 Guest roles: Andrea Hayes / Betty Miller / Brenda Kelly / Ann Marshall / WPC Diane Webster / WPC Jane Bell TV series, 15 episodes 1971 Vision Escalator TV film 1972 Boney Guest role: Kat Loader TV series, episode 3: "Boney Meets The Daybreak Killer" 1972–1973 Homicide Guest roles: WPC Primrose Taylor / Ruth Morgan TV series, 2 episodes: "I Love You Primrose Taylor", "Follow The Leader" 1973 A Brace and a Bit TV pilot 1973 And Millions Will Die! Maggi Christopher TV film 1973–1974 Ryan Guest roles: Kate / Sue Ogilvie / Zita / Holly Beckett TV series, 4 episodes: "King's Bishop to Queen Three"; "Miss. Ogilvie Repents"; "Red Alert"; "Goodbye Holly Beckett" 1974 Guest role: Jean Lewis TV series, episode 20: "Kadaitcha Country" 1974 Silent Number Guest role: Sylvia Marsh TV series, episode 8: "Dark Corridors" 1974 Out of Love Guerst role: Julia Martin TV series, episode 1: "I Don't Want To Know" 1975 Shannon's Mob Guest role: Estelle TV series, episode 9: "Loser Takes All" 1975 Prophet in Love TV film 1975–1976 Number 96 Recurring role: Muriel Thompson TV series, 18 episodes 1976 McCloud Guest role: Jennifer McGee TV series, season 6, episode 7: "Night Of The Shark" 1976 Power Without Glory Recurring role: Harriet Marshall TV miniseries, 11 episodes 1976 Murcheson Creek Karen Fields TV film 1976 Taggart's Treasure TV film 1976 Bobby Dazzler Guest role: Ruth Rierdon TV series, episode 14: "The New Guard" 1977 Bluey Guest role: Jean Anderson TV series, episode 26: "The Changeling" 1977 Moynihan Guest role TV series, 1 episode 1977 Going Home Jacqueline Newton TV film 1977–1979 Cop Shop Regular role: Pamela Taylor TV series, 158 episodes 1977 Glenview High Guest role: Pam Wilson TV series, episode 10: "Quiet Nights and Silent Deaths" 1978 Catspaw Regular role: Kate Keppel TV series, 7 episodes 1979 Burn the Butterflies Dr. Trish Morrison Teleplay / TV film 1979 Ray Lawler Trilogy Self – Presenter Teleplay series, 3 episodes 1980 Water Under the Bridge Regular role: Honor Mazzini TV miniseries, 4 episodes 1980 Skyways Guest role: Ann Wallace TV series, episode 148: "Spaces" 1980–1981 Prisoner Recurring role: Anne Griffin TV series, 8 episodes 1981 Holiday Island Guest role: Marjorie Quinn TV series, 2 episodes: "Zack", "Island Queen" 1981 Outbreak of Love Diana Von Flugel TV miniseries 1981 (aka The Mesmerist) Regular role: Linda TV miniseries, 5 episodes screened in 1983 1982–1985 Sons and Daughters Regular role: Patricia Hamilton / Patricia Morrell / Patricia Palmer TV series, 480 episodes 1985 Glass Babies Dr Gloria McCrae TV miniseries, 2 episodes 1987 Sons and Daughters Recurring role: Pamela Hudson TV series, 40 episodes 1988 Tender Loving Care TV pilot, never aired 1988 All the Way Elaine Seymour TV miniseries, 3 episodes 1988–1989 All the Way Regular role: Elaine Seymour TV series, 26 episodes 1989 Guest role: Major Natalia Zorbuskaya TV series, episode 8: "The Pawn" 1989 G.P. Guest role: TV series, 1 episode 1990 Flair Pamela Winter-Smith TV miniseries; 2 episodes 1990 The Queen TV film series, 1 episode 1992 Recurring Guest role: Paulina Giglia TV series, season 9, episode 27: "Wimp" 1992 Guest role: Justice Patricia Lincoln TV series, season 12, episode 71: "Nothing But the Truth: Part 1" 1995 G.P. Guestrole: Elizabeth Armstrong TV series, episode 24: "Private Faces, Public Places" 1995 Echo Point Recurring role: Elizabeth O'Connor TV series, 5 episodes 1996 Shark Bay Regular role: Clarissa Delaney TV series 1997–1998 Pacific Drive Recurring role: Mara de Villenois / Mara Devlin TV series 2000 All Saints Guest role: Katrina Ford TV series, season 3, episode 4: "Eye Of The Beholder" 2000 Pizza Guest role: Anne Griffin TV series, episode 9: "Gambling Pizza" 2000 Water Rats Guest role: Dolly Munro TV series, season 5, episode 30: "Remember This" 2000–2003 Home and Away Recurring role: June Reynolds TV series, 20 episodes 2001 (aka Trackdown) Irene Davidson TV film 2003 Code 11-14 Mrs. Shaw TV film 2007 Neighbours Recurring role: Mary Casey TV series, 14 episodes 2012 Deadly Women Judy Moran TV series 2012 Micro Nation Tottie Nesbit TV series, episode: "Meet Pullamawang"
Television (as self)
1984 On the Edge of Survival Presenter TV special 1984 Russian Spectacular With Torvill And Dean Host TV special 1985 Return to Children in Crisis Presenter TV special 1986 A Chance to Live Presenter TV special 1987 Fight for Survival Presenter TV special 1989 Save the Children Presenter TV special 1990 Some of My Children Presenter TV special 1991 Cry Children Presenter TV special
Theatre
Source:
La Boite Phillip Street Theatre, Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Canberra Theatre, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Theatre Royal, Hobart Independent Theatre UNSW Studio One Regal Theatre, Perth Regal Theatre, Perth, Opera Theatre, Adelaide, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Canberra Theatre Centre Playhouse Theatre, Perth Glen Street Theatre, Laycock Street Theatre, Twelfth Night Theatre, Gold Coast Arts Centre Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Twelfth Night Theatre, Gold Coast Arts Centre, Laycock Street Theatre, Sydney Opera House Australian national tour Glen Street Theatre, Playhouse Theatre, Perth Glen Street Theatre Riverside Theatres Parramatta Twelfth Night Theatre Burswood Dome, Festival Theatre, Adelaide Darlinghurst Theatre State Theatre, Melbourne Brisbane City Hall, Twin Towns Services Club Wonthaggi Theatrical Group Sydney Lyric Theatre (cancelled due to COVID)
Awards
1983 Logie Awards Silver Logie for Most Popular Lead Actress Sons and Daughters 1984 Logie Awards Gold Logie Sons and Daughters 1984 Logie Awards Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress Sons and Daughters 1984 Logie Awards Silver Logie for Best Actress in a Series Sons and Daughters 1985 Logie Awards Silver Logie for Best Lead Actress in a Series Sons and Daughters
External links
Categories: 1947 Births, Living People, Actresses From Brisbane, Actresses From Coventry, English Emigrants To Australia, Australian Film Actresses, Australian Stage Actresses, Gold Logie Winners, Australian Actors With Disabilities, Australian Soap Opera Actresses, Naturalised Citizens Of Australia
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