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Cornelia Frances
Cornelia Frances (cropped).jpg
Frances at the 2011 Logie Awards
Born
Cornelia Frances Zulver

(1941-04-07)7 April 1941
Liverpool, England
Died 28 May 2018(2018-05-28) (aged 77)
Other names Corney Frances (nickname)
Occupation Actress
Years active 1959–2017
Notable work
Morag Bellingham on Home and Away
Sister/Matron Grace Scott on The Young Doctors
Barbara Hamilton on Sons and Daughters
The Weakest Link as host
Spouse(s) Michael Eastland (1969–?; divorced)
Children 1

Cornelia Frances Zulver, OAM (7 April 1941 – 28 May 2018), credited professionally as Cornelia Frances, was an English-Australian actress. After starting her career in small cameos in films in her native England, she became best known for her acting career in Australia after emigrating there in the 1960s, particularly her iconic television soap opera roles with portrayals of nasty characters.

Frances was of the latter known for her role as Morag Bellingham on Home and Away since its inception in 1988, after leaving that series, she appeared on a semi-regular basis as the storyline permitted, rejoining briefly as a permanent cast member in 2001, before going back to an itinerant basis.

Frances was also known for playing nurse Sister/Matron Grace Scott on the Nine Network series The Young Doctors (1976–1978), and Barbara Hamilton on Sons and Daughters on Network Seven (1982–1986). She appeared in the film version of regular series TV soap The Box. She also worked on stage and in voice-over. In the early 2000s, she was the host of the Australian version of quiz show The Weakest Link.

Early life and career

Born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, Frances was educated at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Her early work was in British-made feature films as an extra and bit-part player. This included uncredited bit parts in two films directed by her uncle Michael Powell: Peeping Tom (1960), and The Queen's Guards (1961). She also had a small speaking role in Herbert Ross' film adaptation of Goodbye, Mr. Chips and appeared in various theatre productions, like The Trials of Oscar Wilde.

Career in Australia

Frances' acting career flourished after she had emigrated to Australia in the 1960s. She worked at the Playhouse Theatre in Perth appearing in Henry IV Parts I and 2, (1967) directed by Edgar Metcalfe; and Mary Mary which toured regional Western Australia and played a season at the Playhouse. She appeared nightly on television as the host of Channel 9's Tom's TV Bingo; Tom's was a supermarket in Perth. After taking a lead role in The Box, the 1975 film adaptation of the comedy soap opera of the same name, and the role of Mrs Quinn in The Lost Islands in 1976, she became known across Australia for her long-running role of the strict and acidic Sister Grace Scott in daily soap opera The Young Doctors. After leaving that series to move to Melbourne with her husband who had been transferred there, she worked as a television reporter on "light" stories for Peter Couchman's Melbourne, a current affairs program hosted by Peter Couchman.

In April 1980, Frances made a guest appearance as lawyer Carmel Saunders on Prisoner. Later she acted in guest-starring television roles, before taking another well-remembered role, that of Barbara Armstrong (later Hamilton) in Sons and Daughters, a role she played from 1982 until 1986.

On 7 June 1988, Frances made her first appearance on Home and Away as Morag Bellingham, a judge and sister of Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher), whom she always clashed with, as well as the sister of Celia Stewart (Fiona Spence) and half-sister of, (much to her dislike) of Colleen Smart (Lyn Collingwood), both of whom she always also shared comic banter with. Frances played the recurring role of Morag for twenty-nine years. She expressed a desire to play Morag full-time on the show, and admitted that she did not like the coming-and-going as it was "very unsettling."

From 1997 to 1998, Frances provided the voice of Tortoise on the Australian/Chinese children's series Magic Mountain. She also hosted the Australian version of quiz show The Weakest Link (2001–2002). In the early 2000s, Frances worked for a winery in the Hunter Valley when she could not get acting work. Her autobiography And What Have You Done Lately? was published in 2003.

Frances' later career involved voice acting in Milly, Molly and a main role in the Australian stage production of Calendar Girls. Her final television appearance was in a 2017 episode of Home and Away.

On 26 January 2019, Frances was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

Charity work

In 2011, Frances joined the Australian Orangutan Project (AOP) as its first Ambassador in an effort to raise awareness about critically endangered orangutans. Frances travelled to the island of Borneo, Indonesia, on 16 October 2011 to see first-hand the effect of the widespread deforestation of orangutan habitat, and how orangutans are being rehabilitated. In June 2016, Frances made a sizable donation to the National Health Organisation in order to bring awareness to female reproductive health.

Personal life and death

Frances married Michael Eastland in 1969, the marriage later ended in divorce. They had one son together, named Lawrence.

In January 2018, she revealed that she was battling bladder cancer that had spread to her hip, but stated that she was hopeful of reprising her role of Morag in Home and Away for the show's 30th anniversary. However, she succumbed to the cancer, after it had metastasized to her spine, despite having undergone chemotherapy and radiation treatment, and died on 28 May 2018 at the age of 77 at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, coincidentally where the show The Young Doctors was filmed. Paying tribute to Frances, the Seven Network, which airs Home and Away in Australia, said: "Cornelia Frances was a unique person. Her on-screen presence inspired a generation of actors. This gift was coupled with an ability to bring a sense of dignity and presence into each room she entered. Her energy and character will be missed." She was also given tributes from her numerous co-stars including Ray Meagher and Judy Nunn. A private funeral was held later that week.

Filmography

Year Title Role Type
1960 Peeping Tom Girl in sports car leaving studio Feature film, UK
1961 The Queen's Guards Officer's girl friend
(uncredited)
Feature film, UK
1969 Goodbye, Mr. Chips The "Dyke" Feature film, UK
1975 The Box Dr. Sheila M. Winter Feature film
1976 I Can’t Seem To Talk About It Woman Film short
1981 Post Synchronisation unknown role Film short
1988 The Man from Snowy River II Mrs. Darcy Feature film
1989 Minnamurra aka 'Outback', 'Wrangler" Caroline Richards Feature film
2002 Cash Out unknown role Film short
2003 Ned Tina Feature film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1970 Dynasty Georgina Clausen ABC TV series, Season 1 (2 episodes)
1971–72 Catwalk Cornelia Heyson TV series, Season 1 (14 episodes)
1973 Serpent In The Rainbow unknown role TV series
1973 Boney Stella Borredale TV series, Season 2, Episode 3: "Boney and the Stranger"
1973 Ryan Amelia TV series, Season 1, Episode 16: "Nobody's Perfect"
1974 Matlock Police Catherine Upton TV series, Season 4: "Everybody Else Has Everything"
1974 Homicide Veronica Coates TV series, Season 11, Episode 5: "Just Good Friends"
1974 Division 4 Angela Ward TV series, Season 6, Episode 12: "For My Next Trick"
1974 Silent Number Ivy TV series, Season 1, Episode 15: "Contingency Plan"
1974 Essington Unknown Role ABC TV film
1974 Behind The Legend unknown role ABC TV series, 1 episode
1974 This Love Affair unknown role ABC TV series, 1 episode
1975 Division 4 Sandra Fleming TV series, Season 7, Episode 1: "A Man of Substance"
1975 Matlock Police Barbara Anderson TV series, Season 5: "United We Stand"
1975 Homicide Julie Kurnow TV series, Season 12: "Rampage"
1975 Two-Way Mirror Liz Hardy TV pilot
1975 The Last Rites Unknown role TV film
1975–1976 Homicide Nancy Lofthouse / Julie Kurnow / Veronica Coates TV series, Season 12/Season 13 (3 episodes)
1976 King's Men Unknown role TV series, Season 1, Episode 3: "The Butcher"
1976 The Lost Islands Elizabeth Quinn TV miniseries, Season 1 (26 episodes)
1976 Murcheson Creek Unknown role TV film
1976 The Outsiders Mrs. Foster TV series, Season 1, Episode 11: "Opal Strike"
1976–1979 The Young Doctors Sister Scott / Grace Scott / Matron Scott TV series, Regular role 3 years, 260 episodes
1977;1978 Graham Kennedy's Blankety Blanks Herself - Panellist TV series, 6 episodes
1977 All at Sea Miss Swallow TV film
1978 Tickled Pink Joan Jefferson ABC TV series, Season 1, Episode 1: "Neutral Ground"
1978-1981 Cop Shop Anne Carter / Ruth Coleman/ Louise Doyle TV series, 5 episodes
1979 Peter Couchman’s Melbourne Herself TV series, 1 episode
1979;1980 Skyways Wendy Kirk TV series, 1 episode: "Responsibility"
1980 Prisoner Carmel Saunders TV series, Season 2 (4 episodes)
1980 Skyways Susan Winters TV series "Track Down/Airborn"
1980–1982 Kingswood Country Dr. Hemmingway TV series, Season 1–3 (3 episodes)
1980 Secret Valley unknown role ABC TV series, 1 episode
1981 Outbreak of Love unknown role ABC TV miniseries, 1 episode
1981 Punishment Cathy Wells TV series, 1 episode unknown
1981 Bellamy Aretha TV series, Season 1, Episode 18: "The Bank You Can Trust"
1982–1986 Sons and Daughters Barbara Armstrong (later Hamilton) TV series, Seasons 1–5 (522 episodes)
1982 Runaway Island Agatha McLeod TV film
1983 Outbreak Of Hostilities Miriam TV film
1984 Runaway Island Agatha McLeod TV series, Unknown episode(s)
1987 Have A Go Herself - Guest judge TV series, 3 episodes
1987 Jackal and Hide Madame Zentha TV pilot.
1987 Future Past Mother TV film
1988–2017 Home and Away Morag Bellingham TV series, Season 1 (1988 – recurring)
Season 2 (1989 – regular)
Season 6 (1993 – recurring)
Seasons 14–22 (2001–2009 – recurring)
Seasons 24–26 (2011–2013 – recurring)
Seasons 29–30 (2016–2017 – guest)
1991 Celebrity Family Fued Herself TV series, 1 episode
1991 Celebrity Wheel Of Fortune Herself TV series, 1 episode
1991 Pirates Island Captain Blackheart TV film
1992 The Main Event Herself - Contestant TV series, 1 episode
1992 New Faces Herself - Guest judge TV series, 1 episode
1994;2003 Good Morning Australia Herself & Belinda Giblin TV series, 1 episode
1994;1995 At Home Herself & Belinda Giblin TV series, 1 episode
1994 Midday With Derryn Hinch Herself TV series, 1 episode
1995 At Home Herself TV series, 1 episode
1995 What's Cooking Herself - Celebrity Guest TV series, 1 episode
1995 The Ferals Teacher TV series, Season 2, Episode 7: "School's Out"
1995 G.P. Season 7, Episode 35: "So Like a Woman"
1995 Sale Of The Century: Battle Of The TV Classics Herself - Contestant TV series, 1 episode
1995;2006 A Current Affair Herself with Abigail & Rowena Wallace TV series, 1 episode
1996 40 Years Of TV Stars… Then And Now Herself TV special
1997–98 Magic Mountain Tortoise (voice) Seasons 1–2 (52 episodes)
1997;2000 Beauty And The Beast Herself - Panellist TV series, 4 episodes
1997 Where Are They Now? Herself with Chris King & Tim Page TV series, 1 episode
2000 Beauty And The Beast Herself TV series, 2 episodes
2001-2002 The Weakest Link Herself - Host TV series
2001 This Is Your Life - Judy Nunn Herself with Belinda Giblin & Paula Duncan TV series, 1 episode
2002 The Best Of Aussie Drama Herself TV special
2003 Always Greener Janet Frawley TV series, Season 2 (2 episodes)
2003 Burke’s Backyard Herself - Celebrity gardener TV series, 1 episode
2003 Pizza Welfare SBS TV series, Season 3, Episode 1: "Brand New Pizza"
2003 Whose House Is It Anyway? Herself with Carmen Duncan & Noeline Brown TV series, 1 episode
2003 Good Morning Australia Herself TV series, 1 episode
2003 Mornings With Kerri-Anne Herself TV series, 1 episode
2003 Today Herself TV series, 1 episode
2005;2007 Dancing With The Stars Herself - Audience member TV series, 2 episodes
2006 Good As Gold Herself TV series, 1 episode
2006 Where Are They Now? Herself with Chris King, Judy McBurney & Tim Page TV series, 1 episode
2006;2018 A Current Affair Herself TV series, 1 episode
2008;2009 Telethon Herself TV special
2008–2009 Milly, Molly Aunt Maude (voice) TV series, Seasons 1–2
2010;2011 Today Tonight Herself with Lorraine Bayly, Amanda Muggleton, Anna Lee & Rachel Berger TV series, 1 episode
2011 Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation Herself TV series, 1 episode
2011 Today Tonight Herself - Guest with Sons And Daughters cast TV series, 1 episode
2014 Weekend Today Herself TV series, 1 episode
2015 The Daily Edition Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
2016 The Morning Show Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
2018 A Current Affair Herself TV series, 1 episode

Stage

Year Title Role Location
1986 Agnes of God Mother Miriam
1987 A Lie of the Mind Lorraine Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney
1990 How the Other Half Loves Footbridge Theatre, Sydney
1992 The Heiress Marian Street Theatre, Sydney
1994 Steaming Theatre Royal, Sydney
1995 Caravan
1998 Diving for Pearls Marj Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
2010 Calendar Girls Chair of Yorkshire Women's Institute Lyric Theatre, Brisbane; Theatre Royal, Sydney; Comedy Theatre, Melbourne

See also

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