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Jeanie Drynan

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Jeanie Drynan
Born
Jean Julia Drynan

(1947-05-05) 5 May 1947 (age 79)
EducationEdinburgh College of Speech and Drama
National Institute of Dramatic Art
OccupationActress
Years active1961–present
Known forMuriel's Wedding
Prisoner
SpouseAntony Bowman[1] (m. 1989)
Children1

Jean Julia "Jeanie" Drynan (5 May 1947) is an Australian actress well known for her roles in the television series Class of '74, as Muriel's mother in the 1994 film Muriel's Wedding and as solicitor Angela Jeffries in the cult classic television series Prisoner Cell Block H.

Early life

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Jean Julia Drynan was born in 1947 to parents James Joseph and Muriel Drynan.[2] She grew up in the regional NSW towns of Lithgow and Coffs Harbour. She moved to the UK at the age of 15 with the intention of going to finishing school and instead studied acting at Edinburgh College of Speech and Drama (which was later absorbed into Queen Margaret University) in Scotland. She later trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Australia, graduating with a Diploma of Dramatic Art in 1961.[3][4]

Career

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Drynan started out in guest roles in numerous Australian television series including Hunter, Skippy, Riptide, The Rovers, Division 4, The Link Men, Delta, Matlock Police, Spyforce, Boney, Homicide and Ryan. She also had early roles in 1966 comedy film They’re a Weird Mob, and 1967 television play The Schoolmistress.

She then starred in high school-based soap opera Class of ‘74 as English teacher Mary Dunstan, and 1976 political-themed film Don’s Party (based on the play of the same name by David Williamson) as Kath Henderson. Further guest roles followed in Bluey, The Young Doctors and Chopper Squad, before she secured the part of solicitor, Angela Jeffries in cult classic television drama Prisoner in 1979, endearing her to international viewers.

Further guest roles followed, in series such as Cop Shop, A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors, Rafferty's Rules, The Girl from Tomorrow and G.P. before she landed her best-known role as the ill-fated Betty Heslop, mother of the title character in 1994 hit film Muriel's Wedding, alongside Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths and Bill Hunter.

She starred in numerous other films including the 1999 romantic comedy Paperback Hero (as Suzie, opposite Hugh Jackman), drama film A Kind of Hush (as Beryl) and comedy/drama Soft Fruit (in the lead role of Patsy), before appearing as Vanessa in 6 episodes of comedy series Dossa and Joe (2002) and Leanne in 4 episodes of The Cooks (2003–2005).

Drynan has been nominated three times for Australian Film Institute Awards – Best Supporting Actress in 1977 for Don’s Party,[5] Best Supporting Actress in 1994 for Muriel's Wedding and Best Actress in 1999 for Soft Fruit.[6][7]

Personal life

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Drynan met her husband, director Antony Bowman, in 1979, when she played the part of Maggie in his film Cappuccino. She also appeared in his film Relatives (1985) and Paperback Hero (1999).[8]

In 1990, Drynan moved from Sydney to Los Angeles with Bowman and their daughter, actress Ella Bowman-Gibson, to further Bowman's directing career.[9]

Filmography

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Film

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Title Year Role Type
1966They're a Weird MobBettyFeature film
1967The SchoolmistressTeleplay
19692000 WeeksJacky LewisFeature film
1969Skippy and the IntrudersMargaret 'Meg' CurtisFeature film
1970Single FileFilm documentary short
1973The Black ArrowVoiceAnimated TV movie
1973The Swiss Family RobinsonVoiceAnimated TV movie
1976Don's PartyKath HendersonFeature film
1976Cromwell M.D.TV movie
1976The UnderstudyTV movie
1977The Picture Show ManMrs. DuncanFeature film
1977Hospitals Don't Burn Down!SisterFilm short
1978Money MoversDawn JacksonFeature film
1979Saint ThereseThereseFilm short
1980Touch and GoGinaFeature film
1982Wilde's DomainLizTV movie
1983The Body CorporateJanine FoxTV movie
1984Fantasy ManLiz BaileyFeature film
1985RelativesCatherine TaylorFeature film
1989CappuccinoMaggieFeature film.
Also associate producer[10]
1994Muriel's WeddingBetty HeslopFeature film
1998Paperback HeroSuzieFeature film
1999A Kind of HushBerylFeature film
1999Soft Fruit[11]Patsy HaftFeature film
2002The...Film short
2015Skin DeepAnna DaviesFeature film
2017ZelosLynnFeature film
TBAArrivederciIzzyFeature film
In development

Television

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Year Title Role Type
1965Adventure Unlimited[12]TV series, episode 7: "The Silver Backed Brushes"
1965My Brother JackTV series
1966-1973HomicideSandra O'Brien / Pauline Shearer / Glenys WattsTV series, 3 episodes
1966The Story of Making the Film: They're a Weird Mob"HerselfTV special
1968HunterAnna PolanskiTV series, 1 episode
1968; 1969Skippy the Bush KangarooIris Temple / Dulcie CondonTV series, 2 episodes
1969–1974Division 4Paula Klein / Sally Irving / Cindy Thompson / Lettie Ward / Barbara Bennett / Meg Reagan / Sandra Black / Vivienne Gunnerson / Faith Cameron / Patti ReganTV series, 10 episodes
1968; 1969RiptideVal Wells / Penny WaringTV series, 2 episodes
1969Pastures of the Blue CraneAmaryllis 'Rhyll' MereweatherTV miniseries
1970The RoversAnn FraserTV series, 1 episode
1970The Link MenMarguerita CostelloTV series, 1 episode 10: "The Quiet One"
1970DeltaJennifer McKenzieTV series, 1 episode
1971–1972Matlock PoliceAlice Price / Carol Marsh / Gail MarshTV series, 3 episodes
1972SpyforceKathy ReillyTV series, 1 episode
1972–1973BoneySally Forrest / Isobel MatthewsTV series, 2 episodes
1973RyanTriciaTV series, 1 episode
1973Elephant BoyJane ShorterTV series, 1 episode
1974Class of '74Mary DunstanTV series, 2 episodes
1975Silent NumberDeniseTV series, 1 episode
1976BlueyShirley WatsonTV series, 1 episode: "The Changeling"
1977The Young DoctorsSister Margaret EvansTV series, 15 episodes
1978Cop ShopDimitra Coogan / Vanessa MontgomeryTV series, 4 episodes
1978Chopper SquadDr Georgia BeattieTV series, 13 episodes
1979–1980PrisonerAngela JeffriesTV series, 11 episodes
1981Holiday IslandJulie-Anne TuckerTV series, 1 episode
1982A Country PracticeAudrey MatthewsTV series, 2 episodes
1985WinnersTV series, Season 1, episode 2: "Quest Beyond Time"
1987The Flying DoctorsSal ClearyTV series, 1 episode
1989Rafferty's RulesCarol TaylorTV series, 1 episode
1991The Girl From TomorrowMiss DurkinTV series, 2 episodes
1995G.P.Hannah HardiganTV series, 1 episode
1996A Season in PurgatoryTV miniseries
2002Dossa and JoeVanessaTV miniseries, 6 episodes
2004–2005The CooksLeanne SmithTV series, 4 episodes
2010RakeCarmenTV series, 1 episode

Stage

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As actor

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Year Title Role Notes
The Importance of Being EarnestTheatre Royal Sydney[13]
1961Peer GyntNIDA, Sydney[14]
1963The Playboy of the Western WorldUNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney
1967The SchoolmistressUNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney
1967The School for ScandalUNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney
1967Hedda GablerUNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney
1970The One Day of the YearIndependent Theatre Sydney, Playhouse, Canberra
1971Big Brother DragonIndependent Theatre, Sydney
1971There Is Nothing More Wonderful than a Glorious SunsetIndependent Theatre, Sydney
1973A Voyage Round My FatherElizabethComedy Theatre, Melbourne, UNSW, Sydney with J. C. Williamson's
1977Boeing, BoeingJ. C. Williamson's[15]
1979Makassar Reef Beth FleetwoodNimrod Theatre Company, Sydney
1985Same Time, Next YearDorisPlayhouse, Newcastle with Hunter Valley Theatre Company
1986GullsBelvoir Street Theatre, Sydney with HMQ Productions
1992Men Should WeepIndependent Theatre, Sydney[16]
2010Bedroom Farce[17]DeliaDarlinghurst Theatre, Sydney
2011Nothing PersonalCarlaEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
2012Biddies

As director

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Year Title Role Notes
2014Somewhere…DirectorMeta Theatre, Los Angeles[18]

[19]

Awards and nominations

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Year Work Award Category Result
1977Don’s PartyAustralian Film Institute AwardsBest Actress in a Lead RoleNominated
1994Muriel's WeddingAustralian Film Institute AwardsBest Actress in a Supporting RoleNominated
1999Soft FruitAustralian Film Institute AwardsBest Actress in a Leading RoleNominated
2000Soft Fruit Film Critics Circle of Australia AwardsBest Actor – FemaleNominated

References

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  1. ↑ "Bio". Rossgraysonbell.com. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  2. ↑ Stephanie Bunbury 'A luvvie has the last laugh', Melbourne Age 30 October 1999 'Extra' section p. 3
  3. ↑ Gerald Mayhead 'The making of a star' Melbourne Age 6 March 1968 p. 16
  4. ↑ "All Alumni". National Institute of Dramatic Art.
  5. ↑ "AACTA Awards Winners & Nominees". AACTA.
  6. ↑ "1994 AFI Awards". Australian Television. 30 October 1998. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  7. ↑ "smh.com.au - The Sydney Morning Herald". Newsstore.fairfax.com.au. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  8. ↑ Stephanie Bunbury 'A luvvie has the last laugh', Melbourne The Age 30 October 1999 'Extra' section p. 3
  9. ↑ "Meet Antony J. Bowman: screenwriter and director". voyagela.com. 28 December 2020.
  10. ↑ "Jeanie Drynan Biography ((?)-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  11. ↑ "Urban Cinefile DRYNAN, JEANIE; SOFT FRUIT". Urbancinefile.com.au. 23 June 1999. Archived from the original on 27 February 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  12. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (6 May 2023). "Forgotten Australian TV Series: Adventure Unlimited". FilmInk. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  13. ↑ "Jeanie Drynan". Showcast.
  14. ↑ "Douglas Hall – In Memoriam". NIDA, Sydney. 4 May 2023.
  15. ↑ "Jeanie Drynan". Showcast.
  16. ↑ "Jeanie Drynan". Showcast.
  17. ↑ "Bedroom Farce - theatre interview from". The Blurb. 27 June 2010. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  18. ↑ "Somewhere – newest theater review for Stage Raw – Los Angeles theater review". www.artsbeatla.com.
  19. ↑ "Jeanie Drynan". AusStage.
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