Margaret Christensen (8 January 1921–30 November 2009), also credited as Margaret Caristensen and Peg Christensen, was an Australian radio hostess and character actress, who appeared in numerous television series, primarily in guesting roles.

Christensen was known for her role as Emmie Lawson, starring alongside Queenie Ashton, Gwen Plumb and Ethel Lang in the long-running Gwen Meredith radio series Blue Hills. She was a pioneer woman in radio at a time when the medium was largely dominated by men.

Early life Christensen was born on 8 January 1921 in Adelaide, to Herbert and Nell Christensen. Her siblings were Bertie and Chris. The family relocated to Sydney when she was three, where Christensen began speech and drama classes at the age of six. At the age of 16, she earned a diploma in teaching, with honours in voice production and literature.

When she was 18, Christensen earned a scholarship to study at Trinity College London, but World War II put an end to her plans. Instead, she moved to Brisbane where her brother Chris worked as a radio announcer.

Career Christensen gained radio experience in Brisbane, presenting shows on 4BH for three years. After marrying and starting a family, she relocated to Sydney in 1943, where she initially landed small roles in radio, most notably as Jane Bennet in a serial of Pride and Prejudice, alongside Lyndall Barbour.

She next landed the titular role in radio serial, Josephine, Empress of Sorrows, after which time she appeared in nationally-broadcast Sunday night radio plays and had consistent roles in radio serials, including playing Jessie, Dexter's wife, in 2GB sitcom, Life with Dexter.

She appeared on stage in a 1945 production of They Came to a City, playing the role of waitress, Alice. She also performed at the Mercury Theatre and Independent Theatre. From 1949 to 1954, she played Lois Lane in a radio adaptation of Superman, while presenting commercials and sketches in Calling the Stars and other variety shows.

In 1956, Christensen began working in film, playing the mother of the titular character in Smiley, before reprising the role in the 1958 sequel Smiley Gets a Gun.

Christensen appeared in long-running radio series Blue Hills as Emmie Lawson and played opposite John Gray as Lucienne in The Fiends in 1958. She also worked as 'The Side Saddle DJ' on Sydney radio station, 2UE.

In 1959, Christensen moved to London for seven years, where she worked in radio and stage, including the premiere production of Noël Coward's Sail Away on the West End. While there, her son Sean followed her into acting. Returning to Sydney in 1966, Christensen appeared in stage productions of Funny Girl and Fiddler on the Roof.

In her later years, Christensen worked as a voice-over artist and had guest roles in television shows including Stingers, All Saints and Blue Heelers. She also had a minor role in 1998 film Babe: Pig in the City, the sequel to Babe.

In 2008, Christensen was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.

Personal life Christensen met violinist Dan Scully in Brisbane. The couple were married and had a daughter, Wendy, before moving to Sydney. In 1947, the couple had a son, actor and singer Sean Scully, but later divorced.

Christensen lived in London from 1959 to 1966, taking son Sean with her. In the early 1970s, she moved to Japan, where her daughter Wendy was living and raising a family. While there, she taught English and dubbed Japanese films.

Death Christensen died in hospital on 30 November 2009, at the age of 88. She was survived by her two children, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Awards Year Work Award Category Result Ref. 1953 The Petrified Forest Macquarie Award Best Actress in a Leading Role 2008 Margaret Christensen Medal of the Order of Australia

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1955 Three in One Customer Anthology film, segment: "The City" 1956 Smiley Mrs Greevins 1958 Smiley Gets a Gun Mrs Greevins 1982 Kitty and the Bagman Band of Hope Lady 1998 Babe: Pig in the City Haughty Woman

Television Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1958 The Way Back TV play 1960; 1961 Theatre 70 Madge Saul / Mrs. Fenwick 2 episodes 1961 Probation Officer Mrs. Carmichael 1 episode 1963 Compact Shirley Hawkins 9 episodes 1964 Story Parade Woman at Clinic 1 episode1965 The Flying Swan Jo 1 episode Crossroads Sally Morrison / Miss Morrison 5 episodes 1966 Australian Playhouse Esme Hutton Episode: "No Dogs on Diamond Street" 1966–1974Homicide Various roles 5 episodes 1969 Skippy the Bush Kangaroo Mrs. Woodleigh-Smith Season 3, episode 3: "A Work of Art" 1970–1974 Division 4 Various roles 6 episodes 1972 Lane End Grandma Pappas Miniseries, 7 episodes 1973 Frank and Francesca 6 episodes 1974Matlock Police Beverley Jones 1 episode 1975 Number 96 Celia Palmer 3 episodes 1976 Certain Women 1 episode King's Men 1 episode 1978 Glenview High Virginia Gold 1 episode 1979 Barnaby and Me Doctor TV movie Doctor Down Under Mrs. Beaumont 3 episodes 1980 Cop Shop Hilda Perry 1 episode 1981 Airhawk (aka Star of the North) Mum Foster TV movie 1985The Pickwick Papers Voice artist Animated TV movie 1987 Treasure Island Voice artist Animated TV movie 1989 Rafferty's Rules Phyllis O'Neal Season 5, 1 episode 1990 Outback O'Bourke Narrator Documentary 1993 Tracking the Rainbow Serpent Narrator Documentary 1991 A Country Practice Female caller Episode: "A Trouble Shared" 1994 G.P. Gran 1 episode 1995 Kansas Verna Mason TV movie Blue Heelers Venetia Hayes Season 2, 1 episode 1998; 1999 All Saints Edna / Carol Birch 2 episodes 2002 Stingers Alice Season 6, episode 6: "The Last Dance"

Theatre Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1945 They Came to a City Alice New Theatre, Sydney 1952 They Knew What They Wanted Amy Mercury Theatre, Sydney 1961 Time and Yellow Roses Laurette Gerard His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen, St Martin's Theatre, London 1962–1963 Sail Away Mrs Lush (Alvin's mother) Bristol Hippodrome, Savoy Theatre, London 1966 Funny Girl Mrs Strakosh Australian tour with J. C. Williamson's 1967–1969 Fiddler on the Roof Yente 1974 Doctor in the House The Matron Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane with AETT 1976 Da Tasmanian tour with Tasmanian Theatre Company 1990 The Lesson / Krapp's Last Tape Crossroads Theatre, Sydney 1996–1997 Last Night of the Proms Queen Victoria Sydney Opera House

Radio Year Title Role Notes Ref. Pride and Prejudice Jane Bennet 1940s Josephine, Empress of Sorrows Josephine 2GB 1940s–1950s Cashmere Bouquet Show (PRT) 2UE Leave it to the Girls 2GB 1941–1951 Mrs 'Obbs Mr Bundle's Secretary 2GB 1944–1949 The Lawsons Ruth Lawson (Chris's wife) ABC Radio 1947 Strange Destiny Lady Hester Stanhope 2UW 1947– Courtship and Marriage 2UW / 3UZ Late 1940s–1951 Hagen's Circus Winnie Nelson 1949–1954 Superman Lois Lane 2GB 1950– Death Takes Small Bites Charmain Anthony 2UW 1951–1960s Hart of the Territory Leslie Winters 2GB 1952 They Knew What They Wanted 1952–1956 Strike it Rich (ANN) 1953 Danger in Paradise Iris Randall 2UW 1953–1964 Life with Dexter Jessie 2GB 1954– Dick Tracy 2UW 1954–1955 The Hunted One Nina Sabin 3KZ 1954–1956 Dangerous Assignment Marga / Louella / Liana Episode 11: "Turkey", episode 24: "Cuba", episode 51: "Coral Sea" 1955 White Coolies Sister Delforce 1955– Laura Chilton 2UW / 3KZ 1958 The Fiends Lucienne 2GB 1958 Phantom Time 1963 Dr Paul Virginia Martin 2UW Air Hostess Diana Drew The Broken Circle Angela Cartwright Dad and Dave from Snake Gully Mabel Death by Horoscope Sequel to Death Takes Small Bites The General Motors Hour 2GB 1979 Lies My Father Told Me Mother ABC Radio Uncle Moon Lilah ABC Radio Laura and the Angel Skittles ABC Radio The Great God Mogadon Old Lady ABC Radio Lord Arthur Savile's Crime Lady Clemtine ABC Radio

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