Lyndall Harvey Barbour (19 May 1916 – 10 October 1986) was an Australian actress, primarily of radio, although she also added stage and television work (both series and made-for-television movies) to her repertoire. Born in Egypt to Australian parents, she was a three time recipient of the Macquarie Radio Network award.
Early life Lyndall Harvey Barbour was born in Cairo, the daughter of Australian parents Eric Pitty Barbour and Dora Frances Blanche Barbour (Grieve). Both of her parents were born in New South Wales. Her father was serving in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps during World War I at the time of her birth. She was raised in Sydney, attending the Church of England Girls Grammar School, before earning a bachelor's degree at the University of Sydney in 1938, and joined the dramatic society under the engagement of May Hollinworth.Martha Rutledge, "Lyndall Harvey Barbour" Australian Dictionary of Biography (2007).
Career Barbour began acting while in college, and whilst attending auditions in 1937, she was scouted by Edward Howell and studied drama with his wife Therese Desmond. She soon found a niche as a radio actress for the Australian Broadcasting Commission, and later 2GB. Casting director Val Vine commented that "Lyndall Barbour was so technically correct, she never missed a comma."James Aitchison and Reg James, Yes, Miss Gibson: The Life and Times of an Australian Radio Legend (BookBaby 2014). She was heard in over three hundred radio plays and serials, including Malcolm Afford's World War II drama First Light Fraser. She won Macquarie Awards as best supporting actress in 1946 and 1948, and as best actress in 1949, for Genius at Home."Maquarie Awards for Radio Drama" Canberra Times (21 February 1949): 2. via Trove"Macquarie Awards: Best Actors on Network" Sydney Morning Herald (6 February 1950): 4. via Newspapers.com From 1954 to 1970 she starred in the Australian version of the soap opera Portia Faces Life as Portia Manning, a successful lawyer.
She played some notable roles in early Australian television drama, including the title role in Ruth.
She appeared in the television series You Can't See 'Round Corners in 1967 and the film version in 1969.M. Michaelis, "Portrait of Lyndall Barbour", National Library of Australia catalogue.
Later in life Barbour recorded audiobooks for the Royal Blind Society of New South Wales. She also appeared in stage and television roles, the latter particularly in the 1960s after radio work became scarce. She won a best actress award from the Sydney Theatre Critics' Circle in 1956 for her work in The Rose Tattoo. Her last film appearance was in 1981, in Maybe This Time, starring Judy Morris.
Personal life Barbour died at Wahroonga, New South Wales in 1986, aged 70.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1954-1970 Portia Faces Life Portia Manning Australian version of American soap opera 1959 Ruth Ruth TV play 1959 Sunday Night Theatre Nell Brandon TV series 1959 The Flying Doctor Alma Curtis TV series 1960 The Grey Nurse Said Nothing unknown 1961 A Little South of Heaven Mama Chipetta TV movie 1961 The Outcasts unknown TV miniseries 1963 A Dead Secret unknown TV movie 1963 Time Out Lola Montez/Mary Bryant TV series 1966Homicide Margaret Simmons TV series 1966 Australian Playhouse Mrs. Fletcher TV series 1967 You Can't See 'Round Corners Mrs. McCoy TV series 1969 You Can't See 'round Corners Mrs. McCoy Film 1970 The Link Men Mrs. Amarato TV series 1970 Delta Marta TV series 1971 Matlock Police Mama Marcelli TV series 1972 Lane End unknown (7 episodes) TV miniseries 1979 Dawn! Edie Film 1980 Maybe This Time Mrs. Bates Film 1981 Lay Me Down in Lilac Fields unknown
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