Jane Harders is an Australian actress. She has appeared in film and television, on stage and radio as a narrator and as a voice dialect coach. She played Janet Weiss in the original Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show in 1974.

Early life and education Harders is originally from Queensland. She is a graduate of Sydney's NIDA, with a diploma in Voice Studies and gained early acting experience in student productions. In the late 1960's, she began her career at Sydney's Old Tote Theatre Company, and was one of the original members of the Nimrod Theatre Company. She has appeared in numerous musicals and revues.

Career Harders has appeared in several films including Caddie (1976), Flirting (1991) and Mao's Last Dancer (2009). Her television credits include 1984 cricket miniseries Bodyline (alongside Hugo Weaving and Gary Sweet), The Alien Years (1988), teen series Heartbreak High, drama series Doctor Doctor and Spirited.

Harders is also a voiceover artist, having narrated for ABC Radio, television documentaries on SBS, and audio adaptations of classic literature. She has also been a voice and dialect coach for stage and screen.

Harders has worked extensively in theatre, for Sydney Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre, and Melbourne Theatre Company. She has starred in The Importance of Being Earnest, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Arcadia, The Cherry Orchard, Away, and the original 1974 Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show, in which she played Janet. She received a Helpmann Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Copenhagen.

Acting credits

Film YearTitleRoleNotes 1972 Shirley Thompson vs. the Aliens Shirley Thompson 1976 Caddie Vikki 1978 The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith Mrs. Healey 1979 The Journalist Wendy Morris 1980 The Earthling Molly Ann Hogan 1991 Flirting Miss Silvia Anderson 1994 The Roly Poly Man Jane Lewis 1999 Trust Me Short film 2007 The Uncertainty Principle Elisabeth Short film 2009 Mao's Last Dancer Senator's wife

Television YearTitleRoleNotes 1971 Andersen Monogatari Voice 1972 Quartet Anthology series, 1 episode 1973 The Aunty Jack Show Woman on Television Season 2, episode 1 The Three Musketeers Voice Animated TV movie1975 Silent Number Mrs Lucas 1 episode Shannon's Mob Mira 1 episode King's Men Constable Maple Brown 1 episode1976 Rush Jessie Farrar 10 episodes Alvin Purple Guest 1977 Hotel Story Salter, June. June Salter: A Pinch of Salt. Angus & Robertson: Pymble NSW, 1995. p 133-4.1978 Young Ramsay Lillian Payntor 1 episode Tickled Pink Marianne 1 episode 1979 Cop Shop Norma Blake 2 episodes A Place in the World Polly Paget Miniseries, 1 episode The Mismatch Marsha Harrington TV movie TV Follies Linda Zimmerman 1980 Australian Theatre Festival Episode: "A Toast to Melba" 1982 Jonah 4 episodes 1983 The Weekly's War Tilly Shelton-Smith Miniseries, 2 episodes1984 Mother & Son Matron 1 episode Bodyline Mrs Jardine Miniseries, 2 episodes 1984–1993 A Country Practice Bronwyn Gibson / Sarah Fitzgerald 4 episodes 1986 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Becky Thatcher / Aunt Polly (voices) Animated TV movie 1987 Rob Roy Voice Animated TV movie 1988 The Alien Years Edith Miniseries 1989 The Flying Doctors Helen 1 episode 1994 Heartbreak High Maureen Milano 3 episodes 1997 The Hostages Marcia TV movie 1997; 1999 Murder Call Dr Lois Fisk / Mrs Henderson 2 episodes 2007 The Starter Wife Wealthy Matron Miniseries, 1 episode 2008 All Saints Connie Mosdell 1 episode 2010–2011 Spirited Rita Seasons 1–2, 17 episodes 2011 The Jesters Aunty Jane 1 episode 2018–2019 Doctor Doctor Helen 5 episodes 2020 The End Jillian Regan 1 episode

Theatre YearTitleRoleNotes Ref. 1969 The Royal Hunt of the Sun Dello, a wife of Atahuallpa 1970 The Legend of King O'Malley Old Tote Theatre, Sydney Oedipus A Delicate Balance Edna STC Biggles Nimrod St Theatre, Sydney 1971 Endgame Flash Jim Vaux 1972 Measure for Measure Shadows of Blood 1973 ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore Old Tote Theatre, Sydney 1974 The Rocky Horror Show Janet Weiss Harry M. Miller 1977 Inner Voices Anna / Princess / Ali / Baby Face Nimrod St Theatre, Sydney 1981 The Man from Mukinupin Clarrie Sydney Opera House with STC 1982 You Can't Take it With You 1983 The Cherry Orchard Madame Ranevskaya 1985 Arms and the Man Raina Seymour Centre, Sydney with Nimrod Six Characters in Search of an Author First Actress 1986 Benefactors Sheila Northside Theatre, Sydney 1987 What the Butler Saw Mrs Prentice Australian national tour 1988 Away Coral US tour with STC Summer of the Seventeenth Doll Olive 1990 Rumors Cookie Cusack Australian national tour 1991 Master Builder Aline Solness Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney 1993–1994 Kafka Dances Julie / Mother Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company / STC 1994 Things We Do for Love Barbara Marian St Theatre, Sydney Arcadia Lady Croom STC 1996 Heretic Monica Freeman STC / MTC 2002 Copenhagen Margrette Bohr Australian national tour with STC / QTC / MTC 2005 The Woman with Dog's Eyes Penny Boyce Griffin Theatre Company 2008 The Importance of Being Earnest Lady Bracknell QPAC with QTC 2012 Les Liaisons Dangereuses Madame de Rosemonde Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC The Cripple of Inishmaan Mammy STC A Flea in Her Ear Raymonde STCSA

Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResult 2000 Australian Council for the Arts Fellowship 2003 Helpmann Awards Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play Copenhagen

References

External links