Genevieve Lemon (born 1959) is an Australian film and television actress and singer. She is a frequent collaborator of Jane Campion, including the Academy Award-winning The Piano (1993) and The Power of the Dog (2021), which earned her a Satellite Award as cast member and a Critic's Choice Awards nomination.
Lemon is known for her television soap opera roles including Zelda Baker in The Young Doctors, Marlene "Rabbit" Warren in Prisoner and Brenda Riley in Neighbours.
Lemon has also appeared in numerous musical and stage productions, performing in major Australian theatres, including the 2008 original Australian stage production of Billy Elliot the Musical in which she won the Helpmann Award for Best Leading Actress.
Early life Lemon was born at the Crown Street Women's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales in 1959 as the third child of four to film editor and director Anthony Cripps Lemon and actress Patricia Mary O'Donnell, whom had married in the early 1950s, her siblings include Michael and Peter.
Lemon joined "The Rock Players" an amateur theatre company in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Leichhardt and after appeared in a production of the musical Steaming before attending and graduating the University of New South Wales in 1982.
Career
Lemon's professional career began on television in 1982 with a guest role in soap opera Sons and Daughters, followed shortly after with a larger role as Nurse Zelda Baker in the eighth season of The Young Doctors. Margaret Throsby interview on ABC's Radio National Between 1984 and 1985 Lemon starred as Marlene Warren in the television series Prisoner, receiving critical acclaim, winning a Penguin Award for her role.
Between 1985 and 1988 Lemon performed in numerous Australian musicals, working for the Sydney Theatre Company, and others before appearing in Judy Morris's film Luigi's Ladies in 1989, after which she was cast as the lead actress in Jane Campion's film Sweetie. The latter role earned her a nomination at the AACTA Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and she won in the same category at the AFCA Awards.
After guest appearances on the television series The Flying Doctors and G.P., Lemon was cast as Brenda Riley in the television series Neighbours between 1991 and 1992. In the same years she appeared in several theatre productions, including Summer Rain by Rodney Fisher, critical acclaimed The Venetian Twins by John Bell, and The Girl Who Save Everything by Robyn Nevin.
In 1993, Lemon again acted under the direction of Jane Campion in the Academy Award-winning film The Piano, co-starring with Holly Hunter and Harvey Keitel. Later she also acted in Australian television film Big Ideas and ABC mini-series Seven Deadly Sins. After stage acting in Aubrey Mellor's Brilliant Lies and Rodney Fisher's And a Nightingale Sang, Lemon returned to film in the movie Billy's Holiday in 1995. In 1996 she performed in Miracle City by Nick Enright and Max Lambert, and Merrily We Roll Along by Wayne Harrison.
In 1997 Lemon was cast for Samantha Lang's film The Well acting with Pamela Rabe, Miranda Otto, Paul Chubb, and Frank Wilson. Over the next two years, she appeared in numerous theatre productions, including Taming of the Shrew by Glen Elston, Daylight Saving by Nick Enright, and in The Milemonum Project written and devised by Lemon and Russell Dykstra. In 1999 Jane Campion cast Lemon for two films: Holy Smoke! and Soft Fruit.
From 1999 to 2005 Lemon became an integral part of the casts of Sydney Theatre Company productions, appearing in the musical Piaf by Adam Coo, Morning Sacrifice by Jennifer Flowers, The Republic of Myopia by Jonathan Biggins, Summer Rain by Robyn Nevin, and My Brilliant Divorce by Gary Down. In 2003 Lemon acted in television films The Postcard Bandit and Mermaids.
Recent years: Stage and screen In 2006, after starring in Paul Goldman's film Suburban Mayhem, Lemon was played as Shirley in Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott's critical acclaimed musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, touring between 2006 and 2008 the major theatres of Australia and New Zealand. In 2008 Lemon gave voice to Charlotte's Mum, Henry's Mum and Madame in the animated film The Adventures of Charlotte and Henry.
In 2007 Lemon was selected for Australian production of Billy Elliot the Musical, written by Lee Hall, directed by Stephen Daldry with music by Sir. Elton John. She played Mrs Wilkinson from 2007 to 2009, received positive reviews by critics and winning the Sydney Theatre Awards, the Green Room Awards, and the Helpmann Award for her performance. From 2010 and 2011 Lemon was cast for the fifth anniversary United Kingdom tour of the musical's debut.
In 2012 Lemon plays in Death of a Salesman musical by Trevor Ashley, and The Mousetrap by Gary Young. In 2013 Lemon came back to television acting as Bunny in Jane Campion's mini-series Top of the Lake, winning the Equity Ensemble as a cast member. The same year she act in The Pirates of Penzance by Dean Bryant at the Hamer Hall in Melbourne.
In 2014 Lemon played Dotty Otley in Jonathan Biggins's Noises Off production at the Sydney Opera House, She was also cast for season three of television series Rake, and Australian mini-series The Secret River. In 2015 she was cast with Kate Winslet, Judy Davis and Liam Hemsworth in critical acclaimed The Dressmaker directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse. The next two years Lemon worked with Belvoir St Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company.
In 2017 she played in The Homosexuals, or “Faggots” by Lee Lewis, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Iain Sinclair, and Melba by Wayne Harrison and Michael Tyack. The next year Lemon played as Mrs. Wentworth in Bruce Beresford's film Ladies in Black, and had a recurring role in television series Home and Away.
In 2019 Lemon starred in Thomas M. Wright's film Acute Misfortune. The same year she played Sister Winnie in Terence O'Donnell's musical Folk.
In 2020 was announced the participation of Lemon, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons in Jane Campion's project The Power of the Dog. The cast performance was critically acclaimed, receiving positive reviews and numerous nominations in several film awards, including Academy Award, Golden Globe and BEFFTA Awards Lemon won her first Satellite Award and received a Critics' Choice Awards nomination as a member of the cast.
In 2021 Lemon starred in the recurring role of Fiona Palmer in the Australian television series Eden and as in the critical acclaim series The Tourist. In November 2021 the film Here Out West was presented at the Sydney Film Festival, in which Lemon starred as Nancy. From March to April 2022, Lemon starred as Mrs Thornhill in the theatrical adaptation of North by Northwest at the Sydney Lyric Theatre.
In 2024, Lemon was named as part of the cast for Stan series Population 11.
In 2025, Lemon starred in theatre production How To Plot A Hit in Two Days.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1989 Luigi's Ladies Debbo Feature film Sweetie Dawn 'Sweetie' Feature film 1993 The Piano Nessie Feature film 1995 Billy's Holiday Julie Feature film 1997 The Well Jen Bordern Feature film 1999 Holy Smoke! Rahi Feature film Soft Fruit Josie Feature film 2006 Suburban Mayhem Auntie Dianne Feature film 2007 To Each His Own Cinema The Voices #1 French anthology film; segment: "The Lady Bug" 2008 8 Pam Garner Anthology film; segment: "The Water Diary" 2015 The Dressmaker Mae McSwiney Feature film 2018 Ladies in Black Mrs. Wentworth Feature film 2019 Acute Misfortune Carmel Cullen Feature film 2021 The Power of the Dog Mrs. Lewis Feature film2022 Here Out West Nancy Anthology film Christmas Ransom Nan Feature film Ticket to Paradise Beth-Ann Feature film 2023 The Appleton Ladies' Potato Race Barb Brickner TV movie 2024 Runt Dolly Shearer
Television Year Title Role Notes Ref 1982 Sons and Daughters Jennifer Hickson Season 1, episode 136 1983 The Young Doctors Zelda Baker Season 8 1984–1985 Prisoner (aka Prisoner: Cell Block H) Marlene Warren Seasons 6–7, 74 episodes 1986 Studio 86 Anthology series, episode: "Ladies' Day" 1989 The Flying Doctors Libby Season 5, episode 24: "A Rhyme for Reason" 1990 G.P. Kate Mawson Season 2, episode 37: "Longing" 1991–1992 Neighbours Brenda Riley Seasons 7–8, 41 episodes 1993 Seven Deadly Sins Envy Miniseries 1994 Heartland Fiona Lovell Season 1, episode 8 1996 After the Beep Josephine Donnelly Season 1, 7 episodes 2001 Always Greener Loretta Season 1, episode 3: "Close Encounters of the Furred Kind"2003 The Postcard Bandit Nola TV movie Mermaids Betty TV movie 2008 The Adventures of Charlotte and Henry Charlotte's Mum / Henry's Mum / Madame Animation 2013 Top of the Lake Bunny Miniseries, 7 episodes 2014 Rake Tikki Wendon Season 3, 6 episodes 2015 The Secret River Mrs. Herring Miniseries Redfern Now: Promise Me Dr. Linda TV movie (conclusion of Redfern Now) 2018 Home and Away Hazel Easton Season 31, 10 episodes 2021 The Tourist Sue Season 1, 6 episodes Eden Fiona Palmer Season 1, 3 episodes2022 Pieces of Her Gloria Season 1, 1 episode Colin From Accounts Jenny 1 episode2023 Totally, Completely, Fine Lorraine Matthews 2 episodes Strife Anne Marie Ford 1 episode2024 Population 11 Valerie Hogarth 9 episodesReturn To Paradise Madge Woodburne
Radio Year Program Role Station 1989 Bastille Day ShowComedy sketch with Andrew Denton and Simon Dodd ABC Radio - Australia 1995 The Tatty Hallow Story Recurring guest host 1999 Hinx Minx Co-host
Theatre Title Years Role Location / company 1986The Madras House Mrs BrigstockWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC The Seagull Masha 1989 Summer Rain Lorna Farrell Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney with STC 1990 Once in a Lifetime Helen HobartWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC 1992 The Girl Who Saw Everything Carol1996 Miracle City Lora Lee Truswell Summer of the Seventeenth Doll Olive Arts Centre Melbourne with MTC Merrily We Roll Along Gussie Footbridge Theatre, Sydney with STC 1999 The Recruit Meg Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC 2000 Piaf Toine Southbank Theatre, Melbourne with MTC2001 The Olympic Revue Various charactersWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC Morning Sacrifice Miss Bates My Brilliant Divorce Miss Bates Australian national tour with STC2002 Hanging Man Linda Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC The Cosmonaut's Last Message Vivienne / Sylvia Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney 2003Broken Glass Harriet Ensemble Theatre, Sydney2004 Victory Pyle Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC The Republic of Myopia Envoy of the USARoslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney Harbour Jo 2004–2006 Wharf Revue Various characters Wharf Theatre, Sydney, Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney, Sydney Opera House with STC 2005 Summer Rain Ruby Slocum Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney with STC 2006–2008 Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Shirley Lyric Theatre, Sydney, Regent Theatre, Melbourne, Star City, Sydney, Auckland Civic Theatre 2007–2009; 2010–2011 Billy Elliot the Musical Mrs Wilkinson Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Victoria Palace Theatre, London2012 Death of a Salesman Linda / Letta Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney The Mousetrap Mrs Boyle Hamer Hall, Melbourne with Mousetrap Australia Company 2013 The Pirates of Penzance Ruth Arts Centre Melbourne with The Production Company2015Noises Off Dotty Otley Sydney Opera House with STC Seventeen Lizzie Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney 2016 Hay Fever Clara Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC The Hanging Ms Corrossi The Blind Giant is Dancing Eileen Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney 2017 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Martha Ensemble Theatre, Sydney The Homosexuals, or “Faggots” Diana Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with Griffin Theatre Company Melba Madame Marchesi Hayes Theatre, Sydney 2019 Folk Sister Winnie Ensemble Theatre, Sydney 2022 North by Northwest Mrs Thornhill Sydney Lyric Theatre2025How To Plot A Hit In Two DaysDellEnsemble Theatre CabaretTeatro 2026CluedoPlayhouse QPac
Awards and nominations