| Debra Lawrance | |
|---|---|
| Born | Debra Lawrance 1 January 1957 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Years active | 1986—present |
Debra Lawrance (born 1 January, 1957) is an Australian actress best known for her role as Pippa Ross on Home and Away, which she played from 1990 to 1998. She continues to guest star to this date- her last appearance was in 2009.
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Biography
Debra Lawrance was born in Melbourne, Victoria and was the second youngest out of six children. She chose, in 1974, to study acting at NIDA and was accepted. She studied with fellow students, including Mel Gibson, Steve Bisley, Judy Davis and Robert Menzies. Lawrance graduated in 1977.
After graduating, she guest starred in a wide range of roles including Prue Waterman in The Sullivans (1976), Sheila Turner in Skyways, Kerry Burgess in A Country Practice (1982) and Lisa in Bellamy (1981).
She also featured in a number of miniseries, including The Last Outlaw, a series about Ned Kelly. This was followed by a number of feature films, including Silver City.
Lawrance's big break was receiving the lead role of The Fast Lane, a widely successful ABC comedy. Her success led to her appearance in Evil Angels, starring Meryl Streep and Two Brothers Running with Tom Conti.
She took over the role of Pippa Fletcher from Vanessa Downing on 23 July 1990 and continued to play the part on Home and Away until leaving in 1998, although she has frequently returned to guest star. This character was widely popular and continues to be a favourite.
Lawrance also is well known for playing inmate Daphne Graham in Prisoner from 1985 to 1986 and,much earlier in the series she had guest roles as a Nurse and Trainee Prisoner Officer Sally Dean. Debra had a recurring role as Reverend Grace Curtis, Tom Croydon's ill-fated wife on Blue Heelers from 2001 to 2004.
She met her husband Dennis Coard when he was cast as Pippa's second husband on Home and Away as character Michael Ross. They married in 1992 and have two children: Grace and William.
They are involved with the charity Barnardos in Australia and she believes that "[her] kids also now have an awareness that there are children out there who require assistance."
Nowadays, she is a senior tutor in the NIDA Corporate Performance programme.
Casting
Film
| Film | Release Date/Year | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Next of Kin | 1982 | Carol |
| Fluteman | 1982 | Sally Cooper |
| Silver City | 1984 | Helena |
| Two Brothers Running | 1988 | Anonymous |
| Evil Angels | 1988 | Sally Lowe |
| The Jammed | 2007 | DIMIA Case Officer |
Television
| Television Show | Years Played | Character |
|---|---|---|
| The Sullivans | 1976 | Prue Waterman |
| Glenview High | 1978 | Jane |
| Ride on Stranger | 1979 | Jenny |
| Skyways | ???? | Sheila Turner |
| Holiday Island | 1981 | Michelle Costello |
| Bellamy | 1981 | Lisa |
| A Country Practice | 1982 | Kerry Burgess |
| Sons and Daughters | 1983-1984 | Lisa Cook |
| The Fast Lane | 1986 | Unknown |
| Prisoner | 1980-1986 | Daphne Graham |
| Home and Away | 1990-1998 (main) 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 (guest) | Pippa Fletcher |
| Blue Heelers | 1999-2004 | Reverend Grace Curtis |
| Satisfaction | 2008 | Margaret |
Trivia
- Lawrance's favourite book is Mister God, This Is Anna.
- Her favourite movie is Babette's Feast.
- Her favourite restaurant is Tetsuya's, especially the degustation menu.
- Debra had never watched Home and Away before her casting, so she had to watch fifty episodes.
- The role she wishes to play most is Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's Macbeth.
External links
- Debra Lawrance at the Internet Movie Database
- Arts in the Valley Biography
- Back to the Bay Interview
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