Patricia Anna Lovell (née Parr), (1929 – 26 January 2013), commonly referred to as Pat Lovell, was an Australian film producer and actress, whose work within that country's film industry led her to receive the Raymond Longford Award in 2004 from the Australian Film Institute (AFI). Her productions include 1975's '' Picnic at Hanging Rock'', and '' Gallipoli'', which received an AFI Award in 1982 as

Best Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...

Early life and career

Lovell says she was born in either Artarmon or Willoughby, the second child, and first daughter, of Letitia Evelyn née Forsyth (5 January 1906 – 21 April 1986) and Harold George Parr (1901 – 23 March 1970), an optometrist. During her childhood three of her siblings died, including one who was quite ill at birth and died at 18 months, and her parents divorced. She attended Presbyterian Ladies' College, Armidale, but "didn't do well in the Leaving at all" and failed to get a university pass. She began her career in radio at the

Australian Broadcasting Commission The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is the national broadcaster of Australia. It is principally funded by direct grants from the Australian Government and is administered by a government-appointed board. The ABC is a publicly-owned ...

(ABC) in the early 1950s, becoming a junior broadcaster in children's programs. That led to her joining the cast of the '' Children's Session''. Despite the pressure of live television and having no formal training, she started making weekly appearances on ABC Children's TV, and in 1960 began her most fondly-remembered role as 'Miss Pat' in ABC TV's children's television program '' Mr. Squiggle''. In 1964 Lovell became what she characterised as "one of the minor beauties" on the panel of ''

Beauty and the Beast ''Beauty and the Beast'' (french: La Belle et la Bête) is a fairy tale written by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and published in 1740 in ''La Jeune Américaine et les contes marins'' (''The Young American and Marine ...

''. When ATN-7's early morning ''Sydney Today'' show began in 1969 she and Bruce Webster were its co-presenters, and it was there as an interviewer that she met

Peter Weir Peter Lindsay Weir ( ; born August 21, 1944) is a retired Australian film director. He's known for directing films crossing various genres over forty years with films such as '' Picnic at Hanging Rock'' (1975), ''Gallipoli'' (1981), ''Witness ...

, the director with whom she would produce her two best-known films, '' Picnic at Hanging Rock'' and '' Gallipoli''. In 1988 she and

Mel Gibson Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson (born January 3, 1956) is an American actor, film director, and producer. He is best known for his action hero roles, particularly his breakout role as Max Rockatansky in the first three films of the post-apoca ...

formed a film production company "Lovell Gibson", but it was dissolved without making a film.

Later career

Lovell worked as Head of Producing at the

Australian Film, Television and Radio School The Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) formerly Australian Film and Television School, is Australia's national screen arts and broadcast school. The school is a Commonwealth Government statutory authority. History Establishe ...

(AFTRS) between 1996 and 2003.

Personal life

Lovell met her husband, actor

Nigel Lovell Nigel Tasman Lovell (27 January 1916 – 13 December 2001) was an Australian stage, radio, film and television actor, and producer of opera and both stage and radio drama. History Lovell was born in Sydney, a son of Tasman Lovell, Professor of ...

(1916-2001), through the Metropolitan Theatre in Sydney. He was a widower with a daughter. They married in 1956, and had two children, Simon Lovell, a helicopter pilot, and Jenny Lovell, an actor known for her role on the soap opera ''

Prisoner A prisoner (also known as an inmate or detainee) is a person who is deprived of liberty against their will. This can be by confinement, captivity, or forcible restraint. The term applies particularly to serving a prison sentence in a prison. ...

'' (called ''Prisoner: Cell Block H'' in the UK and the USA). The couple eventually divorced. Lovell died on 26 January 2013 from liver cancer, aged 83.

Filmography

*'' Picnic at Hanging Rock'' (1975) *'' Break of Day (film)'' (1976) *'' Summerfield'' (1977) *'' Gallipoli'' (1981) *'' Monkey Grip'' (1982) *'' The Perfectionist'' (1987) *'' Tosca: A Tale of Love and Torture'' (a 2000 made-for-television documentary)

Honours

Pat Lovell was appointed a

Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(MBE) in the 1978 New Year's Honours. In the 1986 Queen's Birthday Honours she was appointed a

Member of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Order (distinction), honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of Australia, Queen of Aus ...

(AM).It's an Honour:AM
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References

External links

*
Patricia Lovell Portrait
by NFSA historian Graham Shirley