Alyce Mary A. Platt (born 19 December 1964)is an Australian actress, television presenter, singer and songwriter.
As an actress, she had roles in the TV
soap operas
A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term ''soap opera'' originated from radio dramas original ...
Neighbours
''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera that has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap '' Sons and ...
''.
Platt worked as a TV presenter and game show host, including cohost to
Tony Barber
Anthony Ferraro Louis Barber (born 28 March 1940) is a British Australian Gold Logie award-winning television game show host, radio announcer, singer and media personality, who has been active in the industry since the early 1960s.
Biograph ...
on quiz show ''
Sale of the Century
''Sale of the Century'' (stylized as ''$ale of the Century'') is an American television game show that originally debuted on September 29, 1969, on NBC daytime. It was one of three NBC game shows to premiere on that date, the other two being t ...
'' from 1986 to 1991. Also a musician, Platt released her debut album, ''Beautiful Death'', in April 2004.
In 2012, Platt started playing another role in ''
Neighbours
''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera that has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap '' Sons and ...
'', that of Olivia Bell, a potential love interest for
Karl Kennedy
Karl Kennedy is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Neighbours'', played by Alan Fletcher. The actor previously appeared in the soap in 1987 as mechanic Greg Cooper. He made his first screen appearance as Karl during the episo ...
. In May 2020, Platt resumed the part of Olivia for a second guest stint and returned again for another stint the following year.
Early life
Alyce Mary Platt was born on 19 December 1964 and grew up in Melbourne with her parents, her mother an Australian and her father was born in England, she has two older brothers. From the age of 12 she was singing in competitions. At 16 she attended Box Hill Technical College for a two-year drama course.
Career
Acting
Platt's acting roles include the regular part of Amanda Morrell in '' Sons and Daughters'' from 1983 to 1985; a guest role as Stephanie Collins in the short-lived serial '' Family and Friends'' in 1990; and as Sarah Wilkes in Ten's version of ''
A Country Practice
''A Country Practice'' is an Australian television soap opera/serial which was broadcast on the Seven Network from 18 November 1981 until 22 November 1993, and subsequently on Network Ten from 13 April 1994 to 5 November 1994. Altogether, 14 ...
'' in 1994.
In 1995, Platt appeared as a reporter in the "My Lovely Girl" episode of ''
Halifax f.p.
''Halifax f.p.'' is an Australian television crime series produced by Nine Network from 1994 to 2002. The series stars Rebecca Gibney as Doctor Jane Halifax, a forensic psychiatrist (f.p.) investigating cases involving the mental state of suspe ...
''. That same year, she joined the-long-running soap ''
Neighbours
''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera that has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap '' Sons and ...
'', playing the regular part of Jen Handley. However, Jen was written out after just a year when writers struggled to come up with stories for the character. She told Sue Malins of the ''
Daily Mirror
The ''Daily Mirror'' is a British national daily Tabloid journalism, tabloid newspaper. Founded in 1903, it is part of Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), which is owned by parent company Reach plc. From 1985 to 1987, and from 1997 to 2002, the tit ...
''; "In the end, I don't think the scriptwriters knew what to do with me." Her last episode as Jen aired in March 1996.
Platt had a recurring roles on ''
Blue Heelers
''Blue Heelers'' is an Australian police drama series that was produced by Southern Star Group and ran for twelve years on the Seven Network, from 1994 to 2006. Although based around the policing of the town, the series generally depicted th ...
'' as Jeanette Holbrook in 2000; ''
City Homicide
''City Homicide'' is an Australian television drama series that aired on the Seven Network between 27 August 2007 and 30 March 2011. The series was set on the Homicide floor of a metropolitan police headquarters in Melbourne. The main charact ...
'' from August 2007 and a lead role in the children's television series ''
The Elephant Princess
''The Elephant Princess'' is an Australian children's television series that first screened on Network Ten in 2008. The series is produced by Jonathan M. Shiff Productions. A second season began screening in 2011. The series revolves around a ...
'' as Anita Wilson.
The role that brought her most recognition was that of co-host of the then top-rated quiz show ''
Sale of the Century
''Sale of the Century'' (stylized as ''$ale of the Century'') is an American television game show that originally debuted on September 29, 1969, on NBC daytime. It was one of three NBC game shows to premiere on that date, the other two being t ...
'' from 1986 to 1991. She returned to this role for one special episode of ''
Temptation
Temptation is a desire to engage in short-term urges for enjoyment that threatens long-term goals.Webb, J.R. (Sep 2014). Incorporating Spirituality into Psychology of temptation: Conceptualization, measurement, and clinical implications. Sp ...
'' on 14 March 2007, during the show's "Battle of the Network Shows" series, in which ''Temptation's'' hosts Ed Phillips and
Livinia Nixon
Livinia Helen Nixon (born 19 March 1975) is an Australian television presenter and actress.
Nixon is the chief weather presenter for '' Nine News Melbourne'' and presenter on travel program '' Getaway''.TV1's ''Cash Trivia Challenge''.
On 9 August 2012, it was announced Platt had re-joined ''
Neighbours
''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera that has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap '' Sons and ...
'' for a guest role as a new character, Olivia Bell. Eight years later, in a February 2020 interview for '' The Courier'', Platt stated she had returned to ''Neighbours''. She said, "I've gone back to
Ramsay Street
Ramsay Street is the fictional cul-de-sac in which the characters of the Australian soap opera ''Neighbours'' live. The street is set in the equally fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. ''Neighbours'' storylines primarily centre on the re ...
; I'm doing a little bit on ''Neighbours'' at the moment, which is wonderful. I'm enjoying it a lot, actually." Platt's management company confirmed that she would be returning as Olivia Bell, and her return scenes aired on 6 May 2020. She returned for another stint in 2021.
Music
Platt launched her debut album, ''Beautiful Death'', on 4 April 2004 at the
Corner Hotel
The Corner Hotel in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond, Victoria, Australia, is a remodelled 19th-century pub which has been a live music venue since the 1940s and, since 1995, a popular rock music venue and rooftop bar.Johnston, Chris. "Corner� ...
. Carmine Pascuzzi of MediaSearch website said that she "does a decent job in providing an adventurous foray through her honest and melancholic musical thoughts. It's a collection of material spanning several years. The songs are mostly told with positive feeling and the hope for better things." Her second album, ''Live from the Vault'', appeared in August 2006. Her third album, ''Funny Little World'', was issued in November 2015.
She wrote and performed the music for the documentary ''Journey Beyond Fear'' in 2018.