Betty Bobbitt

Betty Ann Bobbitt (February 7, 1939 – November 30, 2020) was an American actress, director, singer, and playwright based in Australia, with a career that spanned over 60 years, encompassing theatre, television, and film.

Bobbitt was best known for her small screen role in TV series ''Prisoner'' (known as ''Prisoner: Cell Block H'' in the UK and North America, and ''Caged Woman'' in Canada) as lesbian mother figure Judy Bryant from 1980 to 1985, through 430 episodes.

Early life

Bobbitt was born in Manhattan, New York, to nurse Elizabeth Bobbitt née Sprout and Hubert Bobbitt, a steel mill worker and grew up in Norristown, a suburb of Philadelphia.Laura Lippstone, "Life in the Land of Oz", ''Philadelphia Inquirer'', 9 November 1986 p. 31. She attended a Catholic school and Norristown High School.

Career

Early career

When Bobbitt moved to Los Angeles, at the age of 18, to appear in a theatre production of ''Auntie Mame'', she was approached by an Australian television producer who asked her if she "wanted to come to Australia and be funny". She was contracted for six months and appeared as a regular on a Melbourne television variety show, '' Daly at Night'', as "a female Victor Borge, singing off-key and just plain acting like a dumb brunette". She was known in Australia in the early 1960s as "Betty Bobbitt the dizzy brunette from Big Bear", referencing a fictitious place ostensibly in Pennsylvania."Unpredictable Bobbitt recalls other TV days", ''The Age'' (Melbourne), 17 March 1966, p. 26.

Theatre

Bobbitt appeared in many theatre productions with the Melbourne Theatre Company. She also teamed up with future ''Prisoner'' stars Anne Phelan and Colette Mann in a 1970s stage show called ''The Glitter Girls'' who performed 1940s songs. Notable theatre included Martin Cripps' ''Cruel and Tender'' and Jean Cocteau of ''The Human Voice''

Television

Bobbitt was a fixture on Australian television from the mid-1960s with guest roles in serials including ''Matlock Police'', ''Homicide'', ''Cop Shop'', ''A Country Practice'', '' The Flying Doctors'', '' All Saints'', ''Marshall Law'', and  ''Blue Heelers''.

She became best known for her role in ''Prisoner'' for her portrayal of lesbian character Judy Bryant, a series regular. She first appeared in the show in February 1980. After it started to gain a cult status in the US, billed as ''Prisoner: Cell Block H'', an American actress was suggested by producers as a nod to local audiences. Her character was intended only for a short-term 13 episode appearance, but she became immensely popular, and was retained in the series. Bobbitt continued in the role until May 1985, making her the show's second-longest serving actor, at 429 episodes, second only to Elspeth Ballantyne as officer Meg Jackson/Morris, an original who appeared at the series' inception.

In the series, the character of Judy was convicted of smuggling drugs so she could be with her lesbian lover Sharon Gilmore in the fictional Wentworth Detention Centre, whilst inside and out of prison she was raped, survived a murder attempt, broke out on two occasions and discovered she had a long lost daughter. Bobbitt was the second major star actress to portray a lesbian character in the series after Carol Burns, who played original character Franky Doyle.

During her time in ''Prisoner'', Bobbitt performed with fellow cast members Jane Clifton and Colette Mann in a three-woman troupe named "The Mini Busettes" in the 1980s. They performed around Australia in RSL and similar clubs.

After ''Prisoner'', Bobbitt continued in theatre roles and made guest appearances in television and film. In 2004, Bobbitt she made a brief uncredited appearance in the American television remake of the Stephen King classic, '' Salem's Lot''.

In 2019, Bobbitt appeared in a guest role in TV series ''Neighbours'', to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of ''Prisoner''. She featured alongside fellow stars Jane Clifton, Jentah Sobott and Jenny Lovell, who arrive in Erinsborough to attend Sheila's Bookclub. Her appearance reunited her with other former ''Prisoner'' co-stars who had gone on to star in the series – Colette Mann, who played regular Sheila Canning and Jackie Woodburne, who has long played Susan Kennedy.

Film

On film, she had cameo roles appearing opposite Paul Hogan, in several of the '' Crocodile Dundee'' series including '' Crocodile Dundee II'' (1988), ''Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles'' (a.k.a. ''Crocodile Dundee III'') (2001) and the direct-to-video '' The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee'' (2020). She also appeared in the 2010 thriller, ''Torn''.

Publication

In 2011, Bobbitt self-published her book "From the Outside" (), which documents her life and career playing the role of Judy Bryant on ''Prisoner''.

Personal life and death

Bobbitt was married to Australian artist, Robin Hill in 1963, with whom she had a son, Christopher Hill, who was born in the UK. In 1966 the couple were divorced. She also had a second son, Ollie Bobbitt Hill. Her partner was artist Mig Dann.

Bobbitt died in Melbourne on 30 November 2020, aged 81, five days after suffering a stroke.

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage

As actor

As director

References

External links

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Hear Betty talk about her life and career on The Soap Show



Betty Bobbitt official website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bobbitt, Betty
1939 births
2020 deaths
Australian film actresses
Australian people of American descent
Australian soap opera actresses
Australian stage actresses
Actresses from Manhattan
People from Norristown, Pennsylvania
20th-century Australian actresses
21st-century Australian singers
21st-century Australian actresses
21st-century American actresses