Joy Dunstan (born 20 July 1951) is an Australian retired film and television actress. She is best remembered as the teenage star of

Chris Löfvén Chris Löfvén (born 4 April 1948) is an Australian film maker and musician. He started making films when he was about 12. From 1969 to 1970, he was the bass player in the Melbourne soul music, soul and psychedelic pop band, Cam-Pact. He is b ...

1976 Events January * January 2 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 18 – Full diplomatic ...

film '' Oz'', a modern-day

remake A remake is a film, television series, video game, song or similar form of entertainment that is based upon and retells the story of an earlier production in the same medium—e.g., a "new version of an existing film". A remake tells the same s ...

of the

1939 This year also marks the start of the World War II, Second World War, the largest and deadliest conflict in human history. Events Events related to World War II have a "WWII" prefix. January * January 1 ** Coming into effect in Nazi Ger ...

film ''

The Wizard of Oz ''The Wizard of Oz'' is a 1939 American Musical film, musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Based on the 1900 novel ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' by L. Frank Baum, it was primarily directed by Victor Fleming, who left pro ...

'', with Graham Matters,

Bruce Spence Bruce Robert Spence (born 17 September 1945) is a New Zealand-born Australian actor. Spence has amassed over 100 film and television credits and has also acted in theatre. Career Spence won an AFI Award for Best Actor for his role in the 197 ...

Gary Waddell Gary Waddell is an Australian actor. He was nominated for the 2012 AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his role in ''The King is Dead!'' and for an AFI award for his role in 1975 film ''Pure Shit''. Filmography Television *''Old ...

, and Robin Ramsay.

Career

The then 25-year-old former school teacher and part-time

cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, casino, hotel, restaurant, or nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or drinking, ...

dancer had been working in a

musical comedy Musical theatre is a form of theatre, theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, ...

act at Melbourne's ''Flying Trapeze Cafe'' when she was discovered by director Chris Löfvén. Löfvén, in offering the part to Dunstan, had said to her "Come with me and I'll make you a star". Dunstan replied "I don't believe it but yes". She had no prior experience in film or

photographic model A model is a person with a role either to display commercial products (notably fashion clothing in fashion shows) or to serve as an artist's model. Modelling ("modeling" in American English) entails using one's body to represent someone els ...

ing prior to the film. She also had minor roles in the 1983 television film ''

A Descant for Gossips A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, and others worldwide. Its name in English is '' a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes''. It is similar in shape to the Ancient G ...

'', and in the cult 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 or captivity in a prison or physical restraint. The term usually applies to one serving a Sentence (law), se ...

'', in which she portrayed two characters, '' Penny Seymour'' in 1982, and '' Marnie Taylor'' in 1985. She also had a very minor role in a 1985 episode of ''Neighbours'', which was her last performance, with her reportedly "having grown disillusioned with the business", and she retired soon after. According to a Film Buffs Podcast interview on 21 November 2006, Dunstan then lived in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. During that interview, songwriter and musician Gary Young discussed his memories of working with Dunstan on the film. Young also claimed that following the film, his band, the Rockin' Emus, released their sole album with one of the songs he had written, ''Beautiful Joy'', having been about the actress.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dunstan, Joy 1951 births Living people Australian film actresses Australian television actresses Actresses from Melbourne