Lynn Rainbow
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Lynn Carol Rainbow-Reid (born 19 September 1942) credited also as Lynne Rainbow, is an actress of stage, film, television and radio, dancer and voice artist.


Early life

Rainbow was born to Judge Alfred Rainbow and his wife. A fourth generation performer, her great grandfather John Fuller emigrated to New Zealand from the UK and was known as the ‘Silver throated tenor of New Zealand'. Her grandfather was theatre entrepreneur Sir Benjamin Fuller, who opened Fuller's Theatres across Australasia, together with brother Johnny. Rainbow's mother was also a dancer, whose partner was actor Ron Shand. Rainbow was educated in Australia at the Ascham School, then studied acting under Dame Doris Fitton at the Independent Theatre school in Sydney. She subsequently attended The Sorbonne in
Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
and the
Dante Alighieri Dante Alighieri (; most likely baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri; – September 14, 1321), widely known mononymously as Dante, was an Italian Italian poetry, poet, writer, and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', originally called ...
in
Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
.


Entertainment career

Rainbow has worked in the entertainment industry throughout England, the US and her native Australia. Serving as a judge by day, and dancing as Odette/Odile in ''
Swan Lake ''Swan Lake'' ( rus, Лебеди́ное о́зеро, r=Lebedínoje ózero, p=lʲɪbʲɪˈdʲinəjə ˈozʲɪrə, links=no ), Op. 20, is a ballet composed by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875–76. Despite its initial failu ...
'' by night, she has been involved in stage, film, TV and radio for over three decades. Rainbow began working in theatre with Independent Theatre, before taking television roles from the early 1970s onwards, including guest spots in the
Crawford Productions Crawford Productions is an Australian Media (communication), media production company, focused on radio and television production. Founded in Melbourne by Hector Crawford and his sister, actress and voice artist Dorothy Crawford, the company, a ...
police dramas ''
Homicide Homicide is an act in which a person causes the death of another person. A homicide requires only a Volition (psychology), volitional act, or an omission, that causes the death of another, and thus a homicide may result from Accident, accidenta ...
'', ''
Division 4 ''Division 4'' is an Australian television police drama series broadcast by the Nine Network and created by Crawford Productions airing between 1969 and 1975 for 301 episodes. Synopsis The series was one of the first to follow up on the enor ...
'' and ''
Matlock Police ''Matlock Police'' is an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for The 0-10 Network (now known as Network 10) between 1971 and 1976. The series focused on the police station and crime in the Victorian town of Ma ...
'', and in an episode of the situation comedy series '' The Group''. In 1974, she starred as Victoria in a theatre production of Somerset Maugham's ''Home and Beauty.'' However, she became most famous for her role in TV series '' Number 96'' as original character Sonia the chemist, from March 1972. She stayed in the role until 1973, during which time her character was involved in numerous controversial storylines, including Sonia engaging in an apparent incestuous relationship, an inter-racial kiss, losing her husband Dr. Gordon Vansard in a car accident, and then being targeted by a woman planning to send her mad. Rainbow reprised the role of Sonia Freeman in the film version of the serial, '' Number 96'', in 1974. In the film, a newly married Sonia returns to Number 96, but again worries she is losing her mind. Rainbow shot all her scenes for the film in a single day, before rushing off to give a theatre performance as Elvira in '' Blithe Spirit'' that same night. After ''Number 96'' Rainbow continued to make guest appearances in Australian television drama series, features in miniseries '' Against the Wind'' (1978), took a regular role in soap opera '' The Young Doctors'', guest starred in six episodes of '' A Country Practice'', and appeared in an early episode of ''
Home and Away ''Home and Away'' (''H&A'') is an Australian television soap opera. It was created by Alan Bateman and commenced broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. Bateman came up with the concept of the show during a trip to Kangaroo Point, N ...
''.


Personal life and honours

Rainbow married British Australia actor
Tom Oliver Tom Oliver (born 12 June 1938) is a British naturalised Australian retired actor. Oliver is best known locally and internationally for his long-running role in TV soap opera ''Neighbours'' as Lou Carpenter, a role he played for 25 years bec ...
in 1973 They first met in the 1970s on the set of '' Number 96'' (before his long run as Lou Carpenter 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 ...
''). Rainbow was awarded in the Queens Birthday Honours with the
Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...
(AM) with the indictment being for "significant service to the community through support for a range of cultural and charitable organisations, and to the performing arts as an actor". Actors’ and Entertainers’ Benevolent Fund Queensland (of which she is Vice-President), honoured Rainbow with the 2024 Alan Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award (AELAA).


Filmography (selected)


Film


Television


Theatre


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rainbow, Lynn 1942 births Living people Australian film actresses Australian stage actresses Australian television actresses Australian people of English descent University of Paris alumni People educated at Ascham School Members of the Order of Australia