Wendy Playfair
Wendy Playfair is an Australian radio, television and film character actress, best known for her roles in television serials.
Playfair started her career in radio serials, but became best known for her stint in TV series Prisoner as inmate Minerva 'Minnie' Donovan. Other important roles were in the television series Home and Away and the 2009 film Accidents Happen starring Geena Davis.
Early life
Playfair was born in Woollahra, [New South Wales|Woollahra], Sydney, New South Wales to Edmund Strathmore Creer Playfair and Kathleen Ryrie née Campbell. She was the third of four sisters. Direct descendants of famous Sydney butcher, politician and philanthropist Thomas Playfair, the family were well-to-do, socially prominent and in the meat trade.While still at school, Playfair joined Bryant's Playhouse, a Little Theatre group. She went on to study with other Little Theatres after she finished school, attending drama classes at night, while working an office job during the day. As radio work picked up, she gave up her office job to focus on her acting career.
Career
Playfair started her career in radio where she worked for the ABC and consistently in morning serials for Grace Gibson, as well as in many radio plays. Playfair received the radio Macquarie Award. Prior to television she had also appeared in a few stage roles, but was best known as a radio performer.She has been a staple on the small screen in character roles since 1960, when she appeared in the TV adaptation of a production of the play The Slaughter of St Theresa's Day.
Playfair has primarily appeared in cameo roles, with guesting roles in series starting from the late 1960s until 2013, such as Homicide, Hunter, The Young Doctors, Return to Eden, Spirited, Rake and Packed to the Rafters.
However she has had several parts as different characters in serials A Country Practice, Home and Away and All Saints.
She also has had parts in telemovies and films including Ride a Wild Pony, the only Walt Disney film ever produced in Australia and a pivotal role in the film Accidents Happen, opposite Geena Davis in 2009.
In 2022 Playfair gave a rare interview with the podcast series Talking Prisoner.
Personal life
Playfair married James Williams at All Saints Anglican Church, Woollahra in Sydney, on 6 July 1951. On 5 July 1953, the couple had a daughter.Playfair is the cousin of Olympic silver medalilst Judy Playfair, aunt of Skye Leckie, niece of politician Thomas Alfred John Playfair, grandmother of Kip Williams who was The Artistic Director of the Sydney Theatre Company and lifelong friend of Pam Hornibrook and Ruth Triggs. Her youngest sister married barrister Sir John Atwill, who was President of the Liberal Party of Australia.