Eileen Marguerite McNenemy (8 February 1938 – 28 July 2004) professionally known as Margo McLennan, she was also billed in her early acting career as Margo Mayne[1] and briefly as Margot McLennan and Marco McLennan, was a British-born actress , singer and dancer who was active in England and Australia, where she became best known to international audiences for her role in the Australian TV cult soap opera Prisoner, (known in United States and UK as Prisoner: Cell Block H and Caged Woman in Canada)
Margo McLennan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Eileen Marguerite McMenemy 8 February 1938 |
| Died | 28 July 2004 (aged 66) |
| Other names | Margo Mayne Margo Lady McLennan Margot McLennan Marco McLennan |
| Education | Italia Conti Academy |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1953–2003 |
| Spouse(s) |
Tony Doonan
(m. 1962; div. 1969)Rod McLennan (m. 1974) |
| Children | Nicola |
Biography
editBorn in Peckham, South London, to a father who was a licensed virtualler and professional violinist and a mother who dabbled in real estate speculation, she originally trained to be an ice skater at the Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre, before deciding instead a career as an actress, having trained in the arts at the Italia Conti Academy. her career spanned some 50 years.
One of the most popular actresses of the 1960s she was a theatre, film and TV star, who appeared on magazine covers and in commercials, after being spotted as a dancer in cabaret, she appeared in such stage roles as The Merchant of Venice and Goodnight Mrs. Puffin, the latter which marked her debut in West End theatre
She was married to fellow actor Tony Doonan from 1962 until their divorce in 1969. They had one child, Nicola, from that union.[2] She changed her name to Margo Mayne.
In the 1960s and early 1970s she appeared in several British screen roles including Spaceflight IC-1 and Love Is a Splendid Illusion as well as numerous TV series including Night Train to Surbiton and Ransom For A Pretty Girl. She went on to play a succession of glamorous characters in shows such as The Gentle Killers, Motive for Murder and Man from Interpol.
Having moved to Australia, Margo joined the cult series Prisoner in 1979 as Catherine Roberts, in a controversial storyline where she is sent to prison for killing her daughter's rapist. During 1982 she returned to the show for a three episode guest role of Prison Officer Parsons.
After Prisoner she took guest roles in numerous TV series The Flying Doctors, A Country Practice, Blue Heelers and The Secret Life of Us.
In later life, under the name Margo Lady McLennen, she was an advocate for gay and lesbian marriage, and was a celebrant. Upon learning she had cancer, she returned to Britain with her second husband, Australian actor Rodney McLennan.[2]
McLennan's final acting role was in Prisoner Queen (2003), playing Mrs. Gelding. She died in West Sussex, Britain from metastasised cancer, aged 66.[2][1]
Filmography
edit| Production | Year | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBC Sunday Night Theatre | 1954 | Fairy Stardust | TV series |
| Motive for Murder | 1957 | Airport hostess | TV series |
| The Adventures of Brigadier Wellington-Bull | 1959 | War office secretary | TV series |
| Man from Interpol | 1960 | TV series, 1 episode (billed as Margot Mayne) | |
| Golden Girl | 1960 | Jean | TV series |
| Danger Man | 1960 | Lena | TV series |
| Dixon of Dock Green | 1961 | Paddy Cooney | TV series |
| Theatre Night | 1961 | Jacqueline Fordyce | TV series |
| The Pursuers | 1961 | Rita | TV series |
| No Hiding Place | 1963 | Marian | TV series |
| Night Train to Surbiton | 1965 | Pamela | TV miniseries |
| Spaceflight IC-1: An Adventure in Space | 1965 | Joyce Walcott (billed as Margo Mayne) | |
| Softly Softly | 1966 | Mona | TV series |
| The Troubleshooters | 1966 | Air Hostess | TV series, billed as Margo Mayne |
| Ransom for a Pretty Girl | 1966 | Pamela | TV miniseries, billed as Margo Mayne |
| River Rivals | 1967 | TV series, billed as Margo Mayne | |
| Love Is a Splendid Illusion | 1970 | Mrs. Allan | billed as Margo Mayne |
| Bright's Boffins | 1971 | Pirates Mate | TV series, billed as Margo Mayne |
| Justice | 1971 | Hilda | TV series, billed as Margo Mayne |
| The Getting of Wisdom | 1977 | ? | |
| Bluey | 1977 | Bette Taylor | TV series |
| Prisoner | 1979-1982 | Catherine Roberts / Prison officer Parsons | TV series, billed as Marco McLennen |
| All the Rivers Run | 1983 | Aunt Miriam | TV miniseries |
| The Henderson Kids | 1985 | Secretary | TV series, billed as Margot McLennan |
| A Thousand Skies | 1985 | Society Hostess | TV miniseries |
| The More Things Change | 1986 | Barbara | |
| The Flying Doctors | 1986 | Helen Spencer | TV series |
| A Country Practice | 1992 | Mrs. Barker | TV series |
| Blue Heelers | 1994 | Jean Richards | TV series |
| The Secret Life of Us | 2001 | Stage Manager | TV series |
| Prisoner Queen | 2003 | Mrs. Gilding |
References
edit- ^ a b "Prisoner Cell Block H star dies". BBC. 2 August 2004. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
- ^ a b c Thornton, Michael (4 August 2004). "Margo McLennan". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2009.