Elizabeth Bradley “The Sullivans”
The Sullivans was a very popular series set in wartime Melbourne, starring Paul Cronin as Dave, and Lorraine Bayley as Grace. I seem to remember there was some doubt about casting me, as I was on air in Prisoner, and the person casting the show felt that maybe the audience wouldn’t accept the same actor playing the gentille, attractive and ‘winsome’ Elizabeth at the same time as the truly awful Marie Winter.
However, I have always felt that any actor who is in command of the craft can play a wide variety of roles, and be totally accepted. Part of the pleasure I have had in doing this work is precisely that: to use the skills I have learned over the years to play a wide and varied selection of characters.
I was cast as Elizabeth, and began to work on one of the best series I think that Crawford Productions ever produced.
Each department, from wardrobe to props to make up and the technical crew did very fine work indeed, which, given the time-fame of filming, was remarkable.
I enjoyed playing such a different character from my role in Prisoner.
There was one scene I remember which caused the producers a bit of a headache: Dave and I had a love scene in which we kissed: no big deal you may think, but Grace Sullivan, was a hugely popular character, and the producers were very concerned how the audience would respond to Dave’s lips meeting those of another woman, even tho the Sainted Grace had been dead for some time - blown up in the London blitz!
We did the scene, and actually had someone from the production office come on to the set to tell us not to worry, that it had gone well, and that they were sure the audience would not turn off in droves! Whew!! (I hadn’t even known they were worried!)
I did my thoroughly enjoyable stint for about 8 months. (Although the character was originally set up in the publicity campaign as the new Mrs. Sullivan, this was never intended to happen.) It was a great pleasure to use all my skill in a role so different to my last one. |
