Paula Duncan
{{short description|Australian actress}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Paula Duncan
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AM}}
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Paula Margaret Duncan
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|09|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Cooma, New South Wales, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| restingplace =
| restingplacecoordinates =
| othername =
| occupation = Actress
| years active = 1971 – present
| spouse = {{married|John Orcsik|1982|1998|reason=divorced}}
| family = Carmen Duncan (sister)
| children =
| known for = {{hlist|Number 96|The Young Doctors|Cop Shop|Prisoner|Richmond Hill|Home and Away}}
}}
Paula Margaret Duncan {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} (born 15 September 1952) is an Australian actress.{{cite web|url=https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/230644|title=Paula Duncan|author=AusStage}}?
Her numerous television roles include playing in Number 96 as Carol Finlayson (1974-1975), The Young Doctors (1976–77), as Nurse Lisa Brooks, Cop Shop as Detective Danni Francis (1977–83), for which she twice won the Logie Award for Most Popular Actress, Prisoner as Lorelei Wilkinson (1986), Richmond Hill as Janet Bryant (1988), Home and Away as Bridget Jackson (1990) and Neighbours (2011). Other notable roles include Paradise Beach and Breakers.
Duncan's older sister was stage and screen actress and activist Carmen Duncan.
Career
Duncan was born in Cooma, New South Wales, to publicans Rita and Robert on 15 September 1952.{{cite web|url=https://womensweekly.com.au/news/celebrity/paula-duncan-love-and-life-76526/|title=As she celebrates 50 years in showbusiness, Paula Duncan reflects on the highs and the lows|date=5 February 2023 }} has played several leading roles in various TV series. Early roles were Carol Finlayson in Number 96 (her sister Carmen Duncan had previously acted in this serial), followed by Lisa Brooks in The Young Doctors. She left The Young Doctors to take the role of Danni Francis in Cop Shop, and stayed in the role for the series' entire 1977–1984 run. After Cop Shop ended she played Lorelei Wilkinson in Prisoner in 1986, then was Janet Bryant in Richmond Hill (1988) for its entire run, Bridget Jackson in Home and Away,{{cite magazine|last=Williams|first=Glen|title=Paul becomes a 'monster' mum|date=14 April 1990|magazine=TV Week|page=91}} and Joan Hayden in Paradise Beach.{{IMDb name|id=nm0242061}}
In 2011 Duncan joined the cast of Neighbours as Carolyn Johnstone, a love interest for Harold Bishop (Ian Smith).{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/confidential/harold-bishop-to-find-love-on-ramsay-street/story-e6frf96o-1226030367327|title=Harold Bishop to find love on Ramsay Street|date=30 March 2011|work=Herald Sun|publisher=The Herald and Weekly Times|accessdate=22 June 2011}} Duncan previously appeared in the show as Amy Medway in 1985.
=Advertising=
Duncan is well known to Australian audiences through her work on television commercials, especially humorous commercials for the Ajax household cleaner Spray N' Wipe, from 1988 to 2010.{{cite web
|url=http://video.news.com.au/v/119585/The-Spray-N-Wipe-commercial
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140615103132/http://video.news.com.au/v/119585/The-Spray-N-Wipe-commercial
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2014-06-15
|title=The Spray N' Wipe commercial
|website=news.com.au
She has also made guest appearances on the NRL Footy Show on Network Nine.
Personal life
Duncan married actor John Orcsik in June 1982 after they met acting together in Cop Shop. They opened acting school, The Australian Film & Television Academy (TAFTA){{Cite web|url=http://www.tafta.com.au|title=The Australian Film & Television Academy|website=tafta.com.au|access-date=2020-07-05}} together on the Gold Coast in 1994. They divorced in 1998. They have since worked together in the show Paradise Beach and elsewhere.
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 1974
|Casualty Ward | unknown role | TV film |
| 1975
|Polly Me Love |unknown role |TV film |
| 1978
| Cass | | TV film |
| 1985
|Gaynor |Feature film |
| 1987
|Miss Bernsteen |TV film |
| 1996
|Jennifer Haywood |TV film |
| 2004
|Cocktail Hour |Sandra |Film short |
| 2004
|Yvonne Philpot |Feature film |
| 2009
|Braille |Madam |Feature film |
| 2011
|Surprise Surprise |Muriel |Film short |
| 2015
|Natural Injustice |Doreen Smith |Feature film |
| 2017
|Torn |Tess Smith |Film short |
| 2020
|Unsound |Angela |Feature film |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 1955
|Kitty |TV series US, 1 episode "So Evil My Love" |
| 1973
|The Pirates of Penzance | Unknown role |Teleplay |
| 1974
|This Love Affair |Joan |TV series, 1 episode 8: 'One Of My Silly Dreams' |
| 1974
|unknown role |TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1974-75 / 1977
|Carol Finlayson |"1.669", "1.689", "1.700" |
| 1975
|Ain't Got a Barrel of Money |unknown role |TV pilot |
| 1977
|{{sortname|The|Young Doctors}} |Lisa Brooks |TV series, 121 episodes |
| 1977-1984
|Det. Danni Francis |TV series, 582 episodes |
| 1984
|Barbara Dean | TV pilot |
| 1985
|Amy Medway |TV series, 4 episodes |
| rowspan="2" |1986
|Lorelei Wilkinson |TV series, 54 episodes Regular role; Season 8 |
| Studio 86
|Glenda |TV series, 1 episode "An Electric Day" |
| 1988
|Janet Bryant |TV series |
| rowspan="2" |1990
|TV series, 8 episodes Recurring role; Season 3 |
| Skirts
|Guest role: Janine Davies |TV series, 1 episode 3: "Wolf Whistles" |
| 1992
|Real Estate agent |TV series, 1 episode "The Clock" |
| 1993-1994
|Joan Hayden |"2.139" |
| 1999
|Karen Fairbarn |TV series |
| 2000
|Lorelei Wilkinson |TV series, 1 episode "Gambling Pizza" |
| 2002
|Make-up artist |TV series, 1 episode |
| 2008
|Pauline |TV series, 3 episodes: "No Way to Nirvana", "Save Me Some Scones", "Aesthetic My Arse" |
| 2011
|TV series, 7 episodes Recurring role; Season 27 |
| 2015
|Jenny Krilich |TV series, 3 episodes "1.1", "1.3", "1.8" |
= Interview / self appearances =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 2023
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| rowspan="4" |2022
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| Weekend Sunrise
|Guest (with John Orcsik) |TV series, 1 episode |
| Seven News Melbourne
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| This Is Your Life: Ray Meagher
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| 2018-2019
|Herself - Infomercial |TV series |
| rowspan="2" |2019
|Herself |TV series, 2 episodes |
| Chris Smith Tonight
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| 2020
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| 2021-2024
|Herself - Sleeper Pro Pillow Infomercial |TV series |
| 2015-2019
|Herself |TV series, 6 episodes |
| 2016
|Australian Disability Film Festival |Herself |TV special |
| 2016; 2016
|Guest (with John Orcsik) |TV series, 1 episode |
| 2016; 2019
|Guest (with Maggie Kirkpatrick, Lynda Stoner & Toni Pearen) |TV series, 1 episode |
| 2016
|Guest |TV series, 1 episode |
| 2012
|Herself |TV series, 3 episodes |
| 2015; 2016
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| 2008
|This Is Your Life: Bert Newton |Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| 2009
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| 2010
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| 2011
|Herself & John Orscik |TV series, 1 episode |
| 2011
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| 2007
|Guest - Herself with 'Cop Shop' cast: John Orscik, Lynda Stoner, Joanna Lockwood, Terence Donovan & Gil Tucker |TV series, 1 episode |
| 2007; 2011
|Herself - Guest with 'Cop Shop' cast: Gil Tucker, John Orcsik, Terence Donovan & Greg Ross |TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2008
|Confidential at the Logies |Herself |TV special |
| 2008
|Susie |Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| 2003
|This Is Your Life :10 Year Celebration Special |Herself |TV special |
| 2003; 2006; 2007
|Herself |TV series, 3 episodes |
| rowspan="3" |2006
|50 Years 50 Stars |Herself |TV special |
| TV Turns 50 - The Events That Stopped A Nation
|Herself |TV special |
| What a Year
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| 2006; 2010
|Herself |TV series, 2 episodes |
| rowspan="2" |2002
|The Best of Aussie Cop Shows |Herself |TV special |
| New Idea: 100 Fabulous Years
|Herself |TV special |
| 2000
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| rowspan="4" |1999
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| Good Medicine
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| Laws
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| Fox Studios Australia: The Grand Opening
|Herself |TV special |
| 1998
|FCTV |Herself |TV series, 6 episodes |
| rowspan="2" |1997
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| Sex And Beyond: 25 Years of Cleo
|Herself |TV special |
| 1995; 1996; 2001; 2008
|This Is Your Life: Paula Duncan/Carmen Duncan/Judy Nunn/Bert Newton |Herself |TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1996; 1997
|Monday to Friday |Herself |TV series, 2 episodes |
| rowspan="3" |1997
|Australian Good Taste |Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| Where Are They Now?
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| Celebrity Wheel Of Fortune
|Contestant |TV series, 1 episode |
| 1997-2000
|Herself |TV series |
| 1996-2000
|An Australian Christmas At Darling Harbour |Herself |TV special |
| 1996
|Herself |TV special |
| 1995
|The Times |Herself |TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1994
|Dr Feelgood |Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| 1993; 1995
|Ernie and Denise |Herself |TV series, 2 episodes |
| rowspan="5" |1994
|Love Rules |Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| What’s Cooking?
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| At Home
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| Today
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| Midday with Derryn Hinch
|Guest with John Orcsik |TV series, 1 episode |
| 1993; 1994
|Live It Up |Herself |TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1993-2005
|Herself |TV series |
| 1993
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| rowspan="5" |1992
|Herself |TV series, 2 episodes |
| Ten News
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| Seven Nightly News
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| National Nine News
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| ABC News
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| 1991; 1992
|In Sydney Today |Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| 1990; 1991
|Tonight Live With Steve Vizard |Herself |TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1990
|TV Celebrity Dance Party |Herself |TV special |
| 1991; 1997
|Celebrity Wheel of Fortune |Contestant |TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1991
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| rowspan="3" |1988
|Henry Lawson's Australia |Presenter |Video |
| Rugby League Grand Final
|Herself |TV special |
| Life Education Television Appeal
|Herself |TV special |
| rowspan="3" |1989
|TV Weddings |Herself |TV special |
| The Bert Newton Show
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| In Melbourne Today
|Guest - Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989; 1989
|Contestant (with family John, Simon & Jessica Orcsik) |TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989
|Guest (with Chantal Contouri, Jo Mitchell & Jodie Gillies) |TV series, 1 episode "Leading Ladies" |
| 1987
|Have a Go |Herself |TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1987-1998
|Herself |TV series |
| rowspan="2" |1986
|An Australian Audience with Dame Edna Everage |Herself |TV special |
| Punchlines
|Herself |TV special |
| 1984; 1984
|Guest (with sister Carmen Duncan) |TV series, 1 episode |
| 1982
|The 24th Annual TV Week Logie Awards |Herself |TV special |
| 1984
|1984 TV Week Logie Awards |Guest (with John Orcsik arriving at event) |TV special |
| 1984
|Guest (with John & Simon Orcsik) |TV series, 1 episode |
| 1980
|The 22nd Annual TV Week Logie Awards |Herself |TV special |
| 1977
|Herself |TV special |
| 1975
|Herself |TV series, 1 episode |
| 1974-1978
|Herself |TV series |
| 1973
|The Barry Crocker Comedy Hour |Herself |TV special |
Stage
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Type |
|---|
| 1972
| Dick Whittington and His Cat | | |
| 1983
| | |
| 1985
| Half In Earnest | | |
| 1987
| Hansel And Gretel's Aussie Adventure | | |
| 1987
| Blithe Spirit | | |
| 1989
| | |
| 1990
| | |
| 1995
| | |
| 1998
| Social Climbers | | |
| 2002
| | |
| 2007
| Flying Solo | | |
| 2008
| Theatresports | | |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=0242061|name=Paula Duncan}}
{{Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress on Australian Television}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duncan, Paula}}
Category:20th-century Australian actresses
Category:21st-century Australian actresses
Category:Actresses from New South Wales
Category:Australian film actresses
Category:Australian soap opera actresses