Philippa Baker (actress)
![]() | This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (January 2008) |
Philippa Baker | |
---|---|
Born | c. 1930/1931 (aged 91-92)[1] Sydney, Australia |
Nationality | Australian |
Other names | Phillippa Baker |
Occupation | Actress (retired) |
Years active | 1953–1989[2] |
Known for | Number 96 |
Notable work | Blue Hills (radio serial), The Norman Gunston Show (guest role) |
Philippa Baker credited also as Phillippa Baker, (born c. 1930 or 1931[3][1] is an Australian retired actress of radio, theatre, television and film.
Baker started her career in stage and radio and appeared in cameos in a few TV soap opera's, primarily for Crawford Productions, but is better known for her numerous roles in made for television features and mini-series
She however is best known for playing deli worker Roma Lubinski, later Godolfus in television soap opera Number 96. Baker left the acting industry in 1989, after more than 35 years of performing [2]
Biography[]
Theatre and radio[]
Baker has appeared in theatre roles from 1953 and 1989,[2] She acted in the long-running radio serial Blue Hills, spending five years playing a Scottish nurse.[4]
Television and film: (serials, miniseries and telemovies)[]
Baker appeared in television plays by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 1958 onwards, and then featured in a few different roles in early Crawford Productions police procedurals Homicide and Division Four.
Baker however became best known for playing Roma in top-rated soap opera Number 96. She joined as Russian emigrant Roma Lubinski early in the show's run in 1972, becoming a comedy double-act with Johnny Lockwood, who played her character's soon-to-be husband Aldo, the deli proprietor. They reprised their roles in the 1974 feature film version of Number 96. They were written out of the serial in late 1974 with all the attached publicity, but returned several weeks later: it was always planned as a temporary absence and the media stories a publicity stunt.
By August 1975 the program's ratings had entered a slump and a drastic revamp of the show was planned. The writers decided to write out several high-profile characters, so in early September 1975 the show's famous bomb blast killed four residents including Roma and Aldo. In 1976 Baker and co-star Lockwood appeared in ...And They Said It Wouldn't Last, a retrospective celebrating the 1000th episode of Number 96.
In 1976 Baker joined comedy series The Norman Gunston Show in a recurring sketch The Checkout Chicks, a parody of melodramatic soap operas set in a supermarket. The Checkout Chicks featured other former Number 96 actors Abigail, Vivienne Garrett, Candy Raymond, Judy Lynne and Anne Louise Lambert.
Through the 1980s Baker made various appearances in theatre, television and film. She had small roles in high-profile films Annie's Coming Out (1984) and Young Einstein (1988). When not acting, Baker returned to her career as a public librarian until her retirement.
Filmography (selected))[]
Year of Production | Title | Role |
1958 | Rose Without a Thorn (TV Movie) | |
1962 | Funnel Web (TV Movie) | |
1964 | A Sound of Trumpets (TV Movie) | |
1968 | Contrabandits (TV series) | Prudence |
1970 | Eden House (TV Movie) | |
1971 | The Godfathers (TV series) | Molly |
1970–71 | Division 4 | 2 roles: - Mrs Couter - Helen McGuire |
1970–72 | Homicide | 3 roles: - Mrs Allen - Mrs Campbell - Mrs Johnson (credited as "Phillipa Baker") |
1974 | Number 96 (feature film version) | Roma Godolfus |
1972–75 | Number 96 (TV series) | Mrs. Roma Lubinski/Godolfus |
1975 | The Norman Gunston Show | as member of "Check-out Chicks" (soap opera parody) |
1976 | Murcheson Creek (TV Movies) | |
1977 | Pig in a Poke (TV series) | Episode Christine's Story |
1977 | Say You Want Me (TV Movie) | |
1981 | A Hard God (TV Movie) | Monica |
1983 | The Weekly's War | Mrs Cruickshank |
1984 | Five Mile Creek (TV series) | Mrs. Curtis |
1984 | A Test of Love | Sister Waterman |
1988 | The Dirtwater Dynasty (TV mini-series) | Landlady |
1988 | Young Einstein | Fred's mother |
Radio[]
Year | Title | Role |
1950s | Blue Hills | Scottish nurse |
Notes[]
- ^ a b "Number 96 Together Again".
- ^ a b c "Philippa Baker".
- ^ Baker is cited in an article in 2010, as being 79 years old, indicating a birth year of either 1930 or 1931, however this published in Woman's Day, however this may be considered as a primary source only, and may not be conclusive of a third party reference or source
- ^ Fawcett, Tony. "The Double Life of Mrs Godolfus!" TV Week. 4 August 1973, p.20
External links[]
- Australian stage actresses
- Australian television actresses
- Living people
- Australian film actresses
- 1930s births