Vivean Gray

Early life

Gray was born in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, on 20 July 1924. Gray was the daughter of Allan Gray and Doris Gray, who had been married the previous year in the district of Simpson. She was the oldest of four children. The family later moved to Surrey where her father became a fish merchant at the Grimsby Docks.

She initially worked as a local reporter, photographer's assistant and as a sales assistant in a department store, Later becoming a nurse and working with the Women's Land Army., before emigrating to Australia around 1952 to pursue a career as an actress.

Career

In the 1970s, Gray appeared in a number of television dramas produced by Crawford Productions including Solo One, Bluey, Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police, and Carson's Law. She also appeared in film portraying mathematics teacher Miss McGraw in Peter Weir's adaptation of Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) and in the television mini-series Anzacs and All the Rivers Run.

She worked with Weir again in 1977 in his film The Last Wave, playing the role of Aboriginal history expert Dr. Whitburn.

The Sullivans

Gray played Ida Jessup in the soap opera The Sullivans for its 16-season run from 1976 to 1983, winning two Logie Awards for her portrayal of the gossipy neighbour.

Prisoner

She also appeared in Prisoner (known internationally as Prisoner: Cell Block H), as genteel poisoner Edna Pearson in 1984. After the initial showing of her episodes in Australia, a woman named Emily Perry claimed the story was based on her real life experience of being accused of poisoning her husband and threatened to sue the producers, Grundy Television.

As a result, any material that coincided with the woman's story was removed for subsequent episode screenings, including the full Australian DVD release of Prisoner. In 2010 a special DVD release of the full uncut "Edna" story was released, but only in the United Kingdom.

Neighbours

In 1986, Gray was cast in the role of "Nell" Mangel, better known as Mrs Mangel for three weeks in the soap opera Neighbours. However, the character proved so popular that she remained on the show until 1988, appearing in 292 episodes. The character was known for her constant feuding with Madge Bishop, played by Anne Charleston, and vying for the affections of Harold Bishop, played by Ian Smith. Gray left the role after receiving abuse from fans who disliked the character, with producers relocating Mangel to St. Albans, with a retired dentist, to live a happy retirement. This was Gray's last acting role and she herself retired returning to her native land and settling in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.

Later life and recognition

Gray won two Logie Awards for her role as Ida Jessup in The Sullivans: in 1978 for Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, and in 1981 for Best Support Actress in a Series. In 1995, Gray was featured on an Australian postage stamp, depicting her role in Picnic at Hanging Rock.

Gray died on 29 July 2016, aged 92.