Amanda Muggleton

Amanda Muggleton
Muggleton in 2013
Born
Amanda Lillian Muggleton

12 October 1951
Stepney, London, England
Occupation(s) Stage, television and film actress
Years active 1974–present
Website www.amandamuggleton.com.au

Amanda Lillian Muggleton (born 12 October 1951) is an English Australian theatre, television and film actress. She is best known for her supporting television soap opera role in Prisoner as Chrissie Latham, with appearance between 1979 and 1983.

Her stage work in Australia includes the title roles in Shirley Valentine and Educating Rita, and as Maria Callas in Master Class, for which she won the 2002 Helpmann Award for Best Actress in a Play. She won a second Helpmann Award in 2005, for her role as Mercedes Cortez in the musical Eureka!.

Early life

Muggleton was born on 12 October 1951 in Stepney, London, England and emigrated to Australia in 1974. She attended Sydenham School and left just before taking A Levels to go to Drama School. She trained at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy of Dance.

Career

Television and film

Muggleton's most famous television role is perhaps that of Chrissie Latham in the Australian soap opera Prisoner. Other roles include Connie Ryan in Richmond Hill, and guest roles in television series including A Country Practice, Cop Shop, HeadLand, City Homicide as well as British series Hollyoaks and the telemovie Sara Dane. Film credits include Mad Max, Thirst, Street Hero, Queen of the Road, Mr. Reliable, Feeling Sexy, Idiot Box and Matching Jack.

In June 2019, it was announced that Muggleton would begin appearing in the Seven Network soap opera Home and Away as recurring character Wendy Shaw, mother of Ryan "Robbo" Shaw (Jake Ryan). She made her first appearance on 27 June 2019 during the show's thirty-second season. She is currently appearing in the 2020 season.

Theatre

Muggleton appeared with all the State and commercial theatre companies. On stage, her performances with State theatre companies include Privates on Parade, The Matchmaker, The Seagull, Shirley Valentine (MTC), Master Class, Nicholas Nickleby, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Soulmates (STC), Duet for One, The Winter's Tale, Gigi, We Were Dancing (QTC), Twelfth Night, Blithe Spirit (SATC), Educating Rita, Medea and Shirley Valentine (Hole in the Wall, Perth).

Muggleton's commercial credits include HMS Pinafore (Essgee), Hello Dolly (The Production Company), The Book Club, Master Class (ICA), Annie (GFO/SEL/Macks), the original Steaming (Morley, Davis), Eureka! (Essgee) and Losing Louis (Ensemble Theatre). Muggleton has won several very significant awards, for Shirley Valentine, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Norman Kessell Award) and for Miss Hannigan in Annie (Colleen Clifford Award). For her role as Maria Callas in Master Class, she won a Green Room Award and a Helpmann Award for Best Actress in a Play. She won a second Helpmann Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her role as Mercedes Cortez in the Australian musical, Eureka!

In 2003, Muggleton completed a highly successful national tour of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, playing the White Witch with Dennis Olsen as The Professor. Muggleton and Olsen also devised and co-produced Marvellous Party!, a production that celebrates the words and music of Noël Coward, and which had two sell-out shows at the Concert Hall in the Victorian Arts Centre, a highly successful Victorian tour and has been seen at Capers, Melbourne (2003 and 2004), Friends Restaurant (Hyatt) Perth, Edwards Waterfront Mandurah WA (2004) and Canberra's Teatro Vivaldi (2004). She also appeared in her own solo cabaret show, which premiered at the Star Casino Showroom, and which will tour nationally.

Out of Marvellous Party! came Darling It's Noel, produced by International Concert Attractions and directed by Rodney Fisher at the Sydney Opera House in May 2004 and at His Majesty's Theatre, Perth in June 2004. Muggleton is qualified as a speech and drama teacher. She is also a public speaker and can pilot single-engine planes.

Muggleton ended 2008 with a nomination at the AFI Awards. Her role of Kathy Booth in City Homicide earned her the nomination for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama.

In 2009, Muggleton and her business partner Bernadette Eichner founded Scene & Heard, a new acting school based in Sydney's Lane Cove. Within its first year, the business became so successful that they had to relocate it to new, bigger premises. Muggleton has also appeared in the thirtieth anniversary of The Man From Mukinupin for Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney (2009) and in the two roles Louis and Ethel Reid in The Ruby Sunrise for Ensemble Theatre, Sydney (2009).

In 2010, Muggleton has appeared as Bette Davis in the one-woman show Me & Jezebel at the Mackay Entertainment Centre (QLD). One week after it finished, she began rehearsals for the role of Chris in Calendar Girls, which toured nationally and took the role of Lillian in Madagascar for Black Swan Theatre Company in Perth, WA (October 2010). She also appeared in two episodes of the ABC series The Librarians.

In 2011, Muggleton started playing multiple roles in Love Loss & What I Wore at the Sydney Opera House alongside Magda Szubanski and Natalie Bassingthwaighte. Subsequently, she played the role of Susan in a one-woman comedy Just the Ticket for Ensemble Theatre, Sydney (March 2011). After a short break, Muggleton took over the role of Mrs Peachum in The Threepenny Opera alongside Paul Capsis for the Sydney Theatre Company, from 1 September 2011 to 24 September 2011, and then headed to Perth (WA), where she played the role of Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers, from 9 November 2011 to 4 December 2011 – a role that she had longed to play.

In March 2012, Muggleton went to Queensland for a role in Fatal Honeymoon, a feature film based on the death of Alabama woman Tina Watson on her Great Barrier Reef diving trip in 2003, shot for the American cable channel Lifetime.

In 2013, Muggleton starred in three different theatre productions. First she starred in a revival of Torch Song Trilogy for Gaiety Theatre Presents, from 6 February to 3 March at the Darlinghurst Theatre in Sydney. Following this, she took to the road for a six-month tour of The Book Club which visited Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and many regional areas. Midway through the tour she took a break to reprise her role in Blood Brothers at Brisbane's Cremorne Theatre, QPAC for two weeks in August. In 2014 she returned to the role of Ms Hannigan in Annie (Sydney) as well as performing the cabaret show The Men Who Got Away—Thank God! in Canberra.

In 2015, Muggleton performed in Boston Marriage at QPAC in February and March and won the 2015 Norman Kessell Memorial Award for Best Actor (female) for her role in The Book Club at the Glug Awards in Sydney.

Muggleton returned to the stage in 2016 to play Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray in Brisbane (April) and Newcastle (July) just before The Book Club returned to Melbourne's Southbank Theatre in July. Muggleton also added two TV credits to her name; she appeared in Episode 2 of Channel 7's The Secret Daughter and in December 2016, Muggleton made a brief appearance in the UK Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks as Dr. Barton which she filmed in October whilst she was in London performing The Book Club at The Kings Head Theatre.

In 2017, Muggleton played the role of Helena Rubinstein in Lip Service for The Ensemble Theatre in Sydney and reprised her award-winning role as Maria Callas in Master Class in Perth. Master Class opens in Melbourne in January 2018.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Type
1979 Mad Max Biker's Moll Uncredited
Thirst Martha Feature film
1982 A Slice of Life Eva Feature film
1984 Street Hero Miss Reagan Feature film
1996 Idiot Box Mum Feature film
Mr. Reliable Mrs. Morgan Feature film
1999 Feeling Sexy Vicki's Mum Feature film
2006 Vermin Esmerelda Short film
2008 Your Turn Esther Short film
2010 Don't Ya Wanna Dance? The Mother Short film
Matching Jack Home Nurse
Television
Year Title Role Type
1975-1976 The Caricacture Theatre unknown role TV series UK
1975 Panache unknown role TV series UK
1978;1982 Cop Shop Bikie’s girlfriend TV series, 2 episodes
1979–1983 Prisoner Chrissie Latham Supporting role; Seasons 1–5 (108 episodes)
1981 Holiday Island Ruth Faraday Episode: "Public Hero"
Women of the Sun Secretary TV Mini-series, episode 4
1982 Sara Dane Nell Finnigan TV Mini-series, 2 episodes
1982 The Mike Walsh Show Guest - Herself with Gwen Plumb & Lynette Curran TV series, 1 episode
1983 A Country Practice Karen Murdoch Episode: "Truth and Consequences"
1983 The Mike Walsh Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1984 Queen of the Road Gayle O' Reagan Television film
A Country Practice Ros Henkle Episode: "Horse of a Different Colour"
1984 Sweet and Sour Pat Mason ABC TV series, 2 episodes
1986 The 1986 Australian Film Institute Awards Herself - Audience member ABC TV special
1987 Have a Go Herself TV series, 1 episode
1987 A Country Practice Jill Rice Episode: "Birds of Prey"
1987 Rafferty's Rules unknown role TV series, 1 episode
1988 Richmond Hill Connie Ryan Lead role – TV series
The Midday Show Herself TV series, 1 episode
1988 Touch the Sun: Peter & Pompey Miria Malloy ABC TV film
1988;1989 The Bert Newton Show Herself TV series, 2 episodes
1988 Late Night Oz Herself TV series, 1 episode
1990 Wogan Herself & Val Lehman TV series UK, 1 episode
1991;1998 What's Cooking Herself 2 episodes
1991 Til Ten Herself TV series1 episode
1991 The Main Event Herself Tv series, 1 episode
1991 Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Herself Tv series, 1 episode
1991;1992;1993 Tonight Live with Steve Vizard Herself TV series, 3 episodes
1991 The World Tonight: Beauty and the Beast segment Herself TV series, 1 episode
1992;1993,1998 The Midday Show Herself TV series, 3 episodes
1992 Sex Herself TV series, 1 episode
1992 In Sydney Today Herself TV series, 1 episode
1992 The Morning Show Herself TV series, 2 episodes
1993 Tonight Live Herself TV series, 1 episode
1994;1995 Ernie and Denise Herself TV series, 1 episode
1995-2005 Good Morning Australia Herself TV series, 15 episodes
1995 Hey Hey It's Saturday Herself TV series, 1 episode
1997 Monday to Friday Herself TV series, 1 episode
1997 Sale of the Century Herself TV series, 1 episode
1997;1998 In Melbourne Tonight Herself TV series, 3 episodes
1998 Today Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998 What's Cooking Herself TV series, 1 episode
1997 H.M.S. Pinafore Little Buttercup Television film
1998 Today Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998 What's Cooking Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998 Laws Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998 FCTV Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998 In Melbourne Tonight Herself Tv series, 1 episode
1998 Close Up With Willsy Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998;2000 Denise Herself TV series, 2 episodes
2000;2001 Denise Herself TV series, 1 episode
2003 Mornings Herself TV series, 1 episode
2006 HeadLand Gearldine Pye Episodes: Season 1, episodes 38 & 44
2006 Where Are They Now? Herself with Prisoner cast: Val Lehman, Peta Toppano, Carol Burns & Maggie Kirkpatrick TV series, 1 episode
2007 City Homicide Cathy Booth Episode: "Lie Down with Dogs"
2007 Susie Herself TV series, 1 episode
2008 BBC News Herself TV series UK, 1 episode
2008 E News Herself Tv series, 1 episode
2009 9am with David and Kim Herself with Prisoner cast: Peta Toppano & Val Lehman TV series, 1 episode
2010;2011 Mornings With Kerri-Anne Herself TV series, 1 episode
2010 Today Tonight Herself TV series, 1 episode
2011 Kerri-Anne Herself & Val Lehman TV series, 1 episode
2011;2012 The Couch Herself TV series, 1 episode
2012 Fatal Honeymoon Glenda Watson TV film
2012 The Couch Herself TV series, 1 episode
2013 The Librarians Rose McConnichie Episodes: "Dark Before Dawn", "Pearl of Wisdom"
2015 The Morning Show Herself TV series, 1 episode
2015;2017 The Daily Edition Herself TV series, 1 episode
2015;2018 Studio 10 Herself TV series, 1 episode
2016 The Secret Daughter Connie Di Maria Television Series, 2 episodes – Seven Network
Hollyoaks Dr. Barton 1 episode
2017;2019 The Daily Edition Herself TV series, 2 episodes
2018;2019;2021 Studio 10 Herself TV series, 2 episodes
2019–2021 Home and Away Wendy Shaw recurring role; Season 32,33
2019;2020 The Daily Edition Herself TV series, 1 episode
2019;2021 Studio 10 Herself & Val Lehman TV series, 1 episode
2020 The Daily Edition Herself TV series, 1 episode (Final)
2021;2022 Studio 10 Herself TV series, 1 episode
Theatre
Year Title Role Notes
2018 Master Class Maria Callas Staged in Perth and Melbourne, Australia

STAGE/THEATRE

  • Volte Farce (1975) (UK)
  • Fefu And Her Friends (1975) (UK)
  • Cheskoo Raree (1976) (UK)
  • Privates On Parade (1976) (UK)
  • Boy For You, Girl For Me (1977)
  • Bremen Coffee (1977)
  • MacBeth (1978)
  • Sadie And Neco (1978)
  • Zazu And Zercus (1978)
  • Kennedy's Children (1978)
  • Love Thy Neighbour (1978)
  • Nicholas Nickleby (1979)
  • Hello And Goodbye (1979)
  • Antigone (1980)
  • Dirty Linen (1980)
  • Female Parts (1981)
  • Female Transport (1981)
  • Steaming (1981-1982;1988)
  • Zastrozzi (1982)
  • Education (1983)
  • Words Words Words (1983)
  • Measure For Measure (1984)
  • Duet For One (1985)
  • The Matchmaker (1985)
  • Mothers And Fathers (1985)
  • The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole (1985-1986)
  • Crystal Clear (1986)
  • Private Lives (1987;1990)
  • Shirley Valentine (1987;1991)
  • Educating Rita (1988;1991)
  • The Odd Couple (1988)
  • Steaming (1988)
  • Stepping Out (1989)
  • Bedroom Farce (1989)
  • Private Lives (1990)
  • Shirley Valentine (1991-1992)
  • Educating Rita (1991)
  • Love Letters (1991;1992)
  • Shirley Valentine (1992-1993;1995)
  • The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice (1993;1994)
  • Don't Dress For Dinner (1994)
  • A Winter's Tale (1994)
  • Gigi (1994)
  • Shirley Valentine (1995;1998)
  • The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole (1996)
  • HMS Pinafore (1997)
  • Master Class (1998;1999)
  • Shirley Valentine (1998)
  • Full Gallop (1998)
  • Dangerous Obsession (1998)
  • A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (1998-1999)
  • Master Class (1999)
  • Blithe Spirit (2000)
  • The Seagull (2001)
  • Twelfth Night (?)
  • Medea (?)
  • Hello Dolly! (2002)
  • Soulmates (2002)
  • We Were Dancing (2003)
  • The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (2003)
  • Marvellous Party! (2003)
  • Darling It's Noel (2004)
  • Eureka! (2005)
  • Losing Louis (2006)
  • The Man From Mukinupin (2009)
  • The Ruby Sunrise (2009)
  • Me And Jezebel (2010)
  • Calendar Girls (2010)
  • Madagascar (2010)
  • Love Loss And What I Wore (2011)
  • Just The Ticket (2011)
  • The Threepenny Opera (2011)
  • Blood Brothers (2011;2013)
  • Torch Song Trilogy (2013)
  • The Book Club (2013;2016) (UK)
  • Blood Brothers (2013)
  • Annie (2014)
  • The Men Who Got Away - Thank God! (2014)
  • Boston Marriage (2015)
  • Hairspray (2016)
  • The Book Club (2016) (UK)
  • Lip Service (2017)
  • Master Class (2018)
  • CORAL BROWNE: This F***king Lady (2019) (UK)
  • The Mentor (2023)