Beth Buchanan
Beth Christine Buchanan, born on 10 March 1972, is an Australian actress and social worker. She is best known for the television roles in sitcom Hey Dad!, Gemma Ramsay in Neighbours, and Susan Croydon in Blue Heelers. She was also a long-standing member of the Ranters Theatre Company.[1]
Beth Buchanan | |
---|---|
Born | Beth Christine Buchanan 10 March 1972 |
Occupation(s) | Actress, Social Worker |
Years active | 1980–present |
Children | 3 |
Early life
Buchanan was born in Sydney, the daughter of musician Tony Buchanan (formerly of Crossfire) and teacher Jo Buchanan. She is the youngest of three children; her brother Miles and sister Simone are also actors.
Career
Buchanan's television work includes appearances in Secret Valley, Runaway Island, Island Trader, Pirates Island, A Country Practice, Home and Away, Stingers, Hey Dad (where her older sister Simone starred as Debbie Kelly), and The Brittas Empire. Her longest running part, between 1994 and 2006, was the recurring role of Susan Croydon (the daughter of Tom Croydon), in the popular series Blue Heelers. Major storylines included becoming a school teacher; attempting to take the blame when drugs were planted in her and Tom's home; and losing her baby as a result of a hit-and-run targeted at her father. Buchanan played Rita Heywood in both series of ABC1's journalism-orientated comedy Lowdown.
Film roles have included Newsfront, Fluteman, A Good Thing Going, Fortress (1986) – based on the Faraday School kidnapping – The Rogue Stallion, and The King. Buchanan also played the title character in Peter Long's short A Telephone Call for Genevieve Snow (2000). Adapted from the story by Carmel Bird, it won the Silver Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival in 2000.[2]
Filmography
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | Secret Valley | Beth | TV series |
A Country Practice | TV series | ||
1988 | Home and Away | Alyce Davis | TV series |
1990-91 | Neighbours | Gemma Ramsay | TV series |
Stingers | TV series | ||
Hey Dad | Elaine | TV series, 3 episodes | |
Halifax f.p. | Informant | TV series, 1 episode | |
The Brittas Empire | Stephanie | TV series, 1 episode (series 4 episode 3) | |
1994-2006 | Blue Heelers | Susan Croydon | TV series |
2010-12 | Lowdown | Rita Heywood | TV series, seasons 1 & 2 |
2019, 2022 | Neighbours | Gemma Ramsay | TV series |
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1978 | Newsfront | Feature film | |
1978 | A Good Thing Going | TV movie | |
1982 | Runaway Island | TV movie | |
1982 | Island Trader | Joanne | TV movie |
1982 | Fluteman | Feature film | |
1986 | Fortress | Leanne | Feature film |
1990 | Pirates Island | TV movie | |
1990 | The Rogue Stallion | Anna Peterson | TV movie |
1990 | The Phantom Horseman | Feature film | |
2000 | A Telephone Call for Genevieve Snow | Genevieve Snow | Short film |
2007 | The King | Val Wesley | TV movie |
Personal life
Buchanan has three sons (Cinto, born 2004; Cesare, born 2007; and Tancredi, born 2010) with her ex partner, playwright Raimondo Cortese. She is an accredited Social Worker with a Master of Social Work (RMIT), has an Arts Diploma in Professional Writing and Editing (RMIT) and an Honours Degree in Performance Writing (Victoria University).[1][3][4]
References and notes
- Usher, Robin (17 July 2008) "Swimming in success" SMH.com.au (Retrieved: 1 March 2010)
- "About Carmel Bird" CarmelBird.com (Retrieved: 1 March 2010)
- Yeap, Sue (16 April 2010). "Making news for laughs". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- Usher, Robin (9 May 2005) "Writing of lives less ordinary" TheAge.com.au (Retrieved: 1 March 2010)