Gerda Maureen Nicolson (11 November 1937 – 12 June 1992) was an Australian actress, who worked across all major forms of media, including theatre and television actress and films, she was best known for several long-running television roles, including in rural series Bellbird police detective series Bluey and as Governor Ann Reynolds of the Wentworth Detention Centre in soap opera Prisoner and briefly as Robyn Taylor in Neighbours

Early life

Gerda Maureen Nicolson was born in Hobart, Tasmania, and as a child moved to Geelong in Melbourne where her parents both involved in reportory theatre. In 1959, she travelled to London with her parents and attended many stage performances. She initially studied architecture and got her dramatic training at the St Martins Theatre, before travelling to London where she worked as a draftsperson.

On returning to Australia in 1961, Gerda joined Melbourne University's Graduate Society and acted in a number of its amateur stage plays. A year later, she was spotted by a director who encouraged her to audition for a stage play, A Woman in a Dressing Gown. Scoring one of the main roles, she joined the ensemble on its tour of Australia and New Zealand. Nicolson later said that the producer awarded her with the role on account of her stunning legs.

Performance career

She was in The Proposal and the Bear for ABC TV.

Nicolson first reached wider audiences through her television roles firstly with Crawford Productions and long-running role as Fiona Davies in Australian Broadcasting Corporation daily soap opera Bellbird. After leaving that series she had a regular role as Monica Rourke in the police detective drama Bluey (1976) opposite Lucky Grills and also featured The Sullivans (1976) and had a small guest role in Cop Shop.

Her most widely recognised role was as Governor Ann Reynolds in the popular Australian television soap opera Prisoner. This was her second role in the show — she had already played a minor role as a corrupt officer at another prison in earlier episodes. Nicolson played the role of Ann Reynolds from 1983 until the series ended in 1986. The series found huge international cult success in the 1990s and 2000s. Nicolson also appeared in Neighbours in 1989 as Robyn Taylor, who almost had an affair with series regular Harold Bishop (played by Ian Smith (actor)).

Nicholson collapsed in her dressing room prior to going to stage for theatre performance in Mary Lives! in 1992. Although she was rushed to hospital, but never regained consciousness and died on 12 June. The cause of death was a brain-related haemorrhage. Actress Pat Bishop assumed the role.^[1]

Legacy

Green Room Award: The Gerda Nicolson Award (for an Emerging Actress) was instituted in her name to commemorate her work in Australian theatre, as she is recognised as one of Victoria's finest female actors. This award, protected by The Green Room Awards Association, was presented to the recipient by her widower until his death in 2006. Recipients included; Alison Whyte, Peta Brady and Kat Stewart.

Gerda Nicolson Award for Indigenous female students studying at the Victorian College of the Arts in the areas of performing arts. This award was hosted through the Willan Centre for an undergraduate student.

Filmography

Film

Television

Television film

Awards & nominations