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Actor, Cameo & Crew Profiles > Actor Profiles > Maggie Dence

Maggie Dence was born in 1942. Her earlier television work includes characters in the satirical comedy sketch show The Mavis Bramston Show from 1966 to 1968. Maggie also had guest roles in Skippy, Homicide and Division 4, and from 1976 to 1978 she played Rose Sullivan in The Sullivans, a role in contrast to evil psychopath and serial killer Bev “The Beast” Baker in Prisoner Cell Block H, who she played in 1984. During the 1980s, Maggie also had a recurring guest role in the sitcom Kingswood Country playing the snobby Merle Bulpitt. During the 1980s and 1990s, Maggie also had guest roles in A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors, All Saints and Heartbreak High, but is arguably best known for her role as strict but fair school principal Dorothy Burke in Neighbours, a role she played for three years between 1990 and 1993.

More recently, Maggie has appeared in the award-winning Australian film Look Both Ways, in the 2008 soap opera Out of the Blue as Olive, and in the drama series Wonderland as Ruth.

Maggie has also has an amazing stage presence in Australia, playing some of Sydney’s largest theatres throughout her acting career, as well as making appearances in panto in the UK.

In 2011, Maggie was named the recipient of the Equity Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition for her outstanding services to the performing arts on both stage and screen, and for her longstanding involvement with the NSW Actors’ Benevolent Fund. The award was presented by Foxtel and was from Maggie’s peers and members of her union, the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance Equity (Performers) Section, which Maggie had joined in 1962.

Profile by Debbie