the Arts Centre presents
Leading Ladies
A Creative Development Initiative

Interview | Biography

Jill Perryman


Jill Perryman and Simon Plant
Perth, May 2003

Jill Perryman was born in Melbourne in 1933. At the age of two she literally followed her parents onto the stage when they were appearing in a production of White Horse Inn. In case she decided to repeat the performance, she was written into the script as Ninga the goat girl.

At the age of 19, Jill joined J.C. Williamson Theatres Ltd as a chorus member, beginning a long association with ‘the Firm’. In 1953 she understudied Evie Hayes, the star of Call Me Madam, then took on roles in South Pacific and Paint Your Wagon (1954). In 1957 she demonstrated her talent for comedy when cast as Mabel, the middle-aged secretary, in the all-Australian production of The Pajama Game. In 1958 Jill took over the lead role in Can-Can, a part she had initially understudied in 1955.

During the late 1950s and early 1960s Jill was a regular performer in revues at Sydney’s Phillip Street Theatre. In 1959 she married dancer, choreographer and actor, Kevan Johnston. Their successful personal and professional partnership continues to this day. In 1962 Jill and Kevan returned to J.C. Williamson’s to perform together in Carnival.

Jill was cast as Irene Molloy in the 1965 Australian production of Hello, Dolly! but on numerous occasions played the lead role when the American star, Carole Cook, became ill. Then came the role that elevated Jill to stardom: Fanny Brice in the national touring production of Funny Girl (1966). This won her an Erik Award for Best Actress and led to major roles in other productions, including I Do, I Do (1969); The Two of Us (1971); No! No! Nanette (1972) for which she received another Erik Award for Best Actress for her role as Lucille Early; A Little Night Music (1973); and Annie (1978). In 1976 she entertained audiences as Gladys Zilch in Leading Lady, a musical production created especially for her. She also toured in 1977 in Side By Side By Sondheim.

During this time, Jill made regular guest appearances on television variety programs and starred in her own series on ABC TV called Perryman On Parade (1973) for which she won a Penguin Award for Best Variety Performer. This was followed by Jill (1975) and An Evening With Jill Perryman (1977). She also recorded her first record with EMI entitled I Feel A Song Coming On in 1974.

Jill has also proven herself to be a fine dramatic actress in plays such as ‘night, Mother (1984), Brighton Beach Memoirs (1985) and Gulls (1986). She has also performed cameo roles in television series including the ABC’s Dynasty (1970), Bellbird (1971), Flight Into Hell (1985), GP (1990), The Flying Doctors (1990) and A Country Practice (1990). Jill’s role in an episode of the ABC series Tickled Pink, entitled Palace of Dreams, gained her a 1979 Penguin Award for Best Single Performance by an Actress. In 1980 she won an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film Maybe This Time. Her other film credits include Windrider (1986), The Swan (1990) and The Great Pretender (1991).

A long-term resident of Perth, Jill Perryman has worked extensively with Western Australian companies. She featured in Chicago (1983) and Company (1988) at Perth’s Playhouse, performed as a guest artist in the West Australian Ballet Company’s The Seven Deadly Sins (1984), and has given concerts with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. Her work with other companies includes: The Man from Mukinupin (1988) and Dinkum Assorted (1989) for West Australian Theatre Company; Side By Side By Sondheim (1987), Summer of the Seventeenth Doll (1988), Love Letters (1991) and One Day of the Year (1996) for the Hole-in-the-Wall Theatre Company; and Swan River Saga (1992 and 1993) and I Do, I Do (1993) with the Effie Crump Theatre. Her significant contribution to theatre in her home state was acknowledged in 1995 with a Gold Swan Award.

Jill Perryman was also included in the Tilbury Hotel’s acclaimed Legends series in 1992 and 1994, and then performed this cabaret-style show around Australia and in Singapore. She was a cast member of Follies in Concert for the 1993 Melbourne International Festival of the Arts and again in 1998 at the Sydney Opera House.

During the 1990s Jill returned to the stage in two major musical productions, playing the title role in Hello, Dolly! (1994) and Marion Woolnough in The Boy From Oz (1998). These shows had extended national tours and Jill received a Green Room Award for each role, along with a Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award for Best Musical Theatre Performer for the role of Dolly Levi.

In 1978 Jill became a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and in 1992 she was recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). Jill also received the Green Room Lifetime Achievement Award for 1999.