Neighbours and The Sullivans actress Vivean Gray dies
Veteran actress Vivean Gray, best known to UK audiences for her role as Mrs Nell Mangel in Grundy serial Neighbours, has died aged 92.
“Mrs. Mangel and Mrs. Jessup were two of our most iconic characters from one our very best character actors. Ramsay Street changed forever, and certainly no secret was ever safe, with Mrs. Mangel on the lookout. Vivean’s contribution to Australian drama will never be forgotten. It is a very sad day for the Neighbours’ family.” – Rick Maier, Head of Drama, Network TEN, speaking to Nine News
Born in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, in July 1924, she relocated to Australia in 1952 believing there were better acting opportunities ‘down under’. Initial work in theatre lead to radio drama roles and eventually small parts on television with Homicide, Division 4 and Matlock Police and while there were the occasional film roles it would be Crawford’s production of The Sullivans that catapulted her into becoming a ‘television personality’ in both Australia and the UK.
Playing Ida Jessup for the entire run of the period saga from November 1976 until March 1983 The Sullivans centered around the titled family as they struggled with the effects the Second World War had on their and their neighbours lives, including Ida who lived next door. This character saw Vivean craft the meddling and puritanical gossip characterisation that would lead to the memorable Mrs Mangle in Grundy serial Neighbours – although Ida was a much more caring and understanding person than her later famous role.
After The Sullivans departed the Nine Network screens she was cast in a controversial role in Prisoner: Cell Block H playing Edna Pearson in 1984. After the initial showing of her episodes in Australia on Network 10, a woman claimed the story was based on own life story which concerned being accused of poisoning her husband. A potential legal action against Grundy Television saw the storyline cut from repeat screenings and the UK transmissions. It wasn’t until 2010 that a special DVD release showing the un-edited Edna Pearson’s episodes made the plot available for the first time since the original 1984 broadcast.
In 1986 she was back on Network 10 in cul-de-sac saga Neighbours in what would become her most famous role. As Nell Mangle she became the notorious street busybody, gossip and moral view point for the rest of the residents. Her popularity lead to her family being expanded in the series with one storyline seeing Mrs Mangle search for her long lost estranged son, who at first failed to want to have anything to do with his mother, but eventually they became close with Joe moving into the street.
While she did have some friends on Ramsay Street, notably Helen Daniels – played by the late great Anne Haddy – she is remembered much more for her run ins, specially with fiery Madge Ramsay/Bishop, played by Anne Charleston. The character became hugely popular with viewers, however a large number blurred fact with fiction and Vivean became subject to ever increasing abuse from viewers in the street, and even attacks on her home. She quit the series in 1988 and retired from acting entirely after her final episode.
She relocated to England where she spent the rest of her very private retirement. In 1995 she appeared on Australia Post postage stamps with her image from her movie role Picnic at Hanging Rock.
“What a wonderful, subtle, fabulous actor she was. She did such a wonderful job as Mrs Mangle.” – Mark Little, who played Joe Mangle in Neighbours, speaking to ITV’s This Morning
