Wendy Hughes, actress of film, stage and television, has died from cancer at the age of 61.
Actor Bryan Brown confirmed Hughes’ passing at the Saturday afternoon performance of Travelling North by the Sydney Theatre Company.
Born in Melbourne, Hughes’ early TV credits included Hunter, The Group, Number 96, Homicide, Matlock Police, Rush and Power Without Glory. In 1976 she played the lead role of magazine editor Melanie Hilton in telemovie The Alternative — a story depicting a career woman’s balancing act between work, relationships and a pregnancy.
During the 1980s she played the title role in period drama Lucinda Brayford (pictured below) and also appeared in Five Mile Creek and An Indecent Obsession — though she will probably be best remembered that decade for playing Jilly Stewart in the original Return To Eden mini-series.
In 1997 she played the lead role of Kate Ferrari (pictured above) in the Network Ten drama State Coroner.
Later TV appearances included MDA, Two Twisted, City Homicide, The Saddle Club, All Saints and most recently Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.
She also starred in US dramas including A Woman Named Jackie, Homicide: Life On The Streets and Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Her film credits included Petersen, Newsfront, Kostas, Careful He Might Hear You, Touch And Go, My Brilliant Career and Salvation.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald, IMDB. TV Week, 9 August 1997. TV Times, 14 June 1980.