Anne Charleston
Born in Australia, Anne is now a citizen of the UK with a home in southern Ireland. She is known to millions for her long-running role as Madge Bishop in Neighbours.
Her theatrical experience is extensive, having begun her career at St Martin's Theatre. Melbourne, playing roles in John Mortimer's The Anniversary. The Cavern, The Irregular Verb to Love, The Wrong Side the Park and many other plays. There followed Australian national tours of How the Other Half Love, The Secretary Bird, The Dresser, The Man Most Likely To and Noises Off.
Anne has appeared in many Australian television plays, some of them live to air, an experience which these days would probably drive her to a nervous breakdown! Roles in ongoing television series include Wendy in Bellbird, Dee in Timelapse, Cathy in The Company of Men, Elizabeth MacArthur in Possession and Madge Ramsey in the original series of Neighbours.
Numerous panto appearances include leading roles in Aladdin, Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Jack and The Beanstalk, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White.
She was most recently seen in a tour of Ireland in the Matchmaker, which subsequently transferred to The Haymarket Theatre in Basingstoke and is currently on tour in The Case Of The Frightened Lady. Anne has toured the UK numerous times with successful productions of The Cemetery Club, Love Julie, a two-handed play in which she appeared with Millicent Martin.The Surprise Party, Present Laughter and Five Blue Haired Ladies Sitting On A Green Park Bench. She has recently concluded a sell out tour of The Cemetery Club starring Shirely Ann Field, Edward Woodwood and Michele Dotrice and has been seen on tour in The Vagina Monologues. She is currently on tour in Ireland with the Matchmaker.
Anne went back to Australia to film the TV drama Dossa and Joe, written by Caroline Ahern, which was shown on BBC2. She was also seen as Betty Waddell in the most recent series of Crossroads.
Anne was a contestant on ITV's I'm Famous and I'm Frightened and The Big Call. She was recently seen as Edna's sister Lily in Emmerdale.