Michele Fawdon: 1947 – 2011
Michele Fawdon, star of Australian stage and screen passed away this morning, losing her battle with cancer.
Born in Essex, Fawdon began acting age 12, and moved to Australia early in her career.
Fawdon won two AFIs; In 1979 she won Best Actress for her role in Cathy’s Child, and in 1987 for Best Actress for a Telefeature for The Fish Are Safe. She was also nominated in 1985 for Best Actress for Unfinished Business.
She also won Best Actress awards at the Australian Film & Television Awards (Sammy) in 1979 for Cathy’s Child, and in 1980 for The Silent Cry.
Fawdon worked on The Flying Doctors, A Country Practice, G.P and most recently seen on our screens in 2010 in Killing Time.
I had the pleasure of knowing Michele Fawdon and she was a wonderful lady who will be deeply missed – she touched the hearts of many people.
RIP lovely lady
xox
User ID not verified.
Very sad to hear this news. My condolences to her family and friends.
User ID not verified.
An amazing woman in all aspects of her life… Loved and cherish by all her family. We will miss you beautiful. Xxx
User ID not verified.
Michele was a wonderful performer. I am deeply sorry to hear of her passing. She and I worked together at times, and always shared good and funny conversations. My heart goes out to her family.
User ID not verified.
I am completely shocked and saddened to hear of Michele’s passing. Having met her only once through a mutual acting friend in 1981, I was fortunate enough to join her and another friend for dinner one night.
We had a lot of laughs and I left thinking what a thoroughly nice person she was. My condolences to her family, it’s a great loss to all who knew her and the industry. RIP Michele.
User ID not verified.
I am so sorry to hear this sad news. Michele was truly a delightful and lighthearted person to know and I had the privilege to work with her also. I loved watching her performances on screen and stage and I send my thoughts and wishes and love to her family. x
User ID not verified.
Michele was a wonderful actor and a lovely person. Most will remember her performance as the first Mary Magdelene (preceding Marcia Hines) in the original Australian Production of “Jesus Christ Superstar”. Vale Michele.
User ID not verified.
Very saddened to hear of Michele’s passing. Her light shone brightly in all her work and Michele’s generosity of spirit was truly wonderful. My thoughts are with Michele’s family and friends.
User ID not verified.
We in the music/arts community here in the Yarra Valley (where Michele and her partner and daughter settled early in the 2000s) are deeply saddened by her death. Her legacy has been passed on via her Healesville drama group of some years back to young actors who acknowledge her inspiration. We remember and cherish her humanity.
User ID not verified.
I am very sad to learn of Michelle’s death. She gave luminous performances in many plays at the Nimrod Theatre. I still recall the beauty of her last scene in “Uncle Vanya”, when she strove to rally her uncle’s sunken spirits with talk of faith and hard work – the light shining in her tear-stained eyes, her honeyed voice issuing like a lullaby.
User ID not verified.
Godspeed Michelle. You’re free.
User ID not verified.
I am very sad to hear of Michele’s death. A beautiful woman with a delicious laugh and cheeky sense of humour. Her warmth and courage and passion in her work and life was inspiring. I had the pleasure of working with her too and admired her thorough and constant investigation of the work. My love and support to the family.
User ID not verified.
Thinking of your always fine insight into the human heart – it is what made you a beautiful friend and a brilliant actress. I miss you.
User ID not verified.
Michelle’s great generosity of spirit, is echoed in all of the thoughts shared here.
You were a beautiful & gifted person who was inclusive and witty, with a unique sensitivity and I thank you .
We shall hold you in our hearts forever dear Michelle. My deepest sympathy to your family and all who loved you..
User ID not verified.
Michele was a delicious woman and a truly fine performer. It is too sad and too bad that she’s gone so soon. SIncere condolences to her loved ones and friends.
User ID not verified.
What a talented and gracious lady on and off the stage. Her commitment and the truth in her work was inspiring. We are very saddened by this news, she will be missed. Our thoughts are with you Geoff.
User ID not verified.
We met in Jesus Christ Superstar . . when I left the show the cast wrote on a programme . . Michele wrote , ‘for my friend Evie’ as she looked at other messages she said it doesn’t say much but it means a lot . . from 1973 through to the births of our daughters to the last days in hospital . . yes Michele . . a lifelong friendship . . it does mean a lot . . our heart felt thoughts are with you Geoff and Lulu . . .
User ID not verified.
Heartfelt thoughts for your family Michele. You were a wonderful and talented woman.
User ID not verified.
Dear Michele, so loved and so fondly remembered by your JCS family – our definitive Mary Magdalene. May the long time sun shine upon you, all love surround you, and the pure light within you guide your way home.
User ID not verified.
My love and thoughts go out to you Geoff and Lulu. Rest peacefully Michele. M-J x
User ID not verified.
Very saddened to learn of Michele’s passing.
A beautiful and talented lady who will missed greatly by all those that knew and loved her.
I will miss her beautiful smile and cheeky sense of humour.
A pleasure to have known you Michele…
My condolences to Geoffrey and Lulu.
User ID not verified.
Very sad to hear of Michele’s passing. Michele was always great to work with – warm and funny, she took her work seriously, without taking herself too seriously. Condolences to Geoff & Lulu.
User ID not verified.
Just heard the news from my father Martin Vaughan who worked with Michelle on a couple of occassions and dated her briefly in the 70’s. She was the most gorgeous of people, we are so sad that she is gone. A very sad loss for her family. xx
User ID not verified.
Will really miss seeing Michele’s smiling face & having little chats with her (:
My deepest houghts are with her family during this sad time…
Rest In Peace xo
User ID not verified.
A wonderful person and a remarkable performer whose excellence was never fully recognised. And she had one of the best smiles you will ever see. Her family will be proud of the woman and the performer many of us adored. One of our greatest losses.
User ID not verified.
I well remember her engaging performance in JCS and bringing real life meaning to her role in Cathy’s Child.
John Rogers, Canberra
User ID not verified.
MICHELLE AND I worked af ew times together. she was a meticulous actress and singer. In her latter years she was an excellent colleague on TV
User ID not verified.
my thoughts go out to you Tony and the family,never met but part of my family
User ID not verified.
MICHELE FAWDON – Funeral Service
There will be a funeral service held for Michele next Monday 30th May 2011. The service will be at Lilydale Memorial Park, 126-128 Victoria Road Lilydale at 2pm, with a celebration of her life at our favourite restaurant in the valley Bella Verdere.
User ID not verified.
Michelle will be forever loved by people who met her or worked with her. A valued friend and greatly admired actor. If it were possible i would have continued working with her on every possible production. She was my Irina, she was my Sonya. She was born great, and as an actor achieved greatness. Few will ever match her enormous heart and her capacity to laugh and make us laugh – and move us to tears. But no acclaim ever gave Michelle the happiness she found with Geoff and Lulu. Bless them both.
User ID not verified.
Michele was a caring and loyal friend. She provided dedicated support to my wife during her illness in the mid-90s. I visited Michele a little over a week ago and she was courageous and considerate of those around her. Best. Kristoffer Greaves
User ID not verified.
Our thoughts and prares are with Jeff and Lulu at this very sad time. Michelle was always delightful to be around for the short time we new her, RIP Michelle
User ID not verified.
Will miss our cups of tea, chats over the fence and just seeing your smiling face. To Geoff and Lulu we are here if ever you need to pop over! lots of love from Kim Alf and Maddy xxxxx
User ID not verified.
Michele was an inspiring woman and a great friend to me in the 70’s and 80’s we worked together on stage and played off stage. We lived in the same street ,toured plays together and shared so many great times. Michele had enormous heart and passion. I will never forget the first time I saw her perform at the Independent Theatre..she sang -When Johnny comes marching home again-..and raised the roof…May the angels sing you on your journey sweet Michele “HURRAY HURRAY” x
User ID not verified.
just heard about michele today the 30th, we met in 1967 at the ensemble theatre, both of us students there. we went together to see liza minelli at a nightclub in sydney, “chequers” see was a good actress and a lovely person.fond memories of a lovely lady. trevor mcgregor
User ID not verified.
So very saddened by this news.. I had the great pleasure of working with Michele through her involvement with the YV youth theatre group.. you truly were an inspiring woman to all of the kids who were apart of it.. Both in Healesville and Warburton. My thoughts are with Geoff and Lulu… xxx
User ID not verified.
Attended Michele’s funeral service and afterparty at the Badger Brook winery, one of michele’s favouite places to spend some time it was said. Geoff sang well as the band played on. Smiles and hugs and food and wine and cherished thoughts of my aunty. Who it felt was there with us. Onto the Healsville pub for an extra beer and talking and smiles. A wonderful and provoking send off – I’m sure she would have been happy. Thanks to all family and friends of michele I met.
User ID not verified.
I knew Michelle when she, Geoffrey and Lulu lived in the Blue Mountains. Michelle was a very warm, generous, open-hearted person with a great sense of humour. My heartfelt thoughts go out to you, Geoffery and Lulu. love Mary.
User ID not verified.
I was fortunate enough to consider Michele my mentor and dearest friend. Her love, compassion, generosity and wisdom helped me through some of my life’s greatest challenges. A wonderful person, inspiring artist and a woman of astounding courage and grace. I have missed her deeply over the last few years, living so far away from her. I’m sorry I could not be there for her. I will always cherish the memories.
My love and thoughts go to Geoffrey and Lulu. My door is always open to you both,
Much love,
Luz
User ID not verified.
Michele was a great aunty I treasure her. I love her very much I was very sad when i went to the funeral I was crying.
User ID not verified.
Michelle’s version of “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” in JCS still can bring a tear to my eye. She sang it so beautifully. I grew ups listening to the JCS record and Michelle’s singing was the highlight.
User ID not verified.