Wendy Playfair dead: Prisoner: Cell Block H and Home and Away star dies age 99
Wendy Playfair has died at the age of 99 – just five months away from her 100th birthday, it has been announced.
Wendy was best known for her role as Minni Donovan in Prisoner: Cell Block H as well as her acting stints on Home and Away. Wendy had two roles on the iconic Aussie soap: playing Evelyn Grey in 2005 and Audrey Long in 2009.
Wendy’s death was announced by podcast host Matt Batten on his Instagram. Matt had interviewed Wendy back in 2022 for the Prisoner: Cell Block H fan podcast, Talking Prisoner. As he posted photos of Wendy on his page, he wrote: “The Playfair family have just advised me of the passing of the beautiful and incredibly talented Wendy Playfair, who has died peacefully at the age of 99.
Wendy was best known for her role on Prisoner: Cell Block H
“Wendy enjoyed a remarkable career that spanned many decades across Australian theatre, television and radio. She was a highly respected performer who contributed enormously to the Australian performing arts industry.”
He added: “Many fans will fondly remember Wendy for her role as Minnie Donovan, the formidable “Top Dog” of Wentworth Detention Centre in the iconic Australian television series Prisoner. Her portrayal of Minnie Donovan remains one of the memorable characters in the show’s history.
“Beyond television, Wendy was also highly respected for her extensive work in radio drama, performing in many radio plays throughout her career and bringing countless characters to life through her voice and storytelling.
Wendy was five months away from her 100th birthday (Image:
Facebook)
“A few years ago, I had the great privilege of sitting down with Wendy for an interview on my podcast Talking Prisoner. It was an absolute honour to spend time with such a gracious, intelligent and elegant woman who shared wonderful stories about her life and career in the industry.
“Wendy was deeply respected by her peers and loved by audiences. Her contribution to Australian entertainment will never be forgotten.
“On behalf of myself and the entire Talking Prisoner community, we send our deepest condolences to Wendy’s family, friends and the many fans who admired her work.
“Wendy Playfair leaves behind a truly extraordinary legacy.” Matt later shared a clip from his interview with Wendy in a separate post.
In the clip, Matt said Wendy looked ‘absolutely beautiful’ to which Wendy laughed and said: “I actually was never beautiful, I was just a pretty girl.” She then spoke highly of her childhood as she said: “I adored my childhood. Mum was very good at playing draughts with me and she always pretended she was bad. I believed her at first but in the end I said, ‘You just let me win, don’t you’ and she said, ‘Never’. I said, ‘You did Mum I know’.”
As well as her roles in Prisoner: Cell Block H and Home and Away, Wendy appeared on a number of other TV series including Swap Shop, Return to Eden, Carson’s Law and Fortress. Her final role TV appearance came in 2013 as she appeared in an episode of Packed to the Rafters.