Margaret Christensen

Margaret Christensen
OAM
Born8 January 1921 (1921-01-08)
Beulah Park, South Australia, Australia
Died30 November 2009(2009-11-30) (aged 88)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Other namesMargaret Cristensen, Peg Christenson (credited as)
Occupations
  • Radio hostess
  • actress
Years active1940s–2002
Children2 (including Sean Scully)

Margaret Christensen (8 January 1921[1]–30 November 2009[2]), also credited as Margaret Caristensen and Peg Christensen, was an Australian radio hostess and character actress, who appeared in numerous television series, primarily in guesting roles.

Christensen was more the Ausutalia's first radio DJ's and was best known for her role during The Golden Age of Radio for her role of Emmie Lawson, starring alongside Queenie Ashton, Gwen Plumb and Ethel Lang in the long-running Gwen Meredith radio series Blue Hills, iconically her role represented a transition of featuring woman in the early years of radio, at a time when the industry was prominently dominated by man.

Early life

Christensen was born on 8 January 1921 in Adelaide, to Herbert and Nell Christensen.[1] Her siblings were Bertie and Chris.[2] The family relocated to Sydney when she was three, where Christensen began speech and drama classes at the age of six.[1] At the age of 16, she earned a diploma in teaching, with honours in voice production and literature.[1]

When she was 18, Christensen earned a scholarship to study at Trinity College London, but World War II put an end to her plans.[1] Instead, she moved to Brisbane where her brother Chris worked as a radio announcer.[3][1]

Career

Christensen gained radio experience in Brisbane, presenting shows on 4BH for three years.[1] After marrying and starting a family, she relocated to Sydney in 1943,[3] where she initially landed small roles in radio, most notably as Jane Bennet in a serial of Pride and Prejudice, alongside Lyndall Barbour.[1]

She next landed the titular role in radio serial, Josephine, Empress of Sorrows, after which time she appeared in nationally-broadcast Sunday night radio plays and had consistent roles in radio serials,[1] including playing Jessie, Dexter's wife, in 2GB sitcom, Life with Dexter.[1][4]

She appeared on stage in a 1945 production of They Came to a City, playing the role of waitress, Alice.[3] She also performed at the Mercury Theatre and Independent Theatre.[3] From 1949 to 1954, she played Lois Lane in a radio adaptation of Superman, while presenting commercials and sketches in Calling the Stars and other variety shows.[1]

In 1956, Christensen began working in film, playing the mother of the titular character in Smiley,[5] before reprising the role in the 1958 sequel Smiley Gets a Gun.[1]

Christensen appeared in long-running radio series Blue Hills as Emmie Lawson[1] and played opposite John Gray as Lucienne in The Fiends in 1958.[6] She also worked as 'The Side Saddle DJ' on Sydney radio station, 2UE.[1]

In 1959, Christensen moved to London for seven years, where she worked in radio and stage, including the premiere production of Noël Coward's Sail Away on the West End.[1] While there, her son Sean followed her into acting.[1] Returning to Sydney in 1966, Christensen appeared in stage productions of Funny Girl and Fiddler on the Roof.[1][7]

In her later years, Christensen worked as a voice-over artist and had guest roles in television shows including Stingers, All Saints and Blue Heelers.[1] She also had a minor role in 1998 film Babe: Pig in the City, the sequel to Babe.[1]

In 2008, Christensen was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.[1]

Personal life

Christensen met violinist Dan Scully in Brisbane. The couple were married and had a daughter, Wendy, before moving to Sydney. In 1947, the couple had a son, actor and singer Sean Scully, but later divorced.[3][1][8]

Christensen lived in London from 1959 to 1966, taking son Sean with her.[3][1] In the early 1970s, she moved to Japan, where her daughter Wendy was living and raising a family.[1] While there, she taught English and dubbed Japanese films.[1]

Death

Christensen died in hospital on 30 November 2009,[2] at the age of 88. She was survived by her two children, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.[1]

Awards

Year Work Award Category Result Ref.
1953 The Petrified Forest Macquarie Award Best Actress in a Leading Role Won [3]
2008 Margaret Christensen Medal of the Order of Australia Honoured [1]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1955 Three in One Customer Anthology film, segment: "The City"
1956 Smiley Mrs Greevins [5]
1958 Smiley Gets a Gun Mrs Greevins [1]
1982 Kitty and the Bagman Band of Hope Lady
1998 Babe: Pig in the City Haughty Woman [1]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1958 The Way Back TV play [9]
1960; 1961 Theatre 70 Madge Saul / Mrs. Fenwick 2 episodes
1961 Probation Officer Mrs. Carmichael 1 episode
1963 Compact Shirley Hawkins 9 episodes
1964 Story Parade Woman at Clinic 1 episode
1965 The Flying Swan Jo 1 episode
Crossroads Sally Morrison / Miss Morrison 5 episodes
1966 Australian Playhouse Esme Hutton Episode: "No Dogs on Diamond Street" [10]
1966–1974 Homicide Various roles 5 episodes
1969 Skippy the Bush Kangaroo Mrs. Woodleigh-Smith Season 3, episode 3: "A Work of Art" [11]
1970–1974 Division 4 Various roles 6 episodes
1972 Lane End Grandma Pappas Miniseries, 7 episodes
1973 Frank and Francesca 6 episodes
1974 Matlock Police Beverley Jones 1 episode
1975 Number 96 Celia Palmer 3 episodes
1976 Certain Women 1 episode
King's Men 1 episode
1978 Glenview High Virginia Gold 1 episode
1979 Barnaby and Me Doctor TV movie [12]
Doctor Down Under Mrs. Beaumont 3 episodes [13]
1980 Cop Shop Hilda Perry 1 episode
1981 Airhawk (aka Star of the North) Mum Foster TV movie
1985 The Pickwick Papers Voice artist Animated TV movie [14]
1987 Treasure Island Voice artist Animated TV movie
1989 Rafferty's Rules Phyllis O'Neal Season 5, 1 episode [15]
1990 Outback O'Bourke Narrator Documentary [16]
1993 Tracking the Rainbow Serpent Narrator Documentary [17]
1991 A Country Practice Female caller Episode: "A Trouble Shared" [18]
1994 G.P. Gran 1 episode
1995 Kansas Verna Mason TV movie
Blue Heelers Venetia Hayes Season 2, 1 episode [19]
1998; 1999 All Saints Edna / Carol Birch 2 episodes [20][21]
2002 Stingers Alice Season 6, episode 6: "The Last Dance" [22]

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1945 They Came to a City Alice New Theatre, Sydney [3]
1952 They Knew What They Wanted Amy Mercury Theatre, Sydney [23]
1961 Time and Yellow Roses Laurette Gerard His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen, St Martin's Theatre, London [24]
1962–1963 Sail Away Mrs Lush (Alvin's mother) Bristol Hippodrome, Savoy Theatre, London [25][24]
1966 Funny Girl Mrs Strakosh Australian tour with J. C. Williamson's [7]
1967–1969 Fiddler on the Roof Yente [26][7]
1974 Doctor in the House The Matron Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane with AETT [7][27]
1976 Da Tasmanian tour with Tasmanian Theatre Company [7]
1990 The Lesson / Krapp's Last Tape Crossroads Theatre, Sydney [7]
1996–1997 Last Night of the Proms Queen Victoria Sydney Opera House [7][28]

Radio

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
Pride and Prejudice Jane Bennet [1]
1940s Josephine, Empress of Sorrows Josephine 2GB [1][29]
1940s–1950s Cashmere Bouquet Show (PRT) 2UE [29]
Leave it to the Girls 2GB [29]
1941–1951 Mrs 'Obbs Mr Bundle's Secretary 2GB [29]
1944–1949 The Lawsons Ruth Lawson (Chris's wife) ABC Radio [29]
1947 Strange Destiny Lady Hester Stanhope 2UW [29][30]
1947– Courtship and Marriage 2UW / 3UZ [29]
Late 1940s–1951 Hagen's Circus Winnie Nelson [29]
1949–1954 Superman Lois Lane 2GB [29]
1950– Death Takes Small Bites Charmain Anthony 2UW [29]
1951–1960s Hart of the Territory Leslie Winters 2GB [29]
1952 They Knew What They Wanted [29]
1952–1956 Strike it Rich (ANN) [29]
1953 Danger in Paradise Iris Randall 2UW [29][31]
1953–1964 Life with Dexter Jessie 2GB [29][4]
1954– Dick Tracy 2UW [29]
1954–1955 The Hunted One Nina Sabin 3KZ [29]
1954–1956 Dangerous Assignment Marga / Louella / Liana Episode 11: "Turkey", episode 24: "Cuba", episode 51: "Coral Sea" [32]
1955 White Coolies Sister Delforce [29]
1955– Laura Chilton 2UW / 3KZ [29]
1958 The Fiends Lucienne 2GB [6]
1958 Phantom Time [29]
1963 Dr Paul Virginia Martin 2UW [29]
Air Hostess Diana Drew [29][29]
The Broken Circle Angela Cartwright [29]
Dad and Dave from Snake Gully Mabel [29]
Death by Horoscope Sequel to Death Takes Small Bites [29]
The General Motors Hour 2GB [29]
1979 Lies My Father Told Me Mother ABC Radio [7]
Uncle Moon Lilah ABC Radio [7]
Laura and the Angel Skittles ABC Radio [7]
The Great God Mogadon Old Lady ABC Radio [7]
Lord Arthur Savile's Crime Lady Clemtine ABC Radio [7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad Poynter, Rod (19 December 2009). "Radio's golden days just the beginning". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b c "Margaret Christensen Obituary". www.legacy.com. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Margaret Christensen (1921–2009)". www.newtheatrehistory.org.au. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b "Amber Mae Cecil with 'Life with Dexter' Cast Members". National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Smiley (1956)". www.aso.gov.au. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  6. ^ a b "Radio Plays: The Fiends". ABC Weekly. Vol. 20, no. 1. 1 January 1958. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Margaret Christensen". AusStage. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Sean Scully is star material". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 October 1974. p. 19. Retrieved 1 June 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Television Parade". The Australian Women's Weekly. 9 April 1958. p. 12. Retrieved 20 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia / Trove.
  10. ^ "Two Hits and a Miss". The Sun-Herald. 22 May 1966. p. 84. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  11. ^ "Skippy: episode guide series 3". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Barnaby and Me – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Doctor Down Under – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  14. ^ "Pickwick Papers – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Rafferty's Rules: episode guide series 5". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Outback O'Bourke 1990". Screen Australia. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  17. ^ "Tracking the Rainbow Serpent 1993". Screen Australia. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  18. ^ "A Country Practice: episode guide 1991". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  19. ^ "Blue Heelers: episode guide series 2". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  20. ^ "All Saints: episode guide series 1". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  21. ^ "All Saints: episode guide series 2". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  22. ^ "Stingers: episode guide series 6". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  23. ^ "Theatre: Simplicity in New "Mercury" Play". The Sydney Jewish News. 28 November 1952. p. 6. Retrieved 20 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia / Trove.
  24. ^ a b "Margaret Christensen". www.theatricalia.com. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  25. ^ "Margaret Christensen". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  26. ^ "Portraits of Margaret Christensen, actor and Ian Robert, Stage Director, Fred Hebert, Director and Melvin Conder, Lighting Designer in the J.C. Williamson production of Fiddler on the Roof, 1967". National Library of Australia / Trove. 1967. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  27. ^ "Doctor in the House". Theatregold. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  28. ^ "Last Night of the Proms (5 October 1996 – 5 October 1996)". National Library of Australia / Trove. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Australian radio series (1930s–1970s)" (PDF). National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  30. ^ "Career Mothers". ABC Weekly. Vol. 9, no. 45. 8 November 1947. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  31. ^ "Margaret Christensen, who shares the lead with Alan White in the Octavus Roy Cohen thriller, Danger in Paradise, one of 2UW's evening serials. April 23, 1953". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 February 2026 – via www.superstock.com.
  32. ^ "Dangerous Assignment". www.australianotr.com.au. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
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