Jill Perryman

Perryman was born in Melbourne to a family notable for its achievements in theatre and entertainment. Her father, William Thomas, was an actor and performer, with notable credits from 1919 until 1938[3]and her mum Dorothy Eileen (formerly Duvall), born in Adelaide was an actress and singer, who appeared in a few productions from 1923 until 1931.[4] Her older sister, Diana Perryman, also born in Melbourne (19 November 1925 - 10 January 1979) was also prominent in Australian theatre and also appeared in television roles.[5] Her husband is Western Australian dancer-choreographer Kevan Johnston, and they have a son Tod Johnston, who is a media personality, radio and television presenter, and musician.

Perryman started her career aged 19, when she joined J.C. Williamson Theatres Ltd as a member of the chorus and in 1953 was understudying leading roles in stage musicals, including Evie Hayes in the Australian production of Call Me Madam.[6] Perryman was strong in voice and personality, and a long series of understudy and small roles eventually led her, through the recommendation of John McCallum (who was then joint managing director of J.C. Williamson Theatres Ltd), to take the lead in the key Australian production of Funny Girl, a performance that won her an Erik Award for Best Actress and led to major roles in other productions. These included I Do! I Do! in 1969; The Two of Us in 1971. No, No, Nanette in 1972 won her another Erik Award for Best Actress for her role as Lucille Early, then in 1973 she starred in A Little Night Music.[7] In 1976 she played Gladys Zilch in Leading Lady, a musical production created especially for her. She also toured during 1977 in Side by Side by Sondheim. She played Miss Hannigan in Annie in 1978. She won also the AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1980.[8]

source= AusStage[1]

In the 1979 New Year's Honours, Perryman was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).[9]

In the 1992 Australia Day Honours, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).[10]

In 2011 she received the JC Williamson Award, a lifetime achievement award for her contribution to the Australian live performance industry, alongside contemporaries Toni Lamond and Nancye Hayes[11]

In October 2013, Perryman and her husband, Kevan Johnston, jointly received the Australian Equity Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award at a presentation on the stage of Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne.

Her sister, actress Diana Perryman, who died in 1979, posthumously was awarded an MBE.[12]

• Jill Perryman Collection, in the Performing Arts Collection and Arts Centre Melbourne.