Mercia Deane-Johns Explained

Mercia Deane-Johns
Birth Date:21 February 1958
Nationality:Australian
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1973 – present
Known For:Pro-choice ...campaigns for Indigenous rights, ... civil rights, gay marriage, ... freedom of choice, ... and supports Julian Assange. Also strong on environmental issues. Campaigned for the environment and carried what was then called the sex party banner
Notable Works:Won Best Actress award at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival 2017 for the film Throbbin' 84
Children:One daughter Natasha

Mercia Deane-Johns is an Australian actress of film, stage and television. She is also a writer, singer, and stand-up comedian. She has played a wide array of characters since she was 12 years old and has appeared in many film roles and TV series on Australian screens.

Education

Born in Melbourne on 21 February 1958, Mercia Deane-Johns trained at a Television and Film Course at Crawford Productions, 1974. She plays Classical Piano at Sixth Grade Level and she has studied ballet at the Gertrud Bodenwieser Dance Centre, Sydney. Deane-Johns has a diploma in classical singing and theory of music from the London College of Music, Ealing, London. She is an Associate of the London College of Music (A.L.C.M) which qualification she obtained in 1975.

She was on a twelve-month contract at the Melbourne Theatre Company in 1978.

She has studied Tai Chi and had private lessons with the late Tennyson Yui[1] for one year, 1980.

Deane-Johns attended Southern Cross University during 2006–2010 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in writing and communication.

Career

Film and television

Deane-Johns was in the Australian TV series Homicide in 1975 and 1976. She performed in the TV series Bluey as Debbie Morley in 1976. In 1977, she was in Cop Shop, a long running police drama series.

In 1981, she appeared in Heatwave and Winter of Our Dreams.[2] Heatwave, directed by Phillip Noyce was based on the Juanita Nielsen disappearance case of the 1970s. Winter of Our Dreams was an award-winning drama written and directed by John Duigan. In 1982, she was in Winner Take All – Downside Risk,[3] a TV series about the fast-paced world of big business. In 1985, she was in Winners – The Other Facts of Life.[4] In 1991 Deane-Johns appeared in What's Cooking? an Australian cooking television series.[5]

In 1991 Channel 9 introduced a new series called Chances, based around a family who won AUD$3 million in a lottery and the effect it had on their lives. Deane-Johns played the part of Sharon Taylor, a good time girl who made a living as a hairdresser. Chances was discontinued in 1992 after a run of 127 hour-long episodes.

Deane-Johns was in the television film McLeod's Daughters in 1996 with Jack Thompson, Tammy MacIntosh and Kris McQuade. She was in the long-running Home and Away from 1997 to 2001, playing Melanie Rainbow. In 2002, she was in the Canadian-Australian co-production of Guinevere Jones, a teenage fantasy series where she played the part of evil witch Morgana. In 2007, she appeared in Unfinished Sky a story about a farmer who takes in an Afghani woman who has fled from a brothel.

In 2014 she had a supporting role in the film Last Cab to Darwin.[2] In 2017 she played the part of Bulldozer in Throbbin' 84. The film takes its name from the 1984 Australian compilation music album Throbbin' '84.

Deane-Johns appeared in two seasons of The Other Guy in 2018 and 2019. She performed in season two of the comedy drama series Mr Inbetween in 2019. She was also in the documentary series Location Scout which was about the making of the Australian comedy film Top End Wedding, which was filmed around Darwin in 2018.

She has worked with some of Australia's best-known actors[6] including John Hargreaves, Judy Davis, Nicole Kidman, Charles Bud Tingwell, John Meillon and Alwyn Kurts.

Voiceovers

As well as acting, Deane-Johns has done voiceovers including four episodes of Persons of Interest in 2014.[7]

Writing

Deane-Johns is also a writer and has kept an anecdotal record of her thespian experiences in a series of articles called Mercia's Missives. She describes the difficulties in working with misogynistic directors, unsympathetic make-up artists, bitchy co-stars and young actors who think they are God's gift to women.[8]

Deane-Johns wrote for the (now defunct) Australian Playboy magazine for four years in the 1980s. As she relates in her cogitations Mercia's Missives: "I spent a lot of time in my room, writing a column for Playboy magazine, simply entitled Women. Peter Olszewski, also known as JJ Mc Roach, the founder of the Marijuana Party was the editor at the time. I enjoyed writing for Playboy. I had a lot of material around me at the time for inspiration. Things were fine".

Comedy

As well as singing and acting Deane-Johns has done stand-up comedy and has ambitions to appear at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe one day. She appeared with co-star and fellow Australian singer and actress Anne-Maree McDonald in Caliente[9] in 2011. This was a one-hour stand-up comedy routine which they performed at The El Rocco Room, in Sydney's Kings Cross.

Posing for Australian Playboy

When pregnant with her daughter Natasha, Mercia was the first pregnant woman in the world to be photographed for Playboy.

Music

Having a diploma in music Deane-Johns has worked extensively with the recently deceased Damien Lovelock. She toured with the Celibate Rifles in 1990 on their world tour and sang in Damien's band Wigworld singing Patti Smith songs amongst others. In 1990 she performed in Damien Lovelock's promo-video for the single 'Disco Inferno' (April, 1990), taken from the 1988 album 'It's A Wig Wig World'.

She has sung in many jazz trios and duos and also cover bands for Woodstock and Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell and Fleetwood Mac.

New Wave

The administrations of Australian Prime Ministers John Gorton (1968–1971) and Gough Whitlam (1972–1975) put considerable extra funding into the Australian film industry which led to the "New Wave" of the late 1970s and early 1980s.[10] There were many productions like Picnic at Hanging Rock with Helen Morse and Anne-Louise Lambert, My Brilliant Career with Judy Davis, Wendy Hughes and Sam Neill released in August 1979, Summerfield with Nick Tate, John Waters and Elizabeth Alexander made in 1977 and The Plumber with Judy Morris and Ivor Kants directed by Peter Weir in 1979.[11] Other famous films of that time include Gallipoli (1981) and Crocodile Dundee (1986).

Mercia Deane-Johns featured in three films of the Australian New Wave Winter of Our Dreams (1981) Heatwave (1982) and Going Down (1982).

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleType
1973Alvin Purple (aka The Sex Therapist)Small role (uncredited)Feature film [12]
1975The BoxTypistFeature film [13]
1980Breaking PointPerformerShort Film documentary
1981Winter of Our DreamsAngelaFeature film [14]
1982The ApplicantRole unknownShort film
1982HeatwaveSecretaryFeature film [15]
1982Going DownNedFeature film [16]
1983MollyTalent AgentFeature film [17]
1987PandemoniumMorticiaFeature film
1999Erskineville KingsBarmaidFeature film [18]
2007Unfinished SkyBarbaraFeature film [19]
2012The One Who Broke Your HeartSean's MumShort film[20]
2014Last Cab to DarwinFayFeature film[21]
2015The Immortality of the Bounty HuntersThe Book CriticShort film
2017Throbbin' 84BulldozerFilm[22]
(Won award at Melbourne Underground Film Festival)
2018Edge of the EarthMotherShort film - post-production

Television

TitleYearRoleType
1974; 1975Division 4Guest role: Girl 2 (as Mercia Dean-Johns)TV series, 1 episode 6: "The Slasher"
1975Division 4Guest roles: Maureen (as Mercia Dean-Johns) / Rita (as Mercia Dean-Johns)TV series, 2 episodes
1975Matlock PoliceGuest role: GailTV series, 1 episode 177: "The Hill"
1975; 1976HomicideGuest roles: Maureen Wilson (as Mercia Dean-Johns) / Maureen WilsonTV series, 2 episodes
1976Alvin PurpleGuest role: DaisyABC TV series, 1 episode 5: "The Postman"
1976–1977BlueyRecurring role: Debbie MorleyTV series, 6 episodes
1976HomicideGuest role: Brenda LukinsTV series, 1 episode
1977The SullivansRecurring role: TimnaTV series, 20 episodes
1977Young RamsayGuest role: Eleanor (as Mercia Deane Johns)TV series, 1 episode 1. "Story of a Shaggy Dog"
1977–1979Cop ShopGuest roles: Andrea Williams/Jan/Gina ValenteTV series, 5 episodes
1978Demolition(uncredited)TV movie
1979SkywaysGuest role: Susan MastersTV series, 1 episode 6: "Coming of Age"
1979Twenty Good YearsRegular role: Ruth CohenABC TV series, 5 episodes
1980The Restless YearsGuest role: PatTV series, 1 episode
1981Daily at DawnGuest role:TV series, 1 episode
1982Winner Take AllRegular role:ABC TV series, 10 episodes
1984ConferencevilleRole unknownABC TV movie
1984Crime of the DecadeRole unknownABC TV movieTV movie[23]
1984Special SquadGuest role: MollyTV series, 1 episode 35: "Suzie's War"
1985Double ScullsMelanie AtkinsTV movie
1985WINNERS - The Other Facts Of LifePolicewomanTV movie series, 1 episode TV movie[24]
1985WINNERS - Room To MoveJanetTV movie series, 1 episode TV movie[25]
1986Body BusinessJudyTV miniseries, 2 episodes
1987VietnamLinda AaronsTV miniseries, 2 episodes
1990Harbour BeatSecretaryTV Movie PilotTV movie[26]
1991–1992ChancesRegular role: Sharon TaylorTV series, 127 episodes
1991What's Cooking?Guest - HerselfTV series, 1 episode
1995; 1999Blue HeelersGuest role: Marcia HylandTV series, 1 episode
1996McLeod's DaughtersRosaTV Movie Pilot TV movie[27]
1996Twisted TalesWomanTV Movie series, 1 episode
1997; 2001Home and AwayRecurring role: Melanie RainbowTV series, 1 episode
1998Water RatsGuest role: Cheryl VossTV series, 1 episode
1999AirtightMa LucciTV movie[28]
1999; 2003Blue HeelersGuest role: Raelene StevensTV series, 1 episode
2000Above The LawRecurring role: Joan BartlettTV series, 3 episodes
2000All SaintsGuest role: Mary ConstantineTV series, 1 episode
2001Home and AwayGuest role: Kerry (as Mercia Deane Johns)TV series, 1 episode
2002The Secret Life of UsGuest role: Clairvoyant (as Mercia Deane Johns)TV series, 1 episode
2002Guinevere JonesGuest role: Morgana Le FayTV series, 1 episode
2003Blue HeelersGuest role: Jan BaylissTV series, 1 episode
2003The Saddle ClubGuest role: New OwnerTV series, 1 episode
2003White Collar BlueGuest role: Connie CiricTV series, 1 episode
2009–2011Packed to the RaftersRecurring role: Grace BartonTV series, 10 episodes
2012Tricky BusinessGuest role: Vera StanicTV series, 1 episode
2014Persons of InterestNarrator - HerselfTV series, 4 episodes
2016The Secret DaughterGuest role: PoppyTV series, 1 episode
2017; 2019The Other GuyGuest role: BevTV series, 1 episode
2018HarrowGuest role: Sofia CalannaABC TV series, 1 episode
2018Location ScoutHerselfTV series
2019The Other GuyGuest role: CashierTV series, 1 episode
2019Mr InbetweenGuest role: StephTV series, 1 episode
2021Back to the RaftersGuest role: Mrs. SpadeTV series, 1 episode
2023While The Men Are AwayRecurring role: Mrs. WhitmoreSBS TV series, 4 episodes

Theatre

YearProductionRoleCompany/Venue
1995Meanwhile Back on Planet Earth Musical about Liza Minnelli at the Bondi Pavilion[29]
1986Bloody PoetryPrecious Theatre Company. at The Stables by Mary Shelley[30]
1984The Blind Giant is DancingACT Theatre Company[31]
1989George and Mildred Australian tour with the Elizabethan Theatre Company
1978The Playboy of the Western WorldMelbourne Theatre Company (MTC)[32]
1978ElectraMelbourne Theatre Company (MTC)[33]
1978Once a CatholicThe Actors' Company Theatre[34]
1978The Happy ApplesThe Actors' Company Theatre[35]
1976Spats – Back in BusinessThe Speakeasy[36]
1975Two and Two Make Sex Australian tour with Patrick Cargill[37]

Award

She won an award at the 18th Melbourne Underground Film Festival in 2017 for Throbbin' 84.[38]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tennyson Yui.
  2. Web site: O'Hanlon . Paul . Mercia beaucoup: battler of Aussie stage and screen - Australian Times News . Australian Times News . 15 October 2018 . 10 November 2015.
  3. Web site: ASO Australia Online.
  4. Web site: Winners – The Other Facts of Life principle credits..
  5. Web site: Mercia Deane-Johns What's Cooking?.
  6. Web site: Australian Times.
  7. Web site: Persons of Interest.
  8. Web site: Mercia's Missives.
  9. Web site: Moshtix.
  10. Web site: Australia’s film industry owes a debt to Gough Whitlam.
  11. Web site: Movie Movements that Defined Cinema: The Australian New Wave . Empire Online . Bauer Consumer Media Ltd. Phil . De Semlyen . Ian . Freer . Ally . Wybrew. 15 August 2016. 29 July 2017.
  12. Web site: Alvin Purple rewatched..
  13. Web site: The Box 1975 film trailer.
  14. Web site: Winter of our Dreams. Ozmovies. 29 July 2017.
  15. Web site: Heatwave film made in 1981 released 1982..
  16. Web site: Vimeo.
  17. Web site: Molly. At Oz Movies..
  18. Web site: Erskineville Kings.
  19. Web site: Review – 'Unfinished Sky'.
  20. Web site: The One who Broke Your Heart short film..
  21. Web site: Last Cab to Darwin film.
  22. Web site: Throbbin 84 film 2017.
  23. Web site: Crime of the Decade TV Movie 1984.
  24. Web site: The Other Facts Of Life 1985.
  25. Web site: Room to Move 1987.
  26. Web site: Harbour Beat 1990 Scottish Australian film.. https://web.archive.org/web/20210122124556/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7a3a4092. dead. 22 January 2021.
  27. Web site: McLeod's Daughters ASO.
  28. Web site: Airtight 1999 TV Movie..
  29. Web site: Training and Work Experience. Deane-Johns . Mercia . Mercia Missives (Deane-Johns's website). 30 July 2017.
  30. Web site: Training and work experience.
  31. Web site: The Blind Giant is Dancing. AusStage. 30 July 2017.
  32. Web site: A One Level Production:The Playboy of the Western World . Theatre Australia: Australia's Magazine of the Performing Arts . September 1978 . Theatre Publications Ltd. . Stanley . Raymond . Robert . Page . 21 . 29 July 2017.
  33. Web site: Electra . AusStage. 30 July 2017.
  34. Web site: Once a Catholic . AusStage. 30 July 2017.
  35. Web site: The Happy Apples. . AusStage. 30 July 2017.
  36. Web site: AusStage.
  37. Web site: Two and Two Make Sex . 30 July 2017.
  38. News: MUFF 18 AWARD WINNERS - Melbourne Underground Film Festival. Melbourne Underground Film Festival. 2018-10-11. en-US.