Lesley Baker (born 20 January 1944) is an Australian actress, singer, dancer and comedian. She is best known internationally for her small screen roles in cult series Prisoner and her recurring role in Neighbours.
Lesley Baker | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 January 1944 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | Screen 1969–present, theatre 1963-1981[1] |
| Known for |
|
Early career edit
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2024) |
Baker was well known for her early appearances on In Melbourne Tonight with Graham Kennedy, after which she went on to play several roles for Crawford Productions series.
Prisoner edit
She is best known for her TV soap opera roles including hulking husband basher, Monica Ferguson, in early episodes of Prisoner in 1979, and in 1982, she returned to that series playing the character of "Tinker" Bell Peters.
Neighbours edit
She has played the itinerant role of Angie Rebecchi since January 1995, the mother of long-running character, Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) in Neighbours, who was also introduced in 1995. The character Angie was originally introduced as a guest character, however, her popularity with viewers saw writers decide to introduce her husband "Big Kev" (Don Bridges), eldest son, Shane (Greg O'Mera), and youngest son, Jared "Toadfish" Rebecchi, to the regular cast. The family moved into Ramsay Street, and joined Kevin Jr "Stonefish" Rebecchi (Anthony Engleman), who was an already established character from 1994. In 1996, Angie, Kev and Stonefish were all written out of Neighbours, however, both Angie and Stonefish made sporadic appearances over the following years, with Angie appearing in both the original "final episode" in 2022, and the first episodes of the 2023 continuation.
Filmography edit
Television appearances edit
| Year | Title | Role | Episode/Other Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Graham Kennedy's Channel 9 Show | Guest - Herself sings with Graham Kennedy | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1969–1976 | Homicide | Various Role Gloria Slater Sadie Thompson Jeannie Burke Sister Catherine April Brown Jocelyn Davies Mrs. Morton Nora Jenkins |
8 Episodes "Triple Play" (#6.19) "An Welcomed Guest" (#6.44) "Expectations" (#8.30) "The Crossing (#11.1) :The Artful Dodger "Brotherhood of Man" (#11.31) Short Cut (#12.32) "The Whole of the Law" (#13.6) |
| 1970–1975 | Division 4 | Various roles Junie Mullins Thelma Shaw Annie Kerr Jean Whelan Marcie White Cassandra Yvonne Kay Hudson |
8 episodes "Fizz" (#2.9) "Mad Monaghan" (#2.31) "Drop-Out" (#2.31) "Live Bait" (#3.26) "Backlash"(#6.2) "Parable" (#6.16) "Time Payment " (#7.5) "Friends - Who Needs 'Em?" (#7.36) |
| 1970 | The Long Arm | Const. Brenda Davis The Nurse |
2 episodes "The Big Circle" (#1.8) as The Nurse "The Christmas Break"(##1.13) as Const. Brenda Davis |
| 1971–1976 | Matlock Police | Various roles WPC Sue Rogers Val Wilson Judy Elliot Babs Taylor Marion Woods Daphne Dolly Robinson Molly Atkins Eileen Simpson |
9 episodes "Tightrope" (#1.15) "Escape To Nowhere" (#1.25) "Smoke Screen" (#1.32) "Squaring Off" (#3.121) "Walk Like A Man"(#5.180) "Where The Trees Walk Down The Hill" (#5.184) "Cuckoos and Peaches" (#5.202) "No Problems" (#5.214) "Come To Mother" (#5.226) |
| 1974 | Rush | "They Faced All the Dangers, Those Bold Bushrangers" (#1.3) | |
| 1975 | The Last of the Australians | Ms. Ferguson | "Ashes to Ashes" (#2.4) |
| 1976 | Solo One | Mrs. Pickett | "My Bonnie" (#1.7) |
| Bellbird | Cheryl Turner #2 | ||
| ’’Alvin Purple'’ | Myrte | Ciao Alvin (#1.13) | |
| 1977 | Bluey | Leslie Stewart | "Emma" (#1.15) |
| 1978 | Cop Shop | Mother | Episode 1.97 |
| 1979 | Skyways | Gladys Skinner (as Leslie Baker) | "Donnys Father" (#1.142) |
| 1979, 1983 | Prisoner (In the United Kingdom Prisoner: Cell Block H and in Canada Caged Women.) |
Monica Ferguson Belle 'Tinker' Peters |
Played Monica Ferguson in 1979 in 36 episodes (15–18, 29–60) Play Belle 'Tinker' Peters in 1983 for 3 episodes (390–392) |
| 1980 | Water Under the Bridge | Nurse Vickers | Miniseries |
| 1981 | I Can Jump Puddles | Matron | Miniseries |
| 1984 | Carson's Law | Nurse | "Fallen into Darkness (# |
| Special Squad | Chamber Maid | Counterfeit Lady (#1.5) | |
| 1986, 1988–1989 | The Flying Doctors | 2 roles Mrs. Jackson(1 episode) Lucy Somers (4 episodes) |
5 episodes "Sins of the Fathers" (#1.8) "Don't Tell Anyone" (#3.24) "Breaking The Drought (#4.8) "All You Need Is Luck" (#4.11) "Rising Sundown (#5.6) |
| 1988 | The Bartons | Mrs, Davis | Episodes: "Half Time" (#1.3), "The Great Billycart Aid Rave (#1.6) |
| 1992 | Boney | Boarding House Lady | "Looks Can Kill" (#1.2) |
| 1993 | Phoenix | Woman Farmer | "In on the Joke (#2.8) as Leslie Baker |
| 1997, 1998 | Good Guys, Bad Guys | 2 roles Rose Ms. Pinney |
2 Episodes "Angel'’ (#1.11) "Naughty Bits (#2.5) |
| 1999 | Stingers | Maggie Robardi | "Just Acting" (#2.13) |
| 2000 | SeaChange | Mrs. Chatham | "Pipeline" (#3.5) |
| 2001 | Shock Jock | Rita | "Exposure" (#1.3), "Mein Diary (#1.5), "One for the Road" (#1.6) |
| 1994, 1997, 2001,2004 |
Blue Heelers | Various roles Sheila O'Shaughnessy Mrs. Flynn Grandma Kenny Irene Wilkes (2 episodes) |
5 episodes "Why Give People Rights? They Only Abuse Them" -1994 (#1.3) "Face Value – 1994 (1.38) "The Civil Deed" -1997 (#4.41) "A Matter of Faith" -2001 (#8.37) "Reasonable Doubt: Live" -2004 (#11.12) |
| 2008–2009 | City Homicide | Miriam Toffler | 2 episodes "Taniwha (#2.4), "In Wolf’s Clothing" (#3.17) |
| 2009 | The Librarians | Christine's aunt | "Romeos and Juliets" (#2.4) |
| 1995–1996 2002–2006, 2008, 2013, 2015 2017–2019, 2022–2023 |
Neighbours | Angie Rebecchi | Regular and recurring role |
Film appearances edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "Inanimate Objects" | Sam Graham | Film |
| 2008 | "Tea and Physics" | Granny | (Short) |
| 1993 | Body Melt | Mack | Film |
| 1992 | Spotswood aka: "The Efficiency Expert" in the U.S. |
Gwen | Film (as Leslie Baker) |
| 1987 | Slate, Wyn & Me | Molly | Film |