Abigail Rogan (known as Abigail; born 23 July 1946) is an English-born retired actress, particularly of television soap operas and film, and was also briefly a vocalist.
She emigrated from London in 1968 and became one of Australia’s significant sex symbols of the early 1970s. She was promoted as a sultry blonde siren, like Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot.
She appeared in soap operas, including Number 96, Sons and Daughters and Chances.
Early life
Abigail was born in London, England, in 1946 to a mother of Ceylonese (now Sri Lanka) of Dutch Burghers descent and educated in France; she started her career in her native United Kingdom, appearing in such roles as Robin Hood and the Continental Theatre, she arrived in Australia to study civil engineering whilst acting part-time but made a major foray in showbiz when she was given a chance to appear as the female lead in a local theatre production of the British comedy There’s a Girl in My Soup in 1968. She settled in Sydney and appeared in an advert with Phil Silvers and the TV series Delta.
Acting career
Film and television
She is best known for her roles in several prominent Australian TV soap operas, where she became known simply as ‘Abigail‘. She first became well known in Number 96 as an original cast member and as artist’s model Bev Houghton, with her character providing fleeting nude glimpses. She became Australia’s undisputed sex symbol of the early 1970s through the role. She was written out of the series after a dispute, although initially, the media reported that she had left to appear in a movie in 1973. The character was re-cast, with Victoria Raymond assuming the role. However, Abigail returned to the soap in 1976 as the character of Eve.
During this period, Abigail appeared in a series of brief cameo roles in a string of sex comedy films, such as Alvin Purple (1973) and its 1974 sequel, Alvin Rides Again. In 1974, Abigail performed a striptease in the burlesque comedy The Legend of San Peel at The Barrel Theatre, a well-known strip palace in Kings Cross, while struggling to find serious acting jobs.
1975 she appeared in Class of ’75 as a prim French Senior Mistress. Also in 1975, she played Esmerelda in The True Story of Eskimo Nell, and in 1976, she appeared in another bawdy comedy, Eliza Fraser.
Abigail returned to Number 96 in November 1976. Her new character, the oft-divorced Eve, would potentially appear in a spinoff series, Fair Game, with Elaine Lee and Lynette Curran. It did not eventuate, although the completed pilot was divided up to create segments of three episodes of Number 96 (Episodes 1079–1081).
Abigail appeared in a recurring sketch in The Norman Gunston Show called “The Checkout Chicks”. This sketch, a send-up of melodramatic soap operas set in a supermarket, mostly featured other former Number 96 actresses. The show was cancelled in July 1977. Around the same time, she appeared in Glenview High. In 1977, Abigail appeared as super-efficient secretary Hilary Templeton in The Young Doctors. Also, in 1977, she had a cameo role in the film Summer City, which is notable for being the first to have Mel Gibson in a major role.
In 1984, Abigail appeared in Melvin, Son of Alvin. In 1985, she scored a regular role in another soap opera, Sons and Daughters, playing Caroline ‘The Cat’ Morrell, a role for which she became well-known and continued until the series ended in 1987.
In 1988, she appeared in the film Breaking Loose, followed by a co-starring role in Elly & Jools, where she played Country and western singer wannabe Dulcie Dickson. In 1990, she appeared in Sher Mountain Killings Mystery, followed by roles in the soap operas Family and Friends and Neighbours. For most of 1992, she appeared in Chances as Bambi Shute, the host of a TV sex show.
Theatre
Abigail had some success in the theatre, specialising in comedy roles. In 1983, she toured New South Wales and Queensland with the stage farce A Bedfull of Foreigners.
Publishing and music
In 1973, after leaving Number 96, she published her autobiography, Call Me Abigail, which sold 150,000 copies in its first two weeks of sale.[4] Also in 1973, Abigail made an attempt, one of the first soap stars to do so (before Kylie Minogue) at a popular music career and scored a hit with a cover of Serge Gainsbourg’s “Je t’aime… moi non-plus”, which reached the top 10 in Australia. Although this debut was a success, follow-ups, including a comedic release with ventriloquist Chris Kirby, were not.
Retirement from acting
Abigail’s last role was in 2000, but in 2002, she briefly became a spokesperson for Jenny Craig, a weight-loss company. She claimed to have lost 17 kilograms in seven weeks.
Personal life
Abigail was twice married; first to her manager, actor Mark Hatfield (who also appeared on Number 96 as Alan Cotterill), and then to actor Adrian Wright.
Abigail was interviewed on Sydney radio station 2GB on her 60th birthday in 2006. At the time, she lived on the Gold Coast, Queensland.
In March 2011, the Australian current affairs program Today Tonight produced a story on Abigail, claiming she had fallen on hard times and was living as a squatter in a derelict church. A rival current affairs program, A Current Affair, aired a rebuttal story the following evening. In fact, she and her husband had been living there temporarily, with permission, as their home had been partially destroyed in the 2011 floods. Her damaged home was being prepared for rebuilding. The Today Tonight story captured some hidden camera footage of Abigail. She did not appear on camera consensually.
Filmography
Film
Les enfants de dieu Feature film
Descente a la plague Feature film
Imagination Feature film
1970 Play 543 Film short
1973 Alvin Purple Girl in see through blouse Feature film
1973 The Wicked City TV movie
1974 Alvin Rides Again Mae Feature film
1975 The True Story of Eskimo Nell Esmerelda Feature film
1976 Murcheson Creek Donna Lewis TV movie
1976 Eliza Fraser Buxom Girl Feature film
1977 All at Sea Denise Demour TV movie
1977 Summer City Woman in Pub Feature film
1984 Melvin, Son of Alvin Melvin’s Mother, Mrs. Simpson Feature film
1988 Breaking Loose: Summer City II’) Helen Feature film
1990 Sher Mountain Killings Mystery Muriel Cordeaux Feature film
1990 Friday on My Mind TV movie
1995 The Final Stage The Woman Feature film
1999 Liang Po Po Film short
2000 Gitano Gypsy (voice) Animated film short
Television
Robin Hood Young Child TV series, 1 episode
Continental Theatre TV series, 1 episode
1969 Delta Guest role TV series, 2 episodes
1972-73; 1976 Number 96 Bev Houghton / Eve TV series, 77 episodes
1972 Moomba Festival Guest – Herself with Number 96 cast TV special
1972 The Tony Hancock Special Guest TV special
1973 The Barry Crocker Comedy Hour Guest TV special
1973, 1973 The Paul Hogan Show Guest – Herself sings “Je Taime” TV pilot
1973 The Don Lane Show Guest TV series, 1 episode
1973 The Paul Hogan Show Herself sings “Do It Again” TV series, 1 episode
1973 Sunday Magazine Herself – (Number 96 Celebration 300th episode) Guest with Gordon McDougall, Ron Shand, Pat McDonald & Johnny Lockwood TV series, 1 episode
1973 Two-Up Goes Legal Herself TV special
1974 Ted Hamilton’s Musical World Guest TV series, 1 episode
1974 No Man’s Land Herself TV play
1974 This Love Affair Helen TV series, episode 2: ‘Tilting at Windmills’
1974 Frost Over Australia Guest – Herself with Leonard Teale & Lady Sonia McMahon TV series, 1 episode
1975 Class of ’75 Angelique Dupree TV series, 98 episodes
1975 The Norman Gunston Show Guest TV series, 1 episode
1975 The Norman Gunston Show Herself TV series, 8 episodes (‘The Check-Out Chicks’ sketch)
1975 Celebrity Squares Contestant TV series
1976 Fair Game Eve TV pilot
1976 Number 96 Eve TV series, 3 episodes
1976 The Bluestone Boys Guest role TV series, 1 episode
1976 Up the Convicts Sharlot (uncredited) TV series, 1 episode
1976 The Celebrity Game Herself TV series
1976; 1994 Number 96: And They Said It Wouldn’t Last Bev Houghton (archive clips) TV special
1977 The Young Doctors Hiliary Templeton TV series
1977 Graham Kennedy’s Blankety Blanks Panelist TV series, 3 episodes
1977 The Maggi Eckhardt Hour Guest TV series, 1 episode
1978 Glenview High Guest role TV series, 1 episode
1978, 1984 The Mike Walsh Show Guest – Herself TV series, 1 episode
1978 Cappriccio Guest TV series, 1 episode
1978 The Zodiac Girls Herself TV pilot
1979 Chopper Squad Alison Burns TV series, 1 episode ‘
1980 Celebrity Tattletales Herself & Mark Hashfield TV series, 3 episodes
1980 Catch Us If You Can Herself TV special
1980 The Variety Club Race Day Herself TV special
1980 Home Sweet Home Patient TV series, 1 episode
1981 Trial By Marriage Laivinia TV series, 1 episode
1981 Are You Being Served? Perfume Saleswoman TV series, 1 episode
1981 The Great Australian Argument Settler Herself (pin-up) TV special
1982 The Australian Way: A Salute to Aussie Sex Appeal Guest TV special
1984 The Mike Walsh Show Guest – Herself TV series, 1 episode
1984 Special Squad Mrs. Quinn TV series, 1 episode
1985-1987 Sons and Daughters Caroline Morrell TV series, 410 episodes
1985-1988 Channel Seven Perth Telethon Herself TV special
1986 The 28th Annual TV Week Logie Awards Presenter TV special
1986 Kids Telethon Ten 21st Birthday Show Herself in taped appearance with Number 96 cast: Pat McDonald, Johnny Lockwood, Bettina Welch, Elizabeth Kirkby, Chard Hayward, Sheila Kennelly, Harry Michaels, Wendy Blacklock, Frances Hargreaves & Vicki Raymond TV special
1986 Punchlines Herself TV special
1987 Have a Go Guest Judge TV series, 3 episodes
1987 The 29th Annual TV Week Logie Awards Herself TV special
1987 Discovering Australia Narrator Film documentary
1988 Late Night Oz Guest TV series, 1 episode
1989 Neighbours Betty Bristow TV series, 3 episodes
1989 Rafferty’s Rules Michelle Dobbs TV series, 1 episode
1989 60 Minutes Herself TV series, 1 episode
1989 The Bert Newton Show Guest – Herself with Colleen Hewett, Lionel Rose & Robin Jolley TV series, 1 episode
1989 Bodysurfer Mrs. James ABC TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1990 Elly & Jools Dulcie Dickson TV series, 12 episodes
1990 Family and Friends Doreen Stubbs TV series
1990 Celebrity Family Feud Contestant TV series, 1 episode
1991 Col’n Carpenter TV series, 1 episode
1991 Tonight Live with Steve Vizard Guest TV series, 1 episode
1991 Good Morning Australia Guest TV series, 1 episode
1991 Til Ten Guest TV series, 1 episode
1991; 1992 In Sydney Today Guest TV series, 2 episodes
1991 The Miraculous Mellops Iron Peg TV miniseries, 1 episode
1992 The Midday Show Herself TV series, 1 episode
1992 Chances Bambi Shute TV series, 26 episodes
1993 Time Trax Georgette TV series, 1 episode
1994 Number 96: And They Said It Wouldn’t Last Presenter TV special
1995 Ernie and Denise Guest TV series, 1 episode
1995 Good Morning Australia Guest TV series, 1 episode
1995; 2011 A Current Affair Herself TV series, 1 episode
1995 Eurotrash Guest TV series, 1 episode
1996 Wedlocked Radner TV series, 1 episode
1997 Where Are They Now? Guest – Herself with The Young Doctors actors Chris King, Tim Page, Gwen Plumb, Mark Holden & Ugly Dave Gray TV series, 1 episode
2008 Not Quite Hollywood: Deleted and Extended Scenes Herself Video
2011 Today Tonight Herself (with partner Adrian Wright) TV series, 1 episode
2011 A Current Affair Herself (with partner Adrian Wright) TV series, 1 episode
2016 RealTVFilms Host TV series, 2 episodes
Theatre/Stage
There’s a Girl in My Soup (1968-1969)
Rookery Nook (1970)
Saga of San Peel (1975)
Wild Oats (1977)
A Bedfull of Foreigners (1982)
Rattle of a Simple Man (1987)
My Fat Friend (1988)
Storm In A D Cup (1990)
Lunatic Soup (1990)
Charley’s Aunt (1991-1992)
Discography
Singles
1973 “Je T’aime” / “Last Tango in Paris” Festival Records (Australia) No. 6, 11 weeks[12]
1973 “Do It Again” / “Please Terry Do It One More Time” Festival Records (Australia) No chart position
1974 “These Dreams” / “(Just As) I Am” Festival Records (Australia) No. 96, 1 week
1976 “Biting My Nails” / “Stay A While” Festival Records (Australia) No chart position
Album
1973 Abigail Festival Records (Australia) L-35260
Side A: 1. “An Occasional Man” 2. “My Baby Does it Good” 3. “New Fangled Tango” 4. “These Dreams” 5. “Do It Again” 6. “Je T’aime”
Side B 1. “Sugar Me” 2. “The Man I Love” 3. “(Just As) I Am” 4. “Pillow Talk” 5. “Last Tango in Paris” 6. “Please Terry, Do It One More Time”*
The track “Please Terry Do It One More Time” features Chris Kirby.
Produced by Martin Erdman
Recorded at Festival’s ‘Studio 24″, Sydney, Australia
Terry appears by courtesy of Chris Kirby.
