About Jane Clifton
Long story short.....
Jane Clifton is the genuine show-business all-rounder. Actress, singer and published crime novelist, Jane is often asked if there is anything she can't do, to which she simply replies 'Ballet.'
A B.A.(1972) graduate from Monash University's halcyon days of sex and demos and rock 'n roll, Jane was momentarily distracted from a promising career as an English teacher (she promised her parents she'd become one) by Melbourne's burgeoning, alternative theatre and music scene.
The dim lights of Carlton's La Mama, the Pram Factory, the Flying Trapeze, T.F.Much Ballroom and the Last Laugh Theatre Restaurant beckoned. While the allure of singing in bands with names like Scumbag, Toads and Lipp and the Double Dekker Brothers proved irresistible.
Despite these arty beginnings, Jane has managed to carve out a five decade-long, show- business career. Including:
- a string of minor roles in numerous early Australian t.v. shows from Division 4, Homicide, Ryan, Bluey and even Holiday Island
- fronting the ground-breaking feminists-on-Countdown band STILETTO,
- being part of the smash-hit stage shows MUM'S THE WORD and
- MENOPAUSE
- THE MUSICAL
- her top 10 pop singles GIRL ON THE WALL and TAXI MARY (with Jo Jo Zep).
- 3 published novels
- Half Past Dead (Text 2002), A Hand in the Bush (Text 2005) and Flush (Clandestine Press, 2014).
- her memoir THE ADDRESS BOOK published in 2011 by Penguin. - her solo CD The Marriage of Style, released in April 2003.
Nevertheless, Jane will always be most well-known for a role she played over 35 years ago: MARGO in Prisoner/Cell-Block H
Well-travelled, urbane and witty, passionate Essendon Football Club supporter, solver of cryptic crosswords and mother of two, Jane is also a registered civil celebrant who spends most weekends dodging hailstones and heatwaves, while hitching happy couples in parks gardens and windswept beaches across the country.
In 2017, with too much time on her hands, she also started driving for the all-female ride-sharing service www.shebah.com.au
In 2018 she is keeping up with her NY resolution to write a poem a day.
www.janeclifton.com.au
Facebook - @Jane-Clifton-290447094352215
Instagram - @cliffotoo
Twitter - @missjaneclifton
Showreel
Spencer by Katy Warner
Girl On The Wall
Wanted - Beverley
BOTC Promo
'Mae' THE DRESSMAKER
BEAST Audition
Showreel: Jane Clifton
Spencer by Katy Warner
Showreel: Jane Clifton
Girl On The Wall
Showreel: Jane Clifton
Wanted - Beverley
Showreel: Jane Clifton
BOTC Promo
Showreel: Jane Clifton
'Mae' THE DRESSMAKER
Showreel: Jane Clifton
BEAST Audition
Films
| DATE | DESCRIPTION | DIRECTOR |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | LOST GULLY ROAD – Mother | Donna McRae |
| 2010 | MATCHING JACK -Finn’s Doctor | Nadia Tass |
| 1992 | GARBO -Mayor | |
| 1990 | A KINK IN THE PICASSO – Bella | Mark Gracie |
| 1988 | AS TIME GOES BY – Mechanic | Barry Peak |
| 1986 | A SINGLE LIFE –Lee | John Power |
| 1983 | A SLICE OF LIFE – Fay | John D. Lamond |
| 1982 | THE CLINIC – Sharon | David Stevens |
| 1975 | PURE S – Party Girl | Bert Deling |
| 1971 | STORK –student | Tim Burstall |
Television
| DATE | ROLE/ PRODUCTION | |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | NEIGHBOURS Meg Fletcher | |
| 2016 | Bringing Our Stories Home (ABC) – Miss Mulholland | |
| 2015 | Doctor Blake Mysteries –Sister Josephine | |
| 2014 | Winners&Losers - Lynette Vanderthorpe | |
| 2011 | Spicks&Specks (ABC | |
| 2010 | Neighbours – Judge Nerida Willow | |
| 2001 | Shock Jock (tv1) - Joy Gold | |
| 2001 | Round the Twist - Producer | |
| 1995 | Janus (ABC) Phillipa Strong | |
| 1993 | ARTS REVIEW (ABC) presenter 7.30 REPORT (ABC) presenter |
|
| 1992 | Comedy Festival Annual Debate | |
| 1991 | Colin Carpenter | |
| 1990 | Flying Doctors - Greta | |
| 1989 | The Power, The Passion (7) – Carla Graham | |
| 1986 | Dancing Daze (ABC) – Lee Harper | |
| 1986 | Five Times Dizzy (SBS) | |
| 1984 | Special Squad | |
| 1984 | Carsons Law | |
| 1983 | Home (ABC) – Kearns | |
| 1982 | Shoo-Be-Doos (ABC) | |
| 1981 | Holiday Island – Fran | |
| 1981 | Prisoner In Concert – Margo Gaffney | |
| 1979/84 | PRISONER/CELL-BLOCK H - Margo Gaffney | |
| 1979 | Skyways – Shelley | |
| 1978 | Against The Wind – Convict Woman | |
| 1977 | Bluey – Seaboots | |
| 1975/76 | Homicide – Cheryl/Jenny/Janice Thelgood | |
| 1974 | Ryan - Jenny | |
| 1971/73 | Division 4 – Anne Mason/Hippy Girl | |
| also | Sounds, Nightmoves Rock Around the World, Mike Walsh Show, Midday Show, Bert Newton Show (9 & 10) Peter Couchman Show (10 & ABC), Blankety Blanks, Starsearch, Have A Go, Hey Hey It’s Saturday, Tonight Live - the Vizard Show |
|
Short Films
| DATE | DESCRIPTION | DIRECTOR |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | BEAST – Bea | CHRIS SFERRAZZA |
| 1999 | TRAPPED | Trudi Hellier |
TVC
| DATE | DESCRIPTION | DIRECTOR |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | SUSSAN – 12 months | David Parker |
| 1999 | WORKCOVER | Gail Sullivan |
| 1980 | Bob Jane Tyres | Dennis Wright |
Radio
| DESCRIPTION |
|---|
| TripleR |
| 774ABCMelbourne |
| RADIO NATIONAL |
Voice
| DESCRIPTION |
|---|
| Numerous audiobook recordings for VISION AUSTRALIA and BOLINDA AUDIO |
Public Speaking
| DESCRIPTION |
|---|
| Accomplished public speaker, debater, M/C and quiz-mistress. |
Theatre
| DATE | DESCRIPTION | DIRECTOR |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | JACK OF TWO TRADES (MAPA) - | Nate Gilkes |
| 2017 | SPENCER (LabKelpie) - Marilyn | Sharon Davies |
| 2016&2013 | BOY OUT OF THE COUNTRY (Larrikin Ensemble) - Margaret | Felix Nobis |
| 2012 | MORE SEX PLEASE- WE’RE SENIORS | Pip Mushin |
| 2012 | BARASSI – THE STAGE SHOW - narrator | Terence O’connell |
| 2006 | BARMAIDS (Hit Productions) | Terence O’Connell |
| 2005 | MENOPAUSE – the MUSICAL | Gary Young |
| 2001 | GO IN TIGHT – Barry Dickins (LaMama) | James Clayden |
| 1998-2000 | MUM’S THE WORD | Kaarin Fairfax |
| 1994&97 | LOVELETTERS | Cambell McComas |
| 1993 | AN EVENING WITH MERV HUGHES | Can’t remember but it was BAD |
| 1992 | THE SELECTION (MTC) – Mum | George Whaley |
| 1990 | LAUGHING WILD (SoupKItchenTheatre) | Pamela Hollings |
| 1990 | PRISONER/CELL BLOCK ‘H’ “play” – UK tour | Stewart Trotter |
| 1990 | DREAMTIME –State Theatre Opera with Keith Michell | George Fairfax |
| 1986 | THE SECRET DIARY OF ADRIAN MOLE – Atheneum | Terence O’Connell |
| 1979 | MICKEY’S MOOMBA | Tim Robbertson |
| 1978 | L’AMANTE ANGAISE & LA MUSICA (Marguerite Duras) | Shuv’us |
| 1976 | SISTERS (APG) | RICHARD MURPHETT |
| 1975 | AC/DC (APG) | Linzee Smith |
| 1974 | AFRICA | Steve J.Spears |
| 1974 | DIMBOOLA – Chevron Hotel | Tim Robertson |
| 1974 | A FLOATING WORLD (APG). | Linzee Smith |
| 1976 | SISTERS (APG) | RICHARD MURPHETT |
| 1974 | NIGHTFLOWERS (LaMama) | Jude Kuring |
| 1973 | GONE TO SEE A MAN ABOUT A DOG (LaMama) | Peter Lillie and Cosmo D.Topper |
| 1969-72 | TRIBE ENSEMBLE –experimental and street theatre group based at La Mama | Doug Anders |
Cabaret
| DATE | DESCRIPTION | DIRECTOR |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | ROCK VENUS – the songs of LINDA RONDSTADT (Adelaide Cabaret Festival) | Written and directed by me |
| 2016 | SOUTHERN BELLES (Adelaide Cabaret Festival) | |
| 2011 | ANY PLACE I HANG MY HAT IS HOME (Adelaide Cabaret Festival) | Written and directed by me |
| 2004 | STAND-UP AND SWING | With Denise Scott |
| 1995/6 | I ONLY WANNA BE WITH YOU – the DUSTY SPRINGFIELD SHOW | Terence O’Connell |
| 1986 | TAKE TWO (at the Last Laugh) | Written and directed by me |
| 1984 | ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE JANE CLIFTON (at the Last Laugh) | Burt Cooper |
| 1983 | PACK OF WOMEN | Robyn Archer |
| 1979/80 | BENT BRASS - with THE BRASS BAND from San Francisco (at the Last Laugh) | |
| 1981 | The MINI-BUSETTES | With Colette Mann & Betty Bobbitt |
| 1970-74 | Shows at T.F.MUCH & MUCH MORE BALLROOM & THE REGENT, FLYING TRAPEZE | |
Music
| DATE | DESCRIPTION | INSTITUTION |
|---|---|---|
| 2010-16 | Jazz Trio | CLAYPOTS, ST KILDA |
| 2003 | THE MARRIAGE OF STYLE (solo CD) | Produced by James Black |
| 1996-2002 | SO NICE | Brazil ‘66 covers band with Nichaud Fitzgibbon. |
| 1996 | INCOMMUNICAZO. | compilation CD |
| 1995 | THE GREAT AUSSIE CHRISTMAS | compilation CD |
| 1993 | GOING HOME | ABC Records Compilation CD |
| 1993 | MOON OVER MELBOURNE | ABC Records Compilation CD |
| 1984 | JANE CLIFTON 7 THE GO-GO BOYS | ‘live’ cassette |
| 1984 | MY MACHINES | Solo single (produced by Joe Camilleri) |
| 1984 | GIRL ON THE WALL | Solo single (produced by Joe Camilleri) reached No13 national charts |
| 1982/3 | JO JO ZEP – Cha Band | Hit singles ‘TAXI MARY’, ‘WALK ON BY’ |
| 1981 | THE NIGHTHAWKES | R&B covers band |
| 1976-78 | STILETTO | Album ‘Licence to Rage’. Single ‘Bluebirds’. |
| 1975 | TOADS | |
| 1973 | SCUMBAG | |
| 1973 | MYRIAD | With Carrl & Janie Myriad |
| 1971/72 | LIPP & THE DOUBLE DEKKER BROTHERS | |
| 2002 | HALF PAST DEAD | Text Publishing |
| 2005 | A HAND IN THE BUSH | Text Publishing |
| 2011 | THE ADDRESS BOOK | Penguin |
| 2015 | FLUSH | ClanDestine Publishing |
| VARUNA fellowship awarded 2006 | ||
| TYRONE GUTHRIE CENTRE (IRELAND) fellowship awarded 2007 | ||