Porter, Nyree Dawn Biography 1991

PORTER, Nyree Dawn (born Ngaire Dawn), OBE 1970;
Film Stage and Telvision Actress
Born Napier, daughter of Kenneth Norman Porter and Edna May (nee Millard); married (1) Bryon O’Leary, son of Walter Thomas O’Leary, 1958 (divorced 1969); (2) Robin Bernard Halstead, son of Bernard Halstead, 1975 (dissolved 1988); one daughter.
Educated: Central School, Napier; Napier Intermediate; Napier Girls’ High School
Associate, Royal Academy of Dancing, solo Seal 1954 Member, National Theatre 1990. Trained as a Classical Ballet Dancer until acting became sole career; toured extensively with New Zealand Players Trust in such roles as Jessica, Merchant of `, Juliet, Rommanoff and Juliet; also revues, many musicals including Love from Judy, Solid Gold Cadillac before moving to England; West End appearances include: Look Who’s Here! (revue), Connie, Come Blow Your Horn, Ducks and Lovers, Nadyesdha, The Duel, Ellen, The Dragon Variation, Mary, Murder in Mind, Anastasia, Sarah, Deadly Nightcap, Deborah, Vivien, Dreams in an Empty City, Yvonne, Naomi, Sunday in the Park with George; favourite roles: Lady brute, The Provok’d Wife, Yeliena Uncle Vanya, title role, Saint Joan, Elsie, Canaries Sometimes Sing, Olivia, Twelfth Night, Desdemona, Othello, Katherine, The Taming of the Shrew, Beatrice, Much Ado About Nothing, Rosalind, As You Like It, Mrs Hasseltine, Conduct Unbecoming, Miss Madrigal, The Chalk Garden, Elsie, Julia, The Ghost Train, Julia, Sweet William, Lady Metcalfe, Beyond Reasonable Doubt (Jeffery Archer), Mrs Burling, An Inspector Calls; many tv roles including: ‘Madam Bovary’, ‘Judith Paris’, ‘The Protectors’, ‘the Liars’, ‘Never Say a Cross Word’, Pervaneh, ‘Hassan’, Irene, ‘Forsyte Saga’, Maddie, ‘For Maddie with Love’, Mrs Steerforth, ‘David Copperfield’; Films include: The Cracksman. Two Left Feet, Live Now, Pay Later, Jayne Eyre, To Die, to Sleep, Perchancce to Dream, The Martian Chronicles; many plays, voice overs for the BBC, NZBC; awards include: Sun TV best actress award 1970, Quixote d’Oro (Spain) for best performance by a foreign actress 1973, TV Times best actress, UKTV, nomination 1970, 1980; subject of TVs ‘This is Your Life’;. Patron: Celebrities Guild of Great Britain, F Mathias Alexander Trust, Medical Advisory Service, Ibis Trust (aid for Romanian babies), Mobility Trust, Opportunities for Women, Querecus- children’s theatre.
Recreations; sketching, painting, (particularly of children), horse riding.
Address: c/o Jean Diamond London Management, 235 Regent St London W1, United Kingdom.