She's gone from success to success as Meg in Prisoner: Cell Block H, but Elspeth Ballantyne has always put her family first, as Nicholas Towell found out...

Elspeth Ballantyne couldn't be more delighted with the success Prisoner: Cell Block H is currently enjoying on British television.

It's now five years since she recorded her last scenes but the bubbly actress, who plays popular prison warder Meg, enjoyed every minute of her time 'behind bars'.

"From an acting point of view, it was a marvellous production because I was being paid to get kidnapped, blown up and even mugged," she says, with a grin.

"From that point of view, it was terrific.  And, of course, I was also working with a great set of people who were very professional."

Although it was quite an experience to be with the series throughout its entire run, the Adelaide-born actress explained that, because she's a single parent, the timing of her role couldn't have been more convenient.

"I had two young boys, Toby and Matthew, to bring up and provide a stable family life for.  So, having got the part, I made the conscious decision that as long as they needed me, I had to be around for their sake.

"I lived, and still do, within twenty minutes of the studio, which meant that I was home every night to see them - even if it was fairly late on.

"I could go to work in the morning totally content in the knowledge that the lads were close at hand.

"It was rather a unique situation really because, while quite a few members of the cast were anxious to move on after a period of time, I had no such desires."

Despite that, however, Elspeth found the part of Meg quite demanding.

"I was, in fact, quite nervous and rather tense for the first couple of years," she admits.  "It took me a long time to get used to the long studio hours.

"But it was helped by the fact that when I got home at night, I was able to leave Meg behind.  The family connection was a real boost for me.

"The moment I walked through the gates at the end of the day, my role changed to that of being a mother.

"After the first couple of years, though, I began to enjoy my part much more.  As the storylines became really involved there were occasions when I wasn't needed, which meant I had a little bit of relief from the pressure in readiness for my next big scene.

"I was also fortunate in getting the chance to play alongside some marvellous actresses who were, in fact, good friends of mine."

Before she was in Prisoner, Elspeth, who was born in Adelaide, enjoyed a very busy acting career, alternating between appearances in the theatre and on television, building up the reputation of being one of Australia's best actresses.

"An acting career can be very up and down but I've been in the lucky position of being kept constantly busy," she adds.

"I prefer a mixture of theatre and television.  Prior to Prisoner I had spent four months in another series called 'Bell Bird'.

"As a matter of fact, the eight years I was 'in' Wentworth was the longest I've ever spent away from the theatre at any one time."

That's quite an achievement for somebody who, during her teens, wasn't sure whether an acting life was really for her.  Elspeth made her stage debut at the age of eight and was brought up in a theatrical background.

"My mother was a drama teacher and, although my father was a photographer by profession, he spent most of his spare time directing in the theatre.

"So, they both had a habit of constantly rushing off to rehearsals and performances.  By the time I reached my late teens I really had had enough of the theatrical scene!

"I went to work in a medical school laboratory for a year and had the most wonderful time possible.  It made me ask myself whether I really wanted to be an actress.

"When the time came to attend auditions for the drama school it took my father a long time to persuade me to give it a go.

"I eventually passed my scholarship and realized that I had made the right decision."

And all who have enjoyed her performance as Meg would agree wholeheartedly!

[Taken from My Weekly magazine - 1991(?)]
 

Return to previous page

Return to main page