Alexandra Fowler (born 6 December 1961) is an Australian actress and singer. She is known for her roles as Angela Hamilton in Sons and Daughters (1982–1984), Zoe Davis in Neighbours (1986) and Laura Allen in Big Sky (1997). She was also a member of 1980s Australian pop group, Chantoozies.
Career
Television
Fowler had small roles in The Young Doctors and Sara Dane, before coming to prominence playing Angela Hamilton (later Palmer Keegan) in the Grundy series Sons and Daughters from 1982 and 1984, through 327 episodes.[1] She joined the cast of Neighbours as Zoe Davis in 1986, after being approached by the Grundy Organisation.[2] After deciding not to extend her contract with the serial, Fowler departed in September 1986.[3] She also played a regular role in another Grundy soap Possession (1985) just before it was cancelled. She also appeared in The Flying Doctors and Frankie's House. From 1997, she was a regular lead in Big Sky, alongside actor Gary Sweet.[2]
On 24 August 2001, she appeared on the Australian-American science fiction series Farscape in the episode "Fractures", as the voice of Orrhn. From 15 November 2005 to 2007, she played the recurring role of Eve Ballantyne on the Australian drama series All Saints.
From June 2013, Fowler began appearing in the first season of Wentworth as Simone 'Simmo' Slater and continued in the role through to season 2, episode 6. She reappeared as Slater in season 3, episode 12 in a cameo role.[4][5] Fowler rejoined the cast of Neighbours in late 2015 as Nene Williams.[6][7]
In 2022, Fowler joined the cast of miniseries Riptide.[8][9] Fowler in 2024 gave an extensive interview with the podcast Talking Prisoner, talking about her time on Wentworth, Sons and Daughters and All Saints.[10]
Music
As a singer, Fowler is known as one of the four female vocalists of the band Chantoozies (1986–1991), which also included David Reyne.[11] The other three females were Tottie Goldsmith, Eve von Bibra and Angelica La Bozzetta.[11]
Their first single was a number four hit with a cover version of "Witch Queen" in March 1987.[12] The group had continued success with further singles, including a number six hit with "Wanna Be Up" (May 1988), and top 40 peaks for "He's Gonna Step on You Again" (June 1987, No. 36), "Kiss 'n' Tell" (August 1988, No. 25) and "Love the One You're With" (March 1991, No. 21).[12]
Their debut self-titled album Chantoozies, reached number 8 on the ARIA Albums Chart in September 1988. Their follow-up album Gild the Lily peaked at number 71 in April 1991.[12]
After the group disbanded Fowler returned to acting, with roles in Big Sky (1997), All Saints (2005–2007) and Wentworth (2013–2014). From 2012 she has also participated in reunion gigs by Chantoozies.[13] They released a single, "Baby It's You", in April 2014.[14]
Acting credits
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982–1984 | Sons and Daughters | Angela Hamilton | 327 episodes |
| 1985 | Possession | Nicola Shannon | 3 episodes |
| 1986 | Neighbours | Zoe Davis | Regular role |
| 1988 | The Flying Doctors | Josie | 1 episode |
| 1991 | G.P. | Mischa | 1 episode |
| 1992 | Frankie's House | Kate | TV movie |
| 1994 | Law of the Land | Jacqui Rushcutter | 13 episodes |
| 1996 | Cody: The Burnout | Stella | TV movie |
| 1997 | Big Sky | Lauren Allen | 40 episodes |
| 1999 | Die Millennium-Katastrophe – Computer-Crash 2000 | TV movie | |
| 1999 | Heartbreak High | Katherine | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Farscape | Orrhn | 1 episode |
| Head Start | Felice | 2 episodes | |
| 2001–2002 | Backberner | Julie | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Love in the First Degree | Jill | Film |
| 2005 | The Secret Life of Us | Susie | 1 episode |
| 2005–2007 | All Saints | Eve Ballantyne / Juliette | 29 episodes |
| 2006 | Stepfather of the Bride | Pamela | TV movie |
| 2008 | Scorched | Kate Langmore | TV movie |
| 2013–2015 | Wentworth | Simone Slater | 9 episodes |
| 2016 | Neighbours | Nene Williams | Guest role |
| 2022 | Riptide | Rachel Weston | 4 episodes |
| 2024 | White Fever | Llewellyn | 2 episodes |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Rocky Horror Show | Janet | Burswood Showroom, Perth |
| 2002 | The Vagina Monologues | Various | Adrian Bohm Productions |
| 2009 | The Little Dog Laughed | Diane | Ensemble Theatre, Sydney |
| 2012 | Let the Sunshine | Natasha | Riverside Theatres Parramatta, Nautilus Theatre, Port Lincoln, Middleback Theatre, Whyalla, Northern Festival Centre, Port Pirie, Hopgood Theatre, Noarlunga Centre, Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, Mt Gambier, Chaffey Theatre, Renmark with HIT Productions |
| 2012 | Rhinestone Rex | Monica | Ensemble Theatre, Sydney |
| 2014 | Face to Face | Maureen | The Concourse, Sydney with Ensemble Theatre, Sydney |
| 2014 | A Conversation | Lorin | The Concourse, Sydney with Ensemble Theatre, Sydney |
| 2014 | Charitable Intent | Stella | The Concourse, Sydney with Ensemble Theatre, Sydney |
| 2017 | Shrine | Mary | The Kin Collective |
| 2018 | Lottie in the Late Afternoon | Anne | Fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne[15] |
| 2019 | Boojum! | Winter School | Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide with State Opera of South Australia |
Music videos
| Year | Artist | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Chantoozies | "Wanna Be Up" |
| Chantoozies | "Kiss 'n'Tell" | |
| 1989 | Chantoozies | "Come Back to Me" |
| 1990 | Chantoozies | "Walk On" |
| 1991 | Chantoozies | "Love the One You’re With" |
| Chantoozies | "I'll Be There" | |
| 2014 | Chantoozies | "Baby It's You" |
| 2015 | Chantoozies | "Black and Blue" |
References
- ^ Cook, Stephen (4 December 1982). "Ally's fight with fame". TV Week. p. 71.
- ^ a b Monroe, Josephine (1994). The Neighbours Programme Guide. Virgin Books. p. 255. ISBN 978-0-86369-831-6.
- ^ Fidgeon, Patrice (10 May 1986). "Nervous Neighbours". TV Week. p. 33.
- ^ "Season 1". SoHo. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
- ^ "Wentworth on the inside | TV Tonight". 14 February 2013.
- ^ Moran, Jonathon (23 February 2016). "Ally Fowler has not been on the set of Neighbours for 30 years but will cause chaos on her return". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ^ Knox, David (25 February 2016). "Ally Fowler returns to Neighbours | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ Knox, David (15 July 2022). "10 announces new drama co-production Riptide". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ Knox, David (15 July 2022). "10 announces new drama co-production Riptide | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ Talking Prisoner EP 60 Special Wentworth Episode Interview with Ally Fowler (Simone Simmo Slater). Retrieved 17 April 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ a b McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Chantoozies'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-86508-072-7. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004.
- ^ a b c Australian chart peaks:
- Australian Music Report (licensed by ARIA until 19 June 1988) peaks: Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-646-11917-5.
- ARIA top 50 peaks from 26 June 1988: "The Chantoozies Discography". Archived from the original on 8 May 2014.
- ARIA peaks between 51–100, from 1988 to 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- ^ Lazarevic, Jade (27 June 2013). "Chantoozies play at Lizotte's". The Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ "The Chantoozies are back: Ally Fowler, Tottie Goldsmith, Angelica 'Angie' Arnott and Eve von Bibra". New Idea. No. 26. Yahoo7. 25 June 2014. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ "The Age review of Lottie in the Late Afternoon". Fortyfivedownstairs. 18 September 2018.
- ^ "Ally Fowler". AusStage.
- ^ "Alexandra Fowler". AusStage.
- ^ "Alexandra Fowler". Showcast.
External links
- Ally Fowler at IMDb