Enid Lorimer

Lorimer was born[1] on 27 November 1887, in London, United Kingdom.[1] Her father was Harold Marcus Nunn and her mother was Helen Louise Fowler (née Bosworth).[2]

Her early education was supervised by a governess. She later attended a boarding school in Folkestone, Kent, and a finishing school in Switzerland.[3]

Lorimer's career as an actress lasted for some 70 years.[4][5] She first took stage drama in the United Kingdom,[6] before leaving for Sydney, Australia in November 1923 to serve as Art Director at the Star Amphitheatre, Balmoral.[7] She starred in numerous Australian television programmes, such as Motel, Spyforce, Homicide, Division 4 and Cop Shop, as well as many theatrical stage plays,[8] and in 1966 she appeared as a narrator in fourteen episodes of the BBC children's television programme Jackanory. Up until her 85th birthday in 1973, she was very active within the entertainment circle and would not entertain the prospect of retirement, despite self-admitted signs of "phasing out".[9] Her final film appearance was in The Odd Angry Shot.[10] In her later years, she gradually declined from acting and instead started writing children's books, such as the series Shelley (which was based on her granddaughter), under the pseudonym of Ellen Bosworth.[6] Many of her books were best-sellers in Australia.[11] During her lifetime, Lorimer also worked as a teacher and a theosophist.[12]

Lorimer was awarded the Chips Rafferty Memorial Award in 1981[13] and the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service towards the performing arts on 14 June 1982.[14]

Enid Lorimer Circuit, in the Canberra suburb of Chisholm, is named in her honour.[15]

Lorimer died on 15 July 1982 at a private hospital[16] in Wahroonga, New South Wales.[17][18] A private funeral was held for her; only six people attended.[17]

FILM

TELEVISION

• Enid Lorimer at IMDb
• Enid Lorimer at the Women Film Pioneers Project