Olivia Hamnett

Olivia Jane Hamnett (13 February 1943 - 2 November 2001) was an English actress known for numerous television roles in Australia, primarily in soap operas and miniseries. including The Sullivans as Meg Fulton in 1979, in Prisoner as Dr. Kate Peterson, who was a supporting cast member in 1981–82 and in Return to Eden 1983 and 1985 as Joanna Randall.

Hamnett was born in 1943, in St Helens, Lancashire, England.

Hamnett started her acting career in theatre, before moving into television in the early 1960s, with guest roles on series, including Department S and Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) in 1969.

After emigrating to Australia in the 1970s, she found even greater onscreen success. She initially secured minor roles in series such as Bellbird and a number of the Crawford Production staples, before being cast in more significant roles. She was best known for her performances in cult series Prisoner as Dr. Kate Peterson and The Sullivans as Meg Fulton, as well as both the original miniseries and the regular series of Return to Eden.

Hamnett also played major roles on such series as Rush, The Power, The Passion, Chances, Pacific Drive, Neighbours and Blue Heelers.

She portrayed Richard Chamberlain's wife in The Last Wave (1977), and played Ricky Schroder's character's mother in The Earthling (1980).

Hamnett married actor Peter Regan in 1973. She died in November 2001 in Malvern, Victoria from a brain tumour at the age of 58.