Lynn Rainbow
Lynn Carol Rainbow-Reid AM (born 19 September 1942) credited also as Lynne Rainbow, is a former Australian-based theatre and television actor who was educated at Ascham School, The Sorbonne and Dante Alighieri in Italy. Lynn was the daughter of Judge Alfred Rainbow and the granddaughter of Sir Benjamin Fuller a theatrical entrepreneur. During the 1970s she was married to actor Tom Oliver
Lynn Rainbow | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lynn Carol Rainbow Reid 19 September 1942 Australia |
| Other names | Lynne Rainbow |
| Education | Ascham School, The University of Paris, Dante Alighieri |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1963–1993 |
| Known for | Number 96 (TV series and film version) |
| Spouse(s) | Tom Oliver |
| Family | Alfred Rainbow (father), Sir Benjamin Fuller (grandfather) |
Actress
She became widely recognisable in the early 1970s on Australian television, taking many guest roles in the Crawford Productions police dramas Homicide, Division 4 and Matlock Police. She also appeared in an episode of popular situation comedy series The Group.
From March 1972 played the original regular character of Sonia Freeman in the phenomenally successful sex-comedy television soap opera Number 96. She stayed in the role until 1973 during which time Sonia engaged in an inter-racial kiss, lost her husband in a car accident, and was targeted by a woman planning to send her mad.
Rainbow reprised the role of Sonia Freeman in the feature film version of the serial, Number 96, in 1974. In the film, a newly married Sonia returns to Number 96 but again worries she is losing her mind. Rainbow shot all her scenes for the film in a single day, before rushing off to give a theatre performance as Elvira in Blithe Spirit that night.
After Number 96 Rainbow continued to make guest starring appearances in Australian television drama series, had a role in miniseries Against the Wind (1978), took a regular role in soap opera The Young Doctors, guest starred in six episodes of A Country Practice, and appeared in an early episode of Home and Away.
Filmography (selected)
| Title | Year | Role |
| Blandings Castle (TV series) | 1967 | Aggie |
| Room at the Bottom (TV series) | 1967 | Wendy |
| Misleading Cases | 1968 | Felicity Haddock |
| Homicide (TV series) | 1969-1971 | 3 roles
|
| The Group | 1971 | 1 episode |
| Division 4 | 1970-1972 | 3 roles
|
| Number 96 (TV series) | 1972-1973 | Sonia Freeman (53 episodes) |
| Number 96 | 1974 | Sonia Hunter |
| 1974 | unknown 1 episode | |
| 1971/1974 | 2 rolesJan/Wilma Grimes | |
| Kings Men (TV series) | 1976 | 1 episode |
| Against the Wind (TV mini-series) | 1978 | Mrs. Louisa Wiltshire |
| Cop Shop (TV series) | 1978/1979 | 2 roles Gloria Matthews/Anne Mitchell |
| The Young Doctors (TV series) | 1980 | June Holland |
| Sherlock Holmes and the Sign of Four | 1983 | Voice |
| A Country Practice (TV series) | 1982-1984 | 6 episodes Margaret Skilton/Mrs. Quinn/Susan Moore |
| Nicholas Nickleby (TV movie) | 1985 | Voice |
| Captain James Cook (TV mini-series) | 1988 | 1 episode |
| Home and Away (TV series) | 1988-1991 | 2 roles Neighbour/Heather Davidson credited here asLynne Rainbow |
