Philippa Baker
Born1932 (age 9192)[1]
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Other namesPhillippa Baker
OccupationActress (retired)
Years active1953–1989[2]
Known forNumber 96 as Roma Lubinski Godulfus
Notable work

Philippa Baker, credited also as Phillippa Baker (born 1932)[3][1]), is an Australian retired actress of radio, theatre and television in series and teleplays and telefilms (although appeared in a couple of features)

Baker started her career in theatre and radio in the early 1950s and appeared in cameos in a few TV soap operas, primarily for Crawford Productions, but is better known for her numerous roles in made-for-television features and mini-series.

However, she is best known for playing deli worker Roma Lubinski, later Godolfus in the soap opera Number 96, as well as had a small role in the hit 1988 film Young Einstein starring Yahoo Serious.

Baker left the acting industry the following year in 1989, after more than 35 years of performing[1][2]

Early life and education

Baker was born in Sydney, Australia in 1932[3] and attended the Independent Theatre, alongside Number 96 co-star Sheila Kennelly training under Doris Fitton.

Career

Radio

Baker acted in the long-running radio serial Blue Hills, spending five years playing a Scottish nurse.[4]

Television and film

Baker appeared in television plays by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 1958 onwards, and then featured in a few different roles in early Crawford Productions police procedurals Homicide and Division Four.

Baker however became best known for playing Roma in top-rated soap opera Number 96. She joined as Russian emigrant Roma Lubinski early in the show's run in 1972, becoming a comedy double-act with Johnny Lockwood, who played her character's soon-to-be husband Aldo, the deli proprietor. They reprised their roles in the 1974 feature film version of Number 96. They were written out of the serial in late 1974 with all the attached publicity, but returned several weeks later: it was always planned as a temporary absence and the media stories a publicity stunt.

By August 1975 the program's ratings had entered a slump and a drastic revamp of the show was planned. The writers decided to write out several high-profile characters, so in early September 1975 the show's famous bomb blast killed four residents including Roma and Aldo. In 1976 Baker and co-star Lockwood appeared in ...And They Said It Wouldn't Last, a retrospective celebrating the 1000th episode of Number 96.

In 1976 Baker joined comedy series The Norman Gunston Show in a recurring sketch The Checkout Chicks, a parody of melodramatic soap operas set in a supermarket. The Checkout Chicks featured other former Number 96 actors Abigail, Vivienne Garrett, Candy Raymond, Judy Lynne and Anne Louise Lambert.

In 1977, she appeared in the guest role of Mrs. Jamieson (Dennis Jameison's mother) in the soap opera The Young Doctors.

Through the 1980s Baker made various appearances in theatre, television and film. She had small roles in high-profile films Annie's Coming Out (1984) and Young Einstein (1988).

Theatre

Baker also worked in theatre between 1953 and 1989, including productions of The Glass Menagerie, The Cherry Orchard, Hedda Gabler and A Streetcar Named Desire [2]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Type
1958Rose Without a ThornTV play
1962Funnel WebTV play
1964A Sound of TrumpetsTV play
1970Eden HouseTV play
1974Number 96Roma GodolfusFeature film
1976Murcheson CreekTV movie
1977Say You Want MeTV movie
1981A Hard GodMonicaTV movie
1983The Weekly's WarMrs CruickshankTV movie
1984Annie's Coming Out (aka A Test of Love)Sister WatermanFeature film
1988Young EinsteinFreud's motherFeature film

Television

Year Title Role Type
1968ContrabanditsPrudenceTV series
1971The GodfathersMollyTV series
1970–71Division 42 roles:
- Mrs Couter
- Helen McGuire
TV series
1970–72Homicide3 roles:
- Mrs Allen
- Mrs Campbell
- Mrs Johnson
TV series
1972–75Number 96Mrs. Roma Lubinski/GodolfusTV series
1975The Norman Gunston ShowMember of "Check-out Chicks" (soap opera parody)TV series
1976...And They Said It Wouldn't LastHerselfTV special celebrating 1000th episode of Number 96
1977Pig in a PokeTV miniseries, episode: Christine's Story
1977The Young DoctorsMrs. JamiesonTV series, 5 episodes
1984Five Mile CreekMrs. CurtisTV series
1988The Dirtwater DynastyLandladyTV miniseries
1988True BelieversDame Enid LyonsTV miniseries

Theatre

Year Title Role
The Glass Menagerie
The Cherry Orchard
Hedda Gabler
A Streetcar Named Desire

Radio

Year Title Role Type
1950sBlue HillsScottish nurseRadio serial

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Willingham, Margot "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Australian Showbiz"
  2. 1 2 3 "Philippa Baker Theatre". AusStage.
  3. 1 2 "Biographical cuttings on Philippa Baker actress". National Library of Australia.
  4. Fawcett, Tony. "The Double Life of Mrs Godolfus!" TV Week. 4 August 1973, p.20
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