Elspeth Ballantyne (born 1939) is an Australian theatre, television and film actress with a career spanning 60 years. She is best known for her roles in TV serials Bellbird as Laura 'Lori' Chandler from 1967 to 1971, and Prisoner as Meg Jackson from 1979 to 1986.
Early life
Elspeth Ballantyne was born in Adelaide, South Australia, to show business parents, Gwenneth Ballantyne (nee Richmond She grew up alongside her brother, Guy and sister, Jane who was eight years younger. Ballantyne's father educated his children about Shakespeare, Jonson, Ibsen, Chekhov and Strindberg.
After her graduation, Ballantyne's father wanted her to join the Young Elizabethans, but she chose to work with Raymond Westwell and Joan MacArthur in Perth while they were establishing the National Theatre Company. In 1967, she appeared in the first of her three major television roles, ABC serial Bellbird, in which she played librarian Laura 'Lori' Chandler Simultaneously, she continued to act on stage, beginning with a role in a 1973 production of Harold Pinter's Old Times, followed by Much Ado About Nothing, Kid Stakes and a number of plays at Russell Street Theatre. (known internationally as Prisoner: Cell Block H) from 1979. She was the only actor to stay with the series for its entire eight-year run, making her the longest serving cast member. and guested in an episode of G.P. in 1991.
In 1992, Ballantyne began regularly appearing in the soap opera Neighbours as coffee shop owner Cathy Alessi, wife of Benito Alessi (George Spartels) and mother of Rick and Marco Alessi (played by Dan Falzon and Felice Arena respectively), as part of a new Italian family that was introduced to the series. She left the show the following year. Subsequently, she has appeared in guest roles on TV dramas Blue Heelers, Further film credits include 2007 drama short film Twenty Five Cents, They separated in 1969
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| rowspan="2"|1962 || Volpone, or The Fox || Celia || Freemasons Hall, Adelaide ||
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| rowspan="4"|1963 || The Good Ship Walter Raleigh || Rita ||
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| The Devil's Disciple || Essie ||
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| A Cheery Soul || Baby Porteous / The Maid ||
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| 1963–1964 || And the Big Men Fly || Lil || Russell St Theatre, Melbourne, Arts Theatre, Adelaide, VIC country tour ||
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| Hamlet || Ophelia || University of Melbourne, Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with Union Theatre Rep Co ||
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| Love Rides the Rails or Will the Mail Train Run Tonight? || || rowspan="2"|Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with Union Theatre Rep Co ||
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| The Right Honourable Gentleman || Nia ||
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| rowspan="2"|1968 || Everything in the Garden || || rowspan="4"|Russell St Theatre, Melbourne, with Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC) ||
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| The Time Is Not Yet Ripe || || Comedy Theatre, Melbourne with MTC & J. C. Williamson's ||
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| 1990 || The Cocktail Hour || || Theatre Royal, Hobart ||
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| 1991 || On the Whipping Side || Helen Watson || Regional QLD tour, Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane with QTC ||