The incredible real-life story of Australia’s oldest living actress Mary Ward

She’s believed to be Australia’s oldest living actress, and Mary Ward has seen a lot in her 105 years.

Born on March 6, 1915, Mary is best known for her role as ‘Mum’ in the late ’70s/early ’80s Australian crime drama, Prisoner.

She then went on to appear as ‘Dee’ in the 1980’s drama, Sons and Daughters, with an acting career spanning six decades.

Although she’s since retired, Mary appeared in a slew of iconic Australian TV shows, including A Country Practice, The Henderson Kids, Neighbours and Blue Heelers.

‘I really enjoyed acting very much. But I’ve left my acting days behind me and I am enjoying my retirement,’ she told The Senior in June 2017. 

She currently lives in Victoria, but was born in Fremantle in Western Australia, the daughter of a pearler-turned-publican.

Mary has lived through two World Wars, and now two global pandemics, after being a child during the Spanish Flu, which lasted from 1918 until 1920.

She attended boarding school as teenager, and even befriended a young Lang Hancock, who became one of Australia’s most successful iron ore magnates.

After studying acting in Perth, Mary moved to London in her early 20’s to further her career, and landed a job teaching elocution.

While in London, she befriended Lionel Logue, the Australian language therapist who helped King George VI get his stutter under control.

Mary returned to Australia at the beginning of World War II, becoming the ABC’s first female announcer.

During this time, she was nicknamed ‘Forces Sweetheart’, and would read letters and play music requests for the soldiers stationed in the Pacific. 

‘We had to be very careful what we said, and we couldn’t give too much away, because the Japanese were always listening,’ she told The Senior.  

In an interview with TV Tonight on Friday, Mary’s nephew, Mark Breheny, admitted Melbourne’s stage four lockdown had made it impossible for him to visit his aunt.  

‘Up until the start of the various lockdowns, my wife and I visited her regularly. She also has visits from her remaining relatives in WA, and to this day remains a proud Western Australian,’ he said. 

‘She really was very much ahead of her time in the pre-war period – an independent, career-minded woman who set off overseas on her own to make her mark. And that she surely did.’

But he said Mary was still in good spirits, despite a lack of contact with the outside world.  

‘Unfortunately, the reduced contact she has with people due to the virus lockdowns has slowed her engagement levels, but her wonderful smile and the twinkle in her eyes remain,’ he added.