Linda Cropper

Linda Cropper
OccupationActress
Known forOffspring

Linda Cropper is an Australian actress. She played Dame Nellie Melba in the 1987 television series Melba, becoming more widely known for her role as Geraldine Proudman in the TV series Offspring (2010-2017). She has featured in many other TV series and also has several film credits. In 2025 she plays a lead role as Lyn in the a dark comedy Birthright.

Career

Television

Cropper played Nellie Melba in the 1987 television series Melba.

Other television credits include roles in ABC miniseries Palace of Dreams, Edens Lost, Ring of Scorpio, Bordertown, Wildside, Water Rats, All Saints, White Collar Blue, and The Pacific. She had a recurring role as Xhalax Sun during the third season of the Australian-American science fiction series Farscape.

In 2024 she played Rose de Vigny over eight episodes in the mystery drama series High Country.[1][2]

Film

Cropper's film credits include Teesh and Trude (2002), Little Fish (2005) and Fool's Gold (2008).

She plays a lead role as Lyn in Australian filmmaker Zoe Pepper's feature film directorial debut, a dark satirical comedy called Birthright,[3] which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in New York City in June 2025.[4]

Theatre

Cropper's many theatre credits include Simon Phillip's co-production of Poor Boy for the Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company, and the role of Lady Macbeth in Bell Shakespeare's Macbeth. Other credits with Bell Shakespeare include Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, As You Like It and Hamlet. Sydney Theatre Company credits include Arcadia, A Month in the Country, Top Girls, and Great Expectations. She played the solo role Melbourne Theatre Company's production of The Architect by Aidan Fennessy in 2018.[5]

Accolades

In 1989 Cropper was nominated for an AFI Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini Series, for Edens Lost.[6]

In 2010, she was nominated for an AFI Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama for her performance in Satisfaction.[7]

She won the Green Room Award (Performer, Theatre Companies) in 2019 for her 2018 performance in The Architect.[8]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Type Ref
1980 Spring & FallC.E.S. Officer Episode 1: 'Close Comfort'
1984 Five Mile CreekTillie 1 episode
A Country PracticeJoy Walker 2 episodes
1985 Palace of DreamsMiriam Mendel Miniseries, 10 episodes
1986 Cyclone TracyJoycie Miniseries, 3 episodes
1987 MelbaNellie Melba / Nellie Mitchell Armstrong 'Melba' Miniseries, 8 episodes
1988 Rafferty's Rules1 episode
Mike Willesee's AustraliansLola Montez Anthology series, episode 6: 'Lola Montez'
Spit MacPheeBetty Arbuckle Miniseries, 4 episodes
Edens LostStevie Miniseries, 4 episodes
1989 BodysurferAnthea Miniseries, 2 episodes
1990 Ring Of ScorpioMarlene Walker Miniseries, 3 episodes
The Private War of Lucinda SmithLucinda Smith Miniseries, 2 episodes
1992 Children of the DragonMonica Miniseries, 2 episodes
CluedoMatilda Mayberry 1 episode
1993 ReviewGuest Presenter 1 episode
G.P.Shelley 1 episode
1995 BordertownBev Stafford Mniseries, 10 episodes
1997 Return To JupiterComputer 13 episodes
1998 WildsideCarol Wilson 1 episode
1999–2000 Water RatsCharlie Driscoll 7 episodes
2000–2001 FarscapeXhalas Sun / Fento 5 episodes
2002 All SaintsAnita Murphy 1 episode
2002–2003 White Collar BlueFran Hoffman TV pilot & 7 other episodes
2004 Frank Hurley: The Man who Made HistoryNarrator (voice) TV documentary
2006 McLeod's DaughtersTrudi Webb 2 episodes
2008 Connected: The Power of Six DegreesNarrator (voice) Film documentary
2009 Fairweather MenNarrator (voice) TV documentary
2010 The Pharaoh Who Conquered the SeaNarrator (voice) TV documentary
SatisfactionLoretta Hawkes 1 episode
The PacificMary Frank Sledge Miniseries, 4 episodes
2010–2017 OffspringGeraldine Proudman 86 episodes [9]
2011 The Secret History of EurovisionNarrator (voice) TV special
Seduction in the CityNarrator 1 episode
2012 Miss Fisher's Murder MysteriesVeronique Sarcelle 1 episode
2013 Redfern NowCoroner 1 episode
2014 Old SchoolBarb 1 episode
2016 Howard on Menzies: Building Modern AustraliaNarrator (voice) Documentary series, 2 episodes
RakeMs Crown 2 episodes
2017 The LeftoversThe Nun 2 episodes
2018 Pine GapDani Griffin Miniseries, 2 episodes
2020 How to Stay MarriedClaire 1 episode
2024 High CountryRose de Vigny 8 episodes
2025 All Her FaultEsther Miniseries, 8 episodes
2026 Dear LifeJanet Dost TV series

Film

Year Title Role Type
1986Going SaneIrene CarterFeature film
1994The Seventh FloorVivianFeature film
1996Little White LiesTesslerFeature film
1997The Hostages[10]Wendy TV film
Sidewinder – Titanic DaysDianneFilm short
BlackrockDianeFeature film
1998With or Without YouAudreyFeature film
1999PassionMrs. LoweryFeature film
EnvyKateFeature film
2001My Husband, My KillerMegan KalajzichTV film
2002Teesh and TrudeTrudy (Trude)Feature film
The NuggetRoadhouse WaitressFeature film
2005Little FishDeniseFeature film
2006Answered By FireLiz SavageTV film
2007The TankFilm short
2008Dream LifeDawnTV film
Fool's GoldTess's AttorneyFeature film
2010SuburbiaMaryFilm short
2013Welcome to Iron KnobAuntie MargFilm short
2018UpgradePamelaFeature film
2019Koko: A Red Dog StoryLoop-Group ADRFeature film
2025BirthrightLynFeature film

Theatre

Cropper's stage roles include:[11]

Year Title Role Company
1978The Threepenny OperaNIDA Theatre, Sydney
1979Lost to the DevilMaggieNeutral Bay Music Hall
CabaretSallyCivic Playhouse, Newcastle with Hunter Valley Theatre Company
Under Milk Wood
The Miracle WorkerAunt Ev
1980Cyrano de BergeracRefreshment Girl / Lise / Sister MartheSydney Opera House with STC
VolponeCeliaNimrod Theatre, Sydney
1981Celluloid HeroesAlison MackayOpera Theatre, Adelaide, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth
The DresserIreneTheatre Royal, Sydney, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Townsville Civic Theatre, Pilbeam Theatre, Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth
ChinchillaRomola de PulszkySydney Opera House with STC
1982AmadeusConstanze WeberTheatre Royal, Sydney with STC
Tristram ShandyNimrod Theatre, Sydney
1984A Midsummer Night's DreamMelbourne Athenaeum with MYC
1986The Madras HouseSydney Opera House with STC
1988The Mortal Falcon
An Ideal HusbandWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
Loot
1990The Secret RaptureKatherine GlassSydney Opera House with STC
Three SistersMasha
1991Three Stories High - Julia's Song / Painted Woman / Koori LoveBelvoir St Theatre, Sydney
1992The Marriage of FigaroThe CountessSuncorp Theatre, Brisbane
VassaNIDA Studio, Sydney
1993Top GirlsWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
The IdiotCrossroads Theatre, Sydney with Fisher Stein Productions
1994King LearSydney Opera House with STC
2000A Month in the Country
2002HippolytusGovernment House, Sydney with Bell Shakespeare
2003HamletGertrudeSydney Opera House, Orange Civic Theatre, Playhouse Canberra, Ford Theatre, Geelong, Playhouse, Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Hobart with Bell Shakespeare
As You Like ItPlayhouse, Melbourne with Bell Shakespeare
2004Twelfth NightMariaSydney Opera House, Playhouse, Melbourne, Playhouse Canberra, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Orange Civic Theatre with Bell Shakespeare
2005Death VariationsSeymour Centre with East Coast Theatre Company
2006Romeo and JulietLady CapuletPlayhouse, Canberra, Playhouse, Melbourne, Sydney Opera House with Bell Shakespeare
2007MacbethLady MacbethAustralian national tour with Bell Shakespeare
2009Poor BoyVivSouthbank Theatre, Sydney Theatre with MTC / STC
2011And No More Shall We PartPamStables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company
2012The MousetrapMrs BoyleSydney Theatre, Playhouse Canberra, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Dunstan Playhouse, St. James Theatre, Wellington, QPAC
2014NoraHelenBelvoir Theatre, Sydney
GhostsHelene AlvingMTC[12]
2015Elektra / OrestesClytemnestraBelvoir Theatre, Sydney
2018The ArchitectHelen PyefinchSouthbank Theatre, Melbourne with MTC
2019Australian RealnessMotherMalthouse Theatre, Melbourne
2021–2022Grand HorizonsNancyRoslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney
ArcadiaSTC
Great Expectations

References

  1. ^Knox, David (4 May 2023). "More cast added to High Country | TV Tonight". TVtonight.com.au.
  2. ^Estera, Christine (11 February 2024). "High Country trailer: First look at Binge's new drama starring Game of Thrones' Ian McElhinney". news.com.au. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  3. ^"Birthright". Adelaide Film Festival. 23 September 2025. Archived from the original on 23 September 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  4. ^Heller-Nicholas, Alexandra (10 June 2025). "Birthright (Tribeca 2025) – Review". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  5. ^"The Architect". AusStage. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  6. ^"Winners & Nominees". AACTA. 26 December 2024. Archived from the original on 7 July 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  7. ^"Winners & Nominees". AACTA. 6 May 2025. Archived from the original on 22 June 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  8. ^"2019 Nominations and Recipients". The Green Room Awards. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  9. ^Knox, David (23 March 2017). "Cameras roll on more Offspring". TV Tonight. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  10. ^The Hostages - Cast. (1997) Screen Australia
  11. ^"Linda Cropper". AusStage.
  12. ^"Linda Cropper Archives". AussieTheatre.com.