Abigail (actress)

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Abigail as Bev and Robyn Gurney as Janie in Number 96.

Abigail (full name Abigail Rogan, born 23 July 1946,) was an Australian actress and sex symbol in the '70s and '80s. She was born in London, England, UK and migrated to Australia in 1968.

After arriving in Australia, Abigail landed several minor roles on both stage and screen, including the female lead in a local production of the comedy There's a Girl in My Soup on stage. She is most well known for her role as sex symbol Bev Houghton in the Network Ten sexed-up soap opera, Number 96. As the show's most famous sex-symbol many people assume that Abigail was the first woman to show her breasts on Australian television; actually it was her co-star Vivienne Garrett in the same series.

After leaving that series suddenly in 1973 she appeared in a Kings Cross revue in which she appeared nude, while struggling to find serious acting jobs. Apart from a series of brief cameo roles in a string of sex comedy films such as Alvin Purple the serious acting career never took off. She also made an attempt at pop career in 1974 and scored a hit with a cover of Serge Gainsbourg's "Je t'aime... moi non plus". Although this debut was a success, follow-ups including a comedic release with ventriloquist Chris Kirby, were not, and her initial success was attributed to her stardom and not her singing talent.

In 1975 she appeared in Class of '75 for three weeks as a prim French teacher in a black wig and frumpy spectacles, and in 1977 she appeared in The Young Doctors as a super-efficient secretary. In the mid 1980s she took a regular role in yet another soap opera Sons and Daughters, playing the role of Caroline from 1985 until the series ended 1987. In 1990 she was a regular cast member of short-lived soap opera Family and Friends and in 1991 appeared in Chances.

Her 1973 autobiography "Call Me Abigail" sold 150,000 copies in its first two weeks of sale.

She now rarely appears in public. Interviewed on Sydney radio station 2GB on her 60th birthday, she currently lives on the Gold Coast, Queensland.

[edit] Discography

Singles

8/73 Je t'aime / (?) [Festival] No.6, 11 weeks
?/?? These Dreams / (Just As) I Am [Festival]
?/?? Stay A While / (?) [Festival]
?/74 Biting My Nails / (?) [Festival]

Album

?/73 Abigail [Festival L-35260]
- Side A: 1. An Occasional Man 2. My Baby Does it Good 3. New Fangled Tango 4. These Dreams 5. Do It Again 6. Je T'aime
- Side B 1. Sugar Me 2. The Man I Love 3. (Just As) I Am 4. Pillow Talk 5. Last Tango In Paris 6. Please Terry, Do It One More Time*

Produced by Martin Erdman

Recorded at Festival's 'Studio 24", Sydney Australia

Terry appears by courtesy of Chris Kirby.