Thelma Scott

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Thelma Scott as Claire Houghton and Abigail as Bev in Number 96.

Thelma Scott was an Australia-based theatre, film and television actor.

Thelma Scott's early acting work was in several Australian feature films including Harmony Row (1933), Diggers in Blighty (1933), A Ticket in Tatts (1934), Sons of Matthew (1949).

She later moved into television acting, with roles in early soap opera The Story of Peter Grey (1961) followed by appearances in rural serial Bellbird and guest roles in Skippy the Bush Kangaroo and Delta.

She subsequently became best known as imperious Point Piper socialite Claire Houghton in the television soap opera Number 96 starting in 1972. Claire became a popular recurring character in the serial, initially despairing at the "shabby" apartment block Number 96 that her daughter Bev Houghton chose to live in. She soon befriended other residents such as Don (Joe Hasham) and Vera (Elaine Lee), and formed business associations with Jack (Tom Oliver) and Maggie (Bettina Welch).

These associations sustained Claire's continued role in the series after the death of Bev in January 1974, and formed the basis of her inclusion in the feature film version of the series released in 1974. Though Claire's appearances diminished in the serial's middle years, she was relaunched into the show for its final few months, and was central to several key storylines during the 1977 episodes. Claire's signature phrase in the series was "Allow me to be the best judge of that."

After Number 96 ended in 1977 Scott continued to act on Australian television, making a guest appearance in Glenview High (1977), and sustaining a role in medical serial The Young Doctors in 1980. She later played the recurring role of Mrs Jennings in soap opera Richmond Hill in 1988.

Scott passed away on 24 November 2006 at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney.