Anne Charleston

Anne Charleston (born 30 December 1942) is an Australian-born actress prominent in television, radio and theatre, notable for her career locally and in both England and Ireland.

Charleston is best known for her her television roles in the soap opera Neighbours, joining the cast in 1986, as matriarch Madge Bishop (1986-1992, 1996-2001, 2015, 2022), alongside co-star Ian Smith who played her husband Harold Bishop and later Tom Oliver as Lou Carpenter, (She returned to the series briefly in 2025, however playing a different character of Agnes Adair).

She subsequently was based in the United Kingdom in the British soap opera Emmerdale playing Lily Butterfield from 2006 until 2009. She has also featured in numerous British theatre roles and pantomimes.

Charleston became known for her work in the cult classic series Prisoner, in which she played three different characters between 1979 and 1984.

Anne had begun her career on stage in the mid-1950s, before moving into small screen roles in the early 1960s, appearing in various telemovies and serials including several guest roles in various Crawford Production drama's.

She had recurring roles in many early local soap opera's including the ABC rural series Bellbird, Class of 74 and briefly Number 96