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GlenisLevestam

  • Actor
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Glenis Levestam began her screen career with the first drama written for local television: she had a small role in 1963 teleplay All Earth to Love, and starred in another, Down by the Cool Sea (see Photos). Levestam is likely best remembered for playing Dot Paget, across 650 episodes of pioneering soap Close to Home. She was bossy sister to Maisie in comedy series Bert and Maisie, narrated for Pioneer Women, and acted in  Country GP and horror comedy Black Sheep. Her stage career spanned decades. In 1993 she had a key role in a TV adaptation of beloved play Joyful and Triumphant. Glenis Levistam died, aged 87, on 14 September 2024.  

Screenography

In Memoriam 2024
2024 Subject Short film
Black Sheep
2007 As: Mrs Mac Film
Fracture
2004 As: Ulla's neighbour Film
Needles and Glass
2003 As: Patient Short film
Several Ways of Getting Around
1999 Actor Short film

“In real life Glenis is an apparently merry and flexible woman whose sparkling sense of humour has been in no way dashed by the vicissitudes of the actor's life.”

— The New Zealand Woman's Weekly, 13 June 1988, page 24

Related images

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A shot from one of the earliest location shoots on a New Zealand television drama: actors Barry Hill and Glenis Levestam and location manager Derek Morton at Palliser Bay, while filming teleplay Down by the Cool Sea. The slate Morton is holding reads 5 December 1965. 
Photo supplied by the late Douglas Drury
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Actors Barry Hill and Glenis Levestam at Palliser Bay, shooting a scene for 1966 teleplay Down by the Cool Sea. This was likely the first time New Zealand television went on location to shoot drama. Derek Morton is at the right of frame, holding a battery-powered light.
Photo supplied by the late Douglas Drury
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Setting up a shot at Palliser Bay in late 1965, during probably the earliest location shoot for a New Zealand television drama: teleplay Down by the Cool Sea. Derek Morton is standing on the left of the camera, with so-called 'Film Director' Romano Pianti (arms obscuring his face) on the other side of the rock. Note actor Barry Hill, lying on the sand at the left of frame.
Photo supplied by the late Douglas Drury
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Cast and crew on the 1965 Palliser Bay shoot for teleplay Down by the Cool Sea. Back row, left to right: film director Romano Pianti, actor Barry Hill, overall director/producer Douglas Drury, sound recordist Ian McIntyre, cameraman Cyril Townsend, and scriptwriter Maurice Shadbolt (holding pipe). Front row: actor Sandy Chadwick, production secretary Angela Nicoll, actor Glenis Levestam, and location manager Derek Morton.
Photo supplied by Derek Morton
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A shot from the 1993 TV adaptation of Robert Lord play Joyful and Triumphant: from left to right, Glenis Levestam, unknown actor, Denise O'Connell and Tony Barry.  
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The Close to Home cast at the time of the 500th episode. Back row, from left: Jeffrey Thomas, Ginette McDonald, Harry Lavington, Alice Fraser, Glenis Levestam, Jim Healey, Pat Evison, Ken Blackburn, Heather Lindsay, Stephen Tozer; (front row) Marnie Morgan, Jim Moriarty, Dorothy Smith, Robin Dene, Mildred Woods and Maree McKeefry.
Kindly supplied by The Dominion Post
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A Birthday snap of the principal cast members of Close to Home at 300 episodes.
Kindly supplied by The Dominion Post.
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The cast of Close to Home.
Kindly supplied by The Dominion Post.