ROWENA WALLACE TURNS 75! ‘I AM FULL OF GRATITUDE’

A traumatic moment changed her life forever, but she has no regrets

- Joshua Joynes

It might be hard to imagine, but for her 75th birthday this week, Aussie acting treasure Rowena Wallace asks that we picture her working at a Queensland bank. Why? Well, if it wasn’t for a chance role at Brisbane’s “amateur” Twelfth Night Theatre in the ’50s, the actress says she’d likely never have pursued a career on the small screen.

“I would probably still be working at a bank,” she admits, before bursting into a cackle, joking, “I might have robbed it by now, too,” she laughs, so impressed with her self-branded “naughty jokes”.

With five TV WEEK Logie awards, including one gold, it certainly is jarring to imagine Rowena, one of this country’s most celebrated actors, approving loans! However, like most things in her life, Rowena admits she simply “just fell into acting”. “I never really made the decision to become a professional,” she insists.

With a résumé like hers, it’s safe to say everything worked out well in the end.

DIEHARD FANS

Over the years, Rowena’s financial issues have made life tough, but for her milestone birthday this year, she was thrown a beautiful party by adoring fans.