Career
In recent years she has become best known for her role as Valda Sheergold in the long-running serial Neighbours, originally as a semi-regular recurring basis from 2002, and then becoming a permanent member in the 2007-2008 season. She has also appeared in made for television movies, and appeared as Cliffs mum in the telemovie Cliffy in 2013, based on Cliff Young. After appearing on stage and film in her native Britain, she immigrated to Australia, where she has been a staple of the small screen since 1978.
Joan has had a long career in all genres of the entertainment industry, including radio, television, mini-series and made for television films, as well as prominent roles in many theatre productions including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Talking Heads and the comedy play Dirty Dusters.
She remains best known for her long-running Logie Award winning television role as Margaret "Maggie" Sloan", the matron of the fictional Wandin Valley Hospital, on soap opera A Country Practice between 1983-1990 on the Seven Network. She went on to another popular soap opera, playing publican Mary Patchett in East Street.
In 1987 she was in the pilot Sisterly Love.
