The Australian Women's Register

Summary

The youngest of four children, Connie Hobbs was born in Sydney, educated at St Benedict’s School, Broadway but destined for a life on the stage. She left school early, probably at age 11 to tour and train with J.C. Williamson’s company. Her last role was at the age of 93 in the television medical drama All Saints. In between times, she packed a lot of acting, across a variety of media and forms. She entertained troops during World War II, played Dolly Levi in The Matchmaker, the stage play that became the musical Hello Dolly and appeared in numerous radio plays and television programs, including Bellbird, A Country Practice, Father Dear Father and Brides Of Christ. Perhaps one of her best known rolls was that of Madge Allsop, Dame Edna Everage’s long-suffering bridesmaid in the film Les Patterson Saves The World.

According to Tony Stephens, who wrote her obituary for the Sydney Morning Herald, ‘Hobbs was diminutive, beautiful, rebellious and fiercely independent. She could not be persuaded to reveal her true age until she was 90.’ S

Hobbss is survived by her daughter, Marilyn, and three grandchildren, John, Alexander and Elizabeth.