15 Facts About Nancye Hayes

Nancye Hayes has been a leading figure in Australian musical theatre since the 1960s.

Nancye Hayes grew up in the Sydney suburb of Manly, an only child.

Nancye Hayes attended Stella Maris College, Manly, a Catholic school conducted by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.

Nancye Hayes began dancing lessons at age nine at Hazel and Violet Meldrum's studio.

Nancye Hayes performed in Kiss Me, Kate, Brigadoon, Annie Get Your Gun and Little Me at the Menzies Theatre Restaurant in Sydney.

In 1967, Nancye Hayes received wide notice playing the title role in the original Australian cast of Sweet Charity.

Since the 1980s Nancye Hayes has appeared in many Australian-written musicals.

Nancye Hayes appeared in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation television special on Australian musicals Once In A Blue Moon and its soundtrack recording.

Nancye Hayes's drama credits for Australia's major theatre companies and commercial producers include Born Yesterday, Danton's Death, Same Time, Next Year, Going Home, Dusa, Fish, Stas and Vi, The Glass Menagerie, Steel Magnolias, Stepping Out, and The Importance of Being Earnest.

Nancye Hayes's cabaret show, Nancye with an E, toured Australia in 1992.

Nancye Hayes was a fill-in for Judy Nunn, in the series Home and Away, whilst Nunn was unwell, briefly taking over her character of Ailsa Stewart.

Nancye Hayes was married to jazz saxophone musician and bandleader Bob Bertles, whom she met when he played in the band of Chicago, in which she starred.

Nancye Hayes's married name is Nancye Lee Bertles, but she uses her maiden name professionally.

Nancye Hayes was granted a Medal of the Order of Australia on 8 June 1981 "for service to the performing arts".

Nancye Hayes was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia on 26 January 2014 "for significant service to the performing arts, particularly musical theatre, as an actor, choreographer and director".