Veteran stage and screen actress Toni Lamond is the recipient of the 2014 Equity Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Foxtel.
“Toni is a truly legendary Australian performer whose phenomenal career has spanned vaudeville, musical theatre, television and cabaret," said Actors Equity president Simon Burke.
"She is also a wonderful human being who has given back to her community, to her colleagues and to her industry in every way she can."
Toni's career began at age 10 singing on the radio and touring with her parents' variety shows. A TV pioneer, she was a regular on Graham Kennedy's In Melbourne Tonight in the 1960s, ultimately hosting her own IMT, the first woman to do so.
Among her numerous stage roles in Australia have been 42nd Street, The Follies Concert, Pirates Of Penzance, My Fair Lady, Walt Disney's Beauty And The Beast and Oh Coward!
Her screen credits include Razzle Dazzle, Spotswood, Eight is Enough, Starsky and Hutch, Days of our Lives, The Love Boat, Divison 4 and Number 96. She has been a member of Equity since 1950.
Brian Walsh, Foxtel Executive Director of Television, said: "Foxtel is delighted to be associated yet again with the Equity Lifetime Achievement Award. We are especially pleased because this year's winner is a true ornament to Australian stage and television. Toni Lamond has been delighting audiences for years, it's hard to think of anyone more worthy of an accolade such as this."
Toni was nominated by Australian performers and selected from many nominees by Equity’s national performers committee.
“Toni’s name came up time and time again when we asked Australian performers who they most admire and respect. It is Equity’s great pleasure to honour what is literally a lifetime of achievement.” Burke said.
This award was launched in 2009. Past recipients include Peter Carroll, Bob Hornery, Maggie Dence, Ron Haddrick, Kevan Johnston and Jill Perryman.
An awards ceremony will be held at the Sydney Theatre in October.