A new series in the Underbelly franchise is about to hit Australian TV screens.
Set in Sydney, Australia between 1927 and 1936, according to producers the new crime drama depicts “A time when notorious vice queens, Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh battled for supremacy over a nefarious world built on illegal drugs, gambling, extortion and prostitution. When brothels and sly grog shops flourished and gangs of thugs slashed their opposition into silence until the streets ran with blood.” Sounds fabulous.
“Underbelly: Razor marks an exciting new development in the Underbelly franchise,” said Des Monaghan, Executive Director of Screentime. “The women who battle for control of the underworld are truly incredible characters whose stories are as fresh today as when they occurred. And despite legendary criminal figures, Squizzy Taylor and Norman Bruhn, our story is dominated by extraordinary women such as Kate Leigh, Tilly Devine, Nellie Cameron and arguably Australia’s first policewoman, Lillian Armfield. A truly rich tale with larger than life characters.” - Channel Nine
The two women in question who headline Razor – Kate Leigh and Tilly Devine – certainly are interesting characters. Our two Razor heroines, or anti-heroines as the case may be, are played by New Zealand actress Danielle Cormack as early 20th century prohibition buster and cocaine dealer Kate Leigh, and Chelsie Preston Crayford as brothel madam Tilly Devine.
In 1930, Kate Leigh would have been aged 49 years old. And here is how Cormack appears as Leigh in the TV series.
Danielle Cormack as Kate Leigh.
Here is the real Kate Leigh in a picture from 1930.
Police mug shot of Kate Leigh circa 1930.
Preston Crayford as Tilly Devine.
In 1930, Tilly Devine would have been 30 years old. Here is Preston Crayford in character as Devine in that era.
And here is Tilly Devine as she really looked in 1929.
Tilly Devine, circa 1929.
To be fair, Cormack is 41 years old. But if you can find out how old Preston Crayford is, I’ll give you twenty bucks.
Jackie Weaver
There were rumours that seasoned Australian actor Jackie Weaver, recently nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Animal Kingdom, was to play Devine. If she had, I’d certainly be watching Razor.
In fact, there are several other excellent actresses who would have been able to play either of these two women without losing credibility, or any of the sexual appeal producers are clearly going for.
Noni Hazelnurst
Anne-Louise Lambert
My point? Why was it impossible for producers to cast women who looked even remotely, chronologically and physically, like the real Devine and Leigh?
I’m very disappointed, but then I guess real-life was not what the producers were aiming for.
Hear, hear!!!
I think the main reason not to have actual middle age war torn actors is basically, ratings, for whatever reason, the society we have created would rather watch ‘lookers’ rather than ‘real’ women. I totally agree that the production would be better with more life like characters playing the leads.
Ann Louise Lambert is still devastatingly attractive
even in middle age.
Sadly I think shes packed up acting and the movies
and now does therapy or something in
Ozzieland
Great piece Jo. I show the Femme Fatale exhibition earlier this year (blogged here and was struck by how unglamorous Kate Leigh, Tilly Devine and Nellie Cameron were. Clearly bad teeth and face hiding hats don’t make for good TV.
Totally agree with you on the casting. I gave up watching the show after half an hour. I’m not a fan of that video music type fast edits and comic book montages they use for Underbelly. I prefer my shows to be more textured and some depth to them. I’m sure there’s a great story waiting to be told about that pair and that time in Australia but it all seemed way too American influenced and superficial to me. They way they spoke down to the audience with their comic book tags was really irritating as well. Yes, we’re not morons. We do get it. The brunette who played Leigh was okay in the half hour I saw (she did have a wiry toughness to her) but the blonde who was meant to be Tilly wasn’t impressive. She didn’t seem to be able to keep the accent and I seriously couldn’t take her seriously. We have so many great actors in this country and writers so why is this the best we can do? Plus, Channel Nine is unwatchable with the adds and pop ups taking over the screen. I gave up and resorted to a Midsomer Murders DVD. Which does have some fun but also has texture and richness to it.
I certainly do agree with you……..why couldn’t the producers get some real look- a -likes to portray these women. After seeing the shorts, I decided I would not be watching the programme.
I found your choices for the roles to be intrigue – ing and spot on. Do we know that any of those women were interested in portraying these nefarious characters?to the responder who left after watching only half an hour, i think you did the “younger” actresses an injustice. I started watching this because every season of underbelly has had its own rewards. Some were of deeper depth, some were of lesser, But the show is consistently engrossing. i was initially impatient, because i felt this current tale would devolve into costume drama. A cautionary flapper morality tale. I sat it out and i am glad i did. This story arc features three very strong and talented actresses, in leading roles. I appreciate the opportunity for women to have the spotlight. The actresses may not be historically correct in physiogmy , but they can tell the tale, and they tell it very well, and we must take into consideration that what they found tantalizing in 1929, and what is tantalizing in 2011 is vastly different. I went on a research expedition to discover the real characters as soon as the episode was over. Kudo’s to everyone involved in this season.peace and love, Jake
It’s funny, everything Jo has said is exactly what I was thinking after googling the ‘real’ Tilly & Kate!!! You’d think that the producers would have tried to keep it as true to life as possible by going for actresses closer to Tilly Devine & Kate Leigh, and why on earth have they used 2 actresses so slim when the real characters were decidedly typically suffering from middle aged spread?? It’s a shame because it makes you wonder about the credibility of anything they do now.
According to a New Zealand Woman’s Weekly article on May 15th, Preston-Crayford is 25.
http://www.nzwomansweekly.co.nz/celebrities/celeb-stories/girls-film/story/4102337/
You said twenty bucks right?
Well done….I tell you, for the life of me, I could not find that fact anywhere. I was beginning to think it was a conspiracy by her publicist.
Would you like to elect your favourite charity, and I’ll donate $20 in your name? Or would you really like me to send you $20?
JO
The real Kate Leigh was middle-aged at the time, but Tilly Devine was not – she was only 27 in 1927 (when the series begins), therefore still young. But you’re right, the actresses playing them are much prettier than the real deal, and look nothing like them.
And with all due respect to her, Jackie Weaver is 60+ – she’d be much too old to play Tilly.