CARMEN DUNCAN SCHOLARSHIP

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Carmen Duncan trained at NIDA, and has become one of Australia's most respected and recognised actresses. She Received the Critics Award for BEST ACTRESS in Arthur Millers "AFTER THE FALL" and was nominated again for her role as MEG in the National Theatres Tour of A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS. After spending much of the 60's in London and the UK, playing weekly rep, Carmen went on to play the lead in MAKE ME A WIDOW in the West End. 

On her return to Australia in the 70's she starred in several television series including Hotel, Can't See Around Corners, Nice 'N Juicy, The Battlers, Skyways, Skin Deep, as well as regular appearances in Homicide, Matlock, Number 96, A Country Practice, Certain Women, Division Four and many others. Films include Liquid Bridge, Run Chrissie Run, Platypus Cove, Bootleg, Now and For ever, Strange Holiday, You Cant See 'Round Corners, Don't Let It Get You and Turkey Shoot. Carmen was nominated for an AFI Award for Best Actress in Harlequin and also, in the same year for the Penguin Awards for Touch and Go and Harlequin. 

Moving to the United States, Carmen portrayed Iris Carrington Wheeler on the daytime soap opera Another World and was twice nominated for the Soap Opera Awards. Since returning home, she has had guest roles in Winners and Losers , CrashBurn, Always Gr..eener, Farscape, Something in the Air, Head Start, Water Rats and All Saints, and in 2013/14 she toured Australia as Mrs SWETTENHAM in A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED, and was nominated as Best Supporting actress in Ross McGregor's revival of THE CREADEA UX CANVAS. In 2015 she took to the stage again with her first ever musical ANYTHING GOES, playing Evangeline Harcourt. In 2016, she completed the Australian Feature Film TURKEY SHOOT, and is thrilled to embark on her first Zombie project, filming the hit TV series ASH V THE EVIL DEAD in New Zealand. 

Carmen was diagnosed and successfully treated for early stage breast cancer. In 2006, Carmen switched hats from acting to take up a post as fundraising manager for the GO Fund, which is a devoted to research and treatment for gynaecological cancer in New South Wales. Duncan left the GO Fund in 2009. She currently serves as an Ambassador for the Breast Care Centre at the Royal Hospital for Women and as the Ambassador for Tenterfield Shire Council for Australia Day. As well, Duncan is actively involved in the Catholic Women's League of Sydney and campaigns for funding for awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, having lost her own grandson to the condition.

Carmen was born in Lismore but grew up in Cooma, and her family moved to Double Bay in Sydney in the late 1950s.

Such has been her success, she has worked in London, New York, Los Angeles and Europe. The mother of two eventually returned to Australia and has lived in her apartment in Sydney’s east for the remainder of her career.