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Sunday, August 21, 2011

Reality and Fantasy

Kate Leigh 1930




Matilda (Tilly) Devine 1925



Back in the day (seems like a lifetime ago) one of my majors at uni was Modern History. And all "Arts Degree" jokes aside, you did get to study some pretty cool characters including these ladies (term used most generously) above. Of course you would need no introduction to this pair thanks to the widely publicised new "Underbelly" series. Now I am no purist or stickler when it comes to sticking to historical accuracy. However I thought I would share these pics of the real Kate and Tilly from around the time of setting of the series (1927) out of interest. Kate was decidedly portly and middle aged and Tilly was no oil painting... A bit different from those svelte actresses? Maybe, but I think good entertainment/ fantasy has it's own merit. So bring on those pretty young things and on with the show! I like to think Kate and Tilly would be quietly pleased, I mean I'd love to have a younger better looking actress play me (or even pretend to be me at my next high school reunion... now there's a thought).



2 comments:

  1. No kidding! I thought the same thing when I watched the show last night after seeing pics of the real gals in the Women's Weekly. I bet them other characters weren't oil paintings either then.

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  2. Thanks for sharing these, I have been doing my own research into the girls, and amazed at what I have learned....seems many of their crimes were due to poverty-related reasons, which might be one of the reasons they rarely took a tub???? A FAR cry from the glamorous versions on "Underbelly",but still worthwhile watching!

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