Post by warren on Aug 10, 2005 15:46:49 GMT
Australian soap actress Rowena Wallace was on the cusp of a career revival - conquering her personal demons and winning fans while taking part in a popular reality TV show.
But she is now facing a possible prison term after yesterday pleading guilty to 20 criminal charges of social security fraud.
The soap superbitch, who won a Gold Logie award for playing Patricia Hamilton in Sons and Daughters shown in the UK on ITV and Five, cheated the authoprities out of the equivalent £15,000 between 1999 and 2003.
Documents reveal Wallace, 57, received disability support pensions while working on shows including Good Morning Australia, Beauty and the Beast and Water Rats.
The Sydney-based actress failed to declare earnings from a total of 12 sources - including the Channel 7 and The Australian Women's Weekly magazine.
The court heard Wallace was suffering from depression and had fled to Melbourne to be comforted by her family.
In an interview with authorities, Wallace referred to the illegal payments as her "lifesaver" and said she stayed quiet because she was afraid of the consequences.
"I was so upset and so terrified of what was going to happen that I didn't know what I was doing at the time," Wallace said.
"It was my lifesaver. It just became something that was given to me that I could rely on and depend on."
Wallace, best-loved for her 1980s portrayal of Patricia Hamilton in Sons and Daughters, returned to the spotlight this year on Celebrity Overhaul, a reality show tracking personalities on a health kick.
Viewers were drawn in by Wallace's public battle with depression and her addiction to painkillers used to treat scoliosis, a condition caused by a curvature of the spine.
Ratings soared as she battled the bulge and depression. But Wallace has now plunged back into depression, her lawyer said yesterday.
Each of her offences carry a maximum 12-month prison term, or fine.
But she is now facing a possible prison term after yesterday pleading guilty to 20 criminal charges of social security fraud.
The soap superbitch, who won a Gold Logie award for playing Patricia Hamilton in Sons and Daughters shown in the UK on ITV and Five, cheated the authoprities out of the equivalent £15,000 between 1999 and 2003.
Documents reveal Wallace, 57, received disability support pensions while working on shows including Good Morning Australia, Beauty and the Beast and Water Rats.
The Sydney-based actress failed to declare earnings from a total of 12 sources - including the Channel 7 and The Australian Women's Weekly magazine.
The court heard Wallace was suffering from depression and had fled to Melbourne to be comforted by her family.
In an interview with authorities, Wallace referred to the illegal payments as her "lifesaver" and said she stayed quiet because she was afraid of the consequences.
"I was so upset and so terrified of what was going to happen that I didn't know what I was doing at the time," Wallace said.
"It was my lifesaver. It just became something that was given to me that I could rely on and depend on."
Wallace, best-loved for her 1980s portrayal of Patricia Hamilton in Sons and Daughters, returned to the spotlight this year on Celebrity Overhaul, a reality show tracking personalities on a health kick.
Viewers were drawn in by Wallace's public battle with depression and her addiction to painkillers used to treat scoliosis, a condition caused by a curvature of the spine.
Ratings soared as she battled the bulge and depression. But Wallace has now plunged back into depression, her lawyer said yesterday.
Each of her offences carry a maximum 12-month prison term, or fine.
