At the age of 19, she joined J.C. Williamson Theatres Ltd as a member of the chorus and in 1953 was understudying leading roles in stage musicals, including Evie Hayes in the Australian production of Call Me Madam.
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Perryman was strong in voice and personality and a long series of understudy and small roles eventually led her, through the recommendation of John McCallum, who was then joint managing director of J. C. Williamson Theatres Ltd, to take the lead in the key Australian production of Funny Girl, a performance that won her an Erik Award for Best Actress and led to major roles in other productions.
Jill Scott | Jill Clayburgh | Jill St. John | Jill Ker Conway | Jill Farren Phelps | Jill Long Thompson | Jill Kelley | Jill Bolte Taylor | Jill Barber | Jill Thompson | Jill Perryman | Jill Jones | Jill Hennessy | Jill de Jong | Jill Dando | Jill Corey | Lara Jill Miller | Jill Wolfson | Jill Vernekohl | Jill Tracy | Jill Stewart | Jill Santoriello | Jill P. Carter | Jill Lepore | Jill Johnson | Jill Halfpenny | Jill Dobson | Jill Derby | Jill Bakken | Bob Perryman |
“It's a very demanding space, but Joan Sydney, Amanda Muggleton and the very lovely Jill Perryman has each said this is the best space for a performer in the country. In my last year here we played to 89,000 people. We had great success here,” he said.
It featured Australian actors such as Clayton Williamson, Noni Hazelhurst, Ernie Dingo, Rebecca Smart, and Jill Perryman, and also featured veteran American film actor Van Johnson in his final movie role, and French actor Jean-Michel Dagory.