Chantal Contouri (born 8 April 1950), sometimes credited as Chantal Cantouri, is a Greek Australian television and film actress. She has acted in many films and TV series as well as on stage, with one of her best known roles being in the 1970s soap opera Number 96 as nurse Tracy Wilson (aka "the pantyhose strangler").

Early life and education

Chantal Contouri was born on 8 April 1950 in the village of Agios Georgios, Vion, in Greece, the first of five children to Fotini and Konstantinos. The family emigrated to Australia aboard the Italian ship Castel Felice in 1954, and settled in Adelaide, South Australia. Contouri attended Adelaide High School.

Career

Contouri started her career as a go-go dancer at a nightclub in Gawler Place in Adelaide city centre; however, she wanted to act. She left Adelaide after being verbally abused by a Greek woman on the street, and moved to Melbourne at the age of 16, where she appeared as a dancer on the pop music show Kommotion. After that, she moved to London, and became good friends with Olivia Newton-John. Contouri had leading roles in Barry McKenzie Holds His Own (1974) and the sex comedy film Alvin Purple Rides Again (1974), and later had a guest role in the Alvin Purple television series produced in 1976. She also had starring roles in horror-suspense films Thirst (1979) and Snapshot (aka The Day After Halloween) (1979). She featured in The Sullivans (1976-1983) as Melina Tsangarakis, who married Norm Baker before her death by firing squad. Contouri appeared in US daytime soap opera General Hospital in 1988 and played a guest role in the Australian soap E Street in 1993. She featured in Timothy Spanos' series Celebrity House Cleaner playing an alcoholic acting agent and her most recent role was in a remake of Stormboy in 2019. Contouri remains best known however as Nurse Tracey Wilson in the TV series Number 96 (1974-75). Contouri recorded an audio commentary for a 2008 DVD boxed set release of 32 Number 96 episodes, entitled The Pantyhose Strangler. She continued working in Sydney, before moving to Los Angeles attending Olivia Newton-John's marriage to Matt Lattanzi, and there found work on the daytime soap opera General Hospital. After moving into semi-retirement in Adelaide in 1998, she took acting roles in Hotel Mumbai (directed by Adelaide-born Greek Australian Anthony Maras) and Storm Boy, the 2019 remake with Geoffrey Rush. She also starred in the short film Unfinished Thoughts.

Recognition and awards

1n 1979 Contouri won a Logie Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Melina Tsangarakis in The Sullivans, becoming the first Greek Australian actress to win a Logie. In 2011 she won Best Actress in the South Australian Screen Awards for her performance in the short film Unfinished Thoughts (which was nominated for eight SASAs).

Personal life

Contouri had an early marriage arranged by her parents, which broke down and she fled to her favourite uncle's house. She spent some years in Greece in her 40s, and after a few more acting roles, semi-retired from acting in Adelaide in 1998. With her parents in failing health, she took over running their restaurant in Hindley Street, Barbecue Inn. In 2007 Contouri discussed her time Number 96 in an episode of Where Are They Now?, and talked about running the family's restaurant in Adelaide. The restaurant closed in 2014. In 2016 Contouri was living in Torrensville, South Australia.

Filmography

Film

Television

As self

Stage

Contouri has had many stage roles, including: