Australian actress Megan Williams is seen here getting ready for the Mad Hatters Contest that took place at the Sydney Opera House, 1975. At the time this photo was taken, Williams was 18 years old. The event was a promotional or charity-driven competition that leaned into the whimsical, avant-garde spirit of the mid-1970s.
True to the “Mad Hatter” theme, Williams is sporting an elaborate, wide-brimmed hat decorated with large fabric flowers, leaves, and thin wire stalks topped with pearls or beads. The curved architecture in the background is the distinctive concrete and glass of the Sydney Opera House (which had only been open for about two years at this point). She is leaning into the Alice in Wonderland motif by posing with a teapot and teacup, showcasing the bright, engaging smile that would soon make her a household name in Australia.
For those who recognize her face but can’t place the name, Megan Williams is best remembered for two major roles in Australian television history. Shortly after this photo was taken, she joined the cast of massive wartime drama The Sullivans. Her portrayal of Alice made her one of the most popular young actresses in the country during the late 1970s. In the 1980s, she starred as Cassie MacLean in the iconic, high-drama “glam” soap opera Return to Eden, which gained international fame.
Williams wasn’t just known for her acting; she was also a singer (notably providing backing vocals on the 1980s hit “The Honeymoon is Over” by The Cruel Sea).
Sadly, her story has a poignant end. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in the late 1990s and became a vocal advocate for breast cancer awareness in Australia. She passed away in 2000 at the age of 43 due to complications from the disease. This 1975 image remains a beautiful capsule of her early energy and the playful culture of Sydney in the 1970s.
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