Kellerman, Annette (1886-1975)

Also known as
Kellermann, Annette (1886-1975)
Kellermann, Annette Marie Sarah (1886-1975)
Field of activity
Acquatic performer, Actor, Author, Diver and Swimmer; actor (film); aquatic performer; children's author; swimmer
Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an35870825
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-577656

Biographies

KELLERMANN, ANNETTE MARIE SARAH (1886-1975), swimmer, aquatic performer and film actress, was born on 6 July 1886 at Marrickville, Sydney, daughter of Australian-born Frederick William Kellermann, violinist, and his French wife Alice Ellen, née Charbonnet, pianist and music teacher. A weakness in Annette's legs necessitated the wearing of painful steel braces and at 6, to strengthen her legs, she learned to swim at Cavill's baths in Sydney. By 13 her legs were practically normal and by 15 she mastered all the swimming strokes, using F. Lane and Percy Cavill as her models for the trudgen and single overarm strokes, and won her first race. She also gave diving displays.

View the full record at Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Born in 1886 in Marrickville, Sydney, Annette Kellerman was a New South Wales swimming champion who left for England aged 18 to help her cash-strapped family. In Europe, she built a name for herself in long distance swimming and exotic swimming and diving demonstrations. By 1906 she had moved to vaudeville theatre in America as 'Australia's Mermaid' and quickly progressed to the big screen. Kellerman enjoyed tremendous success as a silent movie star in mythological underwater films, including Neptune's Daughter.

The daughter of musical parents, Frederick William Kellermann and Alice Ellen (née Charbonnet), Annette’s swimming career began at the age of six. Compelled to wear steel braces due to a weakness in the legs, she learned to swim as a way of gaining strength. By her early teens her legs were functioning normally, and she began to swim competitively. She won the 100 yards and mile championships of New South Wales in 1902 with record times of 1 minute, 22 seconds and 33 minutes, 49 seconds respectively.

When the family moved to Melbourne, Kellermann combined her passion for swimming with her theatrical ability, performing a mermaid act at Princes Court entertinament centre and appearing twice a day with fish in a glass tank at the Exhibition Acquarium. She completed a long-distance swim in the Yarra and several exhibitions throughout Australia, acclaimed as the holder of all world records for ladies’ swimming. In 1905 she visited England with her father, swimming the Thames from Putney bridge to Blackwall pier in 3 hours, 54 minutes. Sponsored by the Daily Mirror she attempted to swim the English Channel but was unsuccessful. In France, she was placed third in a seven-mile race down the Seine. The following year she completed a twenty-two mile race down the Danube, and made a second unsuccessful attempt to swim the Channel.

According to G.P. Walsh (Australian Dictionary of Biography), Kellerman’s one-piece swimsuit made by stitching black stockings into a boy’s costume caused somewhat of a sensation in her early career. She was arrested on a Boston beach for wearing a brief one-piece swimsuit in 1907. Ironically, the publicity ‘helped to relax laws relating to women’s swimwear’ and Kellermann ‘regarded her part in emancipating women from the neck-to-knee costume as her greatest achievement’.

Kellermann gave up her swimming career to take up acting in earnest. She performed at leading theatres in Europe, the U.S.A., the U.K. and Australia. Many of her performances incorporated diving stunts which she did herself. In 1912 she married her manager, American-born James Raymond Louis Sullivan. During World War II she lived in Queensland, working for the Red Cross and entertaining troops. She and her husband came to live in Australia permanently in 1970. Kellermann had no children of her own, but produced a book of children’s stories, Fairy Tales of the South Seas, in 1926.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Resources for Annette Kellerman

Selected resources (6)

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Australian Women's Register

  1. Kellermann, Annette Marie Sarah (1886 - 1975)Australian Dictionary of Biography Online : Kellermann, Annette Marie Sarah (1886 - 1975)
    Walsh, G.P.
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
    Series: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A090547b.htm
  2. Fairy Tales of the South Seas and other stories
    Kellermann, Annette
    [1926]
    Published: Sampson Low, Marston & Co.
  3. The Complete Book of Great Australian Women: Thirty-six women who changed the course of Australia
    De Vries, Susanna
    [2003]
    Published: HarperCollins
  4. She's Game: Women Making Australian Sporting History
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2007]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
    Series: http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/sg/sport-home.html
  5. 200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology
    Radi, Heather
    [1988]
    Published: Women's Redress Press

Resources by Annette Kellerman (8)

  1. The original mermaid
    Ronin Films
    [ Video : 2002-2003 ]
    At 13 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.914)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.914)

  2. Papers of Annette Kellermann
    Kellermann, Annette, 1886-1975
    [ Unpublished : 1925-1930 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.011)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.011)

  3. Physical beauty : how to keep it / by Annette Kellermann
    Kellermann, Annette, 1886-1975
    [ Book : 1918-1977 ]
    At 7 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.9)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.9)

  4. Fairy tales of the south seas : and other stories / by Annette Kellerman [sic] ; illustrations by Marcelle Wooster
    Kellermann, Annette, 1886-1975
    [ Book : 1926 ]
    At 6 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.866)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.866)

  5. How to swim / by Annette Kellermann
    Kellermann, Annette, 1886-1975
    [ Book : 1918-1919 ]
    At 6 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.557)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.557)

  6. How to swim
    Annette Kellermann
    [ Book : 1918 ]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 2 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.958)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.958)

  7. [Annette Kellerman[n] returns to Australia, 25/3/1933]
    Kellermann, Annette, 1886-1975
    [ Video : 1933-2000 ]
    At Macquarie University
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.618)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.618)

  8. Siren of the sea : Annette Kellerman
    Grapevine Video (Firm)
    [ Video : 1911-2007 ]
    At Maritime Museum
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.209)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.209)

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  1. Annette Jemima Gordon (nee Hungerford)
    Created by Harvey-switzer, 2 items.

  2. Fool on the Hill (1975 - )
    Created by dance[NLA], 15 items.

    Choreographed by British choreographer Gillian Lynne, to a scenario by Lynne and Bob Hird, Fool on the Hill was created as a joint venture by the Australian Ballet and the Australian Broad...

  3. 1886 London
    Created by louisedouglas, 3 items.

  1. Charbonnet-Kellermann, Alice
    ... Warehouse as a demonstration pianist. She married Sydney violinist Frederick Kellerman in 1882, with whom ...
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0)

  2. Kerr, Beatrice Maude (1887-1971)
    ... hold world records nor did she compete in the Olympic Games. Following her rival, Annette Kellermann ...
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0)

  3. Durack, Sarah (1889-1956)
    ... icon of Australian women’s swimming, Annette Kellerman. Fanny finished last, but that would not be a ...
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0)

  1. Website: 200 Australian Women
    www.200australianwomen.com
    Matching pages:
    View 5 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.051)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.051)

  2. Website: Wolanski Foundation
    www.twf.org.au
    Matching pages:
    • TWF: kellerman - 7/8/2005 and on 7/8/2006
    • ... of Australian vaudevillian, film star and swimmer, Annette Kellerman. Allen & Unwin s biography, written by Emily Gibson...
    View 15 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.021)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.021)

  3. Website: Australian Sports Commission
    www.ausport.gov.au
    Matching pages:
    View 5 matching archived pages
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.019)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.019)

  1. Naked ambition: [Annette Kellerman]
    Gilmour, Joanna
    Portrait (Canberra)
    [ Article : 2008 ]
    View online
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.249)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.249)

  2. "Million/ dollar" mermaid. -Annette Kellerman-
    Wojciki, L. John
    Historic Australia
    [ Article : 1987 ]
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.249)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.249)

  3. Annette Kellerman: Queen of the Sea
    Barrand, Janine
    Victorian Arts Centre Magazine
    [ Article : 1988 ]
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.22)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.22)

  4. Annette Kellerman: venus of the south seas
    Cox, Peter
    Modern Times: The Untold Story of Modernism in Australia
    [ Article : 2008 ]
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.196)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.196)

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  1. A resume of the life of Annette Kellerman
    Wooster, Marcelle
    [ Unpublished : 1977 ]
    At UQ Library
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.426)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.426)

  2. Fan, souvenir of 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition, wood/ paper, used by Annette Kellerman, made in USA, ..
    [ Published : 1876 ]
    View online
    At Powerhouse
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.151)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.151)

  3. Film program on board, 'Million Dollar Mermaid', paper/ masonite, USA, used by Annette Kellerman, 19..
    [ Published : 1952 ]
    View online
    At Powerhouse
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.15)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.15)

  1. The original million dollar mermaid : the Annette Kellerman story / Emily Gibson with Barbara Firth
    Gibson, Emily
    [ Book : 2005 ]
    At 82 libraries
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.147)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.147)

  2. Mermaid Queen : the spectacular true story of Annette Kellerman, who swam her way to fame, fortune, & swimsuit history! / by Shana Corey ; illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham
    Corey, Shana
    [ Book : 2009 ]
    At 9 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.214)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.214)

  3. Race and the modern exotic : three 'Australian' women on global display / Angela Woollacott
    Woollacott, Angela, 1955-
    [ Book : 2011 ]
    At 13 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.201)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.201)

  4. Indecent exposure / [curated by Joanna Gilmour], National Portrait Gallery
    Gilmour, Joanna
    [ Book : 2011 ]
    At 7 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.195)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.195)

  1. Wendy Sharpe paints Annette Kellerman / a film by Richard Mordaunt and Diana Barbara
    Coolamon Films
    [ Video : 1999 ]
    At 9 libraries
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.958)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.958)

  2. The Original mermaid
    [ Video : 2004 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.445)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.445)

  3. Wendy Sharpe : painting the life of the great Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman / a film by Richard Mordaunt
    Mordaunt, Richard
    [ Video : 1999 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.341)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.341)

  4. Wendy Sharpe / produced by Film Australia in association with ABC Education Television
    Film Australia
    [ Video : 1999 ]
    At 4 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.241)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.241)

  1. ANNETTE KELLERMAN.
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Tuesday 30 August 1921 p 5 Article
    ... ANNETTE KELLERMAN. On Saturday next Mr. Harry G. Musgrove will reintroduce introduce Miss Annette Kellerman at the Tivoli, when that artist will be seen in her wonderful aquatic act for her final appearances in Australia. Miss Keller- man will be supported by a company new to Sydney, ... 53 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 2.634)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 2.634)

  2. ANNETTE KELLERMAN.
    The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) Saturday 22 October 1921 p 13 Article
    ... ANNETTE KELLERMAN. Considerable interest has been aroused in the visit of Miss Annette Kellerman to Tasmania. mania. Her season commences at the Strand on Monday evening next. Annette Kellerman is an effortless dancer. In fact, her whole versatile display is in the nature of play for herself. She ... 98 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 2.63)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 2.63)

  3. ANNETTE KELLERMAN.
    The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) Thursday 20 October 1921 p 10 Article
    ... ANNETTE KELLERMAN. Miss Annette Kellerman in addressing the audience at one of the mainland ... ving, music, dancing, and acting. The box plans for the Annette Kellerman season will be open at ... cidents will be recounted in Hobart dur- ing the Strand season next week. Miss Kellerman has had a ... 101 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 2.624)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 2.624)