Kate Fitzpatrick
Kate Fitzpatrick | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kerry Kathleen Fitzpatrick[1] 1 October 1947 Nedlands, Perth, Western Australia |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1967–present |
Kerry Kathleen Fitzpatrick (born 1 October 1947) is an Australian television, film, and theatre actress.[2]
Early life
[edit]Fitzpatrick was born in 1947 in Perth, Western Australia,[3] the eldest of five siblings, to an artist mother and a geologist father, who travelled for nine months of each year doing geological mapping.[4]
She grew up in the Adelaide suburb of Dover Gardens, where she developed her love for classical music, art and cricket. At the age of 14, she was among a group of art students selected by Jeffrey Smart ('Phidias' of the Argonauts Club) for a travelling art scholarship to Japan.[4]
Fitzpatrick's father, disapproved of her interest in acting and sent her to a guidance counsellor who recommended she become a psychiatrist.[4]
At the age of 18, Fitzpatrick was accepted as a drama student by NIDA and moved to Sydney.[5] She graduated in 1967, and later returned to serve two terms on the board.[3] She later studied an Arts degree.[6]
Career
[edit]Fitzpatrick's stage roles include The Lady of the Camellias, Hamlet, Celluloid Heroes, The Ride Across Lake Constance, Shadows of Blood, Rooted, Kennedy's Children. With the Old Tote Theatre Company she acted in The Legend of King O'Malley,[3] The Season at Sarsaparilla,[3] The Misanthrope, The Threepenny Opera,[7] and Big Toys by Patrick White, who wrote the play for Fitzpatrick.[3] She appeared in Visions for the Paris Theatre Company, and in The Recruiting Officer for the Melbourne Theatre Company. She played Magenta in the original Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show in 1974.[7] In 2017, she appeared in Cabaret as Fraülein Schneider. She most recently toured Australia in Gas Light.[7]
Fitzpatrick's film roles included appearances in Homesdale (1971),[8] The Office Picnic (1972),[8] Promised Woman (1975),[8] The Great Macarthy (1975),[8] The Removalists (1975),[8] The Night Nurse (1977),[8] police drama Goodbye Paradise (1983),[8] superhero film The Return of Captain Invincible (1983),[8] A World Apart (1988) and action thriller Heaven's Burning (1997).[8] In 2025, she appeared in Renny Harlin's film, Deep Water.[7]
Her early television appearances included Serpent in the Rainbow, Birds in the Bush,[8] Certain Women,[3] Rush,[3] Ben Hall,[3] Boney,[3] and Homicide.[3] Further television credits included Something in the Air,[3] Scooter: Secret Agent,[8] Blue Heelers,[8] Marshall Law,[9] Always Greener and All Saints.[8] In 2006, Fitzpatrick briefly joined the cast of soap opera Neighbours[9] in the role of Loris Timmins. In 2009, she appeared in Packed to the Rafters[3] in a reprising guest role. In 2010, Fitzpatrick did a short film called Stay Awake and also appeared in the drama series Satisfaction.[8]
In 1983, Fitzpatrick became the world's first female cricketing commentator on television, when she joined the Nine Network cricket commentating team, a gamble by Channel Nine to add a more female approach to the game and attract a larger audience. Allegedly, Fitzpatrick was not welcomed with open arms by the (until then) male bastion of cricket commentators, according to Angela Pippos.[10] Nine's tactical move, in placing a female in a cricket commentator role, was not successful and Fitzpatrick didn't return for the following season.
Fitzpatrick has also performed numerous voiceover roles, including television commercials for brands such as Aldi, Moderna, Uber Reserve and Mazda.[11]
Fitzpatrick is a published author, essayist, and humourist whose work has appeared in numerous major newspapers and journals over the last 30 years,[12][13] including a column in The Sydney Morning Herald in the 1980s.[14]
She has had three books published, including "Name Dropping" (2004) and "Air Mail" (2005).[6] She was a political speech writer during the 1990s,[6] spending four years working for the NSW Arts Minister.[14] She has also worked as a florist.[6]
Fitzpatrick was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for services to the theatre.[6] Artist Florence Broadhurst painted her portrait for the Archibald Prize in 1975.[6]
Personal life
[edit]Fitzpatrick has a son named Joe Fitzpatrick with French architect José Albertini. Joe, an Australian commercial real estate professional, is well known in Sydney social circles. Before her marriage, she had a two-year close relationship with Imran Khan.[4]
In her memoir "Name Dropping: An Incomplete Memoir", Fitzpatrick also recounts having had romantic relationships with actors Sam Neill and Jeremy Irons. She lived with barrister Charles Waterstreet, between 1978 and 1982, whom she took to court in 1996 for 'deceit and breach of contract', but lost the case. She declined eight offers of marriage, including one from Australian politician Tom Hughes when she was 29.[4]
Fitzpatrick's memoir cites friendships with playwright Patrick White, prominent legal figure Michael McHugh, theatre director Jim Sharman, English former cricket captain Mike Brearley and actor Jack Nicholson. She also details feuds with Robyn Nevin (for whom she was bridesmaid at her wedding to playwright, Jim McNeill), Barbara Hershey and feminist Germaine Greer.[4]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Homesdale | Miss Greenoak | Film short |
| 1972 | Shirley Thompson vs. the Aliens | Nurse | Feature film |
| The Office Picnic | Mara | Feature film | |
| 1975 | Promised Woman | Marge | Feature film |
| The Great MacArthy | Andrea | Feature film | |
| The Removalists | Kate Mason | Feature film | |
| 1976 | Summer of Secrets | Rachel Adams | Feature film |
| 1979 | The Audition | Roslyn | Film short |
| 1982 | Goodbye Paradise | Mrs. McCreadie | Feature film |
| The Return of Captain Invincible | Patty Patria | Feature film | |
| 1984 | Fantasy Man | Betty | Feature film |
| Skin Deep | Maggie Peters | Feature film | |
| 1988 | A World Apart | June Abelson | Feature film |
| 1993 | The Nostradamus Kid | 'General Booth Enters Heaven' Strolling Player | Feature film |
| 1997 | Heaven's Burning | Gloria | Feature film |
| Emmerdale: The Dingles Down Under | Sylvia Gibson | Video | |
| 2010 | Stay Awake | Mum | Film short |
| 2017 | Serving Joy | Sue | Film short |
| 2020 | The Retreat | Sam | Film short |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Bellbird | ||
| 1970 | The Rovers | Connie | Episode: "My Millions for a Meal" |
| 1970, 1973, 1976 | Homicide | Rachel Hayes-Manning / Chris Green / Bunny Rogers | 3 episodes: "Peter's Party", "The Adventurer", "Bunny" |
| 1970–1971, 1972 | Division 4 | Suzanne Potter / Elaine / Lorraine Hunt | 3 episodes: "Marvels of Reproduction", "The Monkey Chased the Weasel", "Voice of the Gun" |
| 1971 | The Comedy Game | Airy Fairy | Episode: "Aunty Jack's Travelling Show" |
| 1972 | Behind the Legend | Nellie Melba | Episode 1: "Nellie Melba" |
| Redheap | Hetty | 3 episodes | |
| Birds in the Bush | Michelle | 13 episodes | |
| The Aunty Jack Show | Airy Fairy | 1 episode | |
| Quartet | |||
| 1973 | Boney | Constable Alice McGorr | Season 2, 13 episodes |
| Serpent in the Rainbow | Helen Quigg | Miniseries, 4 episodes | |
| 1975 | Certain Women | Paula Coburn | 1 episode |
| 1976 | Luke's Kingdom | Emily | Miniseries, episode: "The Dam and the Damned" |
| The Bushranger | Jane | TV film | |
| The Haunting of Hewie Dowker | TV film | ||
| King's Men | 1 episode | ||
| 1978 | The Night Nurse | Prudence Simpson | TV film |
| 1979 | Miss USA Pageant | Miss Oregon USA (as Katie Fitzpatrick) | TV special |
| 1980 | Big Toys | Teleplay | |
| Stages: Peter Brock and the C.I.C.T in Australia | Presenter | TV special | |
| Players in the Gallery | Kate Harris | Miniseries, 1 episode | |
| 1981 | Summer Spectrum | Presenter | |
| 1982 | Runaway Island | Elene Costard | TV film |
| 1983 | World Series Cricket | Commentator | |
| 1984 | Skin Deep | Maggie Peters | TV film |
| 1984; 1985 | Runaway Island | Elene Costard | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | The Perfectionist | Su | TV film |
| 1986 | Call Me Mister | Ingrid | Episode: "Long Shot" |
| The Three Musketeers | Milady de Winter (voice) | Animated TV film | |
| 1988 | The Last Resort | Elizabeth Parker | |
| 1991 | Chances | Maggie | 1 episode |
| 1992 | The Resting Place | Myra | TV film |
| 1996 | Twisted Tales | Elizabeth Bishop | TV film series, episode: "Directly from My Heart to You" |
| 1998 | Murder Call | Madeleine Gault | Season 2, episode 2: "Many Unhappy Returns" |
| House Gang | Astra | Episode: "Ambition" | |
| Bullpitt! | Helga Hansen | Episode: "Too Many Teds" | |
| 1998–1999 | Ketchup: Cats Who Cook | Madame Courgette (voice) | |
| 1998; 2008 | All Saints | Natasha Reece / Margaret Coolage | 2 episodes: "Heart to Heart", "When Tomorrow Comes" |
| 1999 | Dog's Head Bay | Trish Fairweather | Episode: "Fairweather Friends" |
| The Lost World | Garza | Episode: "Creatures of the Dark" | |
| Mumbo Jumbo | Dorothy | TV film | |
| 2000–2002 | Something in the Air | Julia Rutherford | |
| 2001 | Blue Heelers | Naomi Burke | 2 episodes: "The Blame Game: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2002 | Marshall Law | Susan | 2 episodes: "Mother's Day", "The Samovar" |
| Always Greener | Chantal Wilkinson | 3 episodes: "In the Beginning, I Was Afraid", "Opening Gambit" | |
| 2005 | Scooter: Secret Agent | Taipan | |
| 2005–2006 | Neighbours | Loris Timmins | |
| 2006 | Mortified | Mayor | Episode: "Mother in the Nude" |
| H2O: Just Add Water | Dr. Holt | Episode: "Under the Weather" | |
| 2008 | Double the Fist | Birgit | Episode: "Fist Furniture" |
| 2008–2009 | Packed to the Rafters | Marjorie Stevens | Seasons 1–2 |
| 2010 | Satisfaction | Fran | Episode: "Non Standard Package" |
| Cops L.A.C. | Meg Sinclair | 3 episodes: "The Killer Wore Sneakers", "Ghost House", "Life Is a Rodio" | |
| 2012 | Guess How Much I Love You: The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare | Blue Bird (voice) / Narrator | 1 episode |
| 2014 | Guess How Much I Love You: Autumn's Here | Blue Bird (voice) / Narrator | TV film |
| 2015 | Heidi | Barble (voice) | 2 episodes: "First Day in the Mountains", "For a Loaf of Bread" |
| 2016 | Rake | Judith | 1 episode: "4.2" |
Video game
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Ty The Tasmanian Tiger | Shadow of the Ghost Bat (voice) | Video game |
Theatre
[edit]Bibliography
[edit]| Year | Title | Publisher | ISBN | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "Sydney" (with Bernard Hermann) | Hawthorn, VIC: Hutchinson of Australia | 9780091571900 | [34] |
| 2004 | "Name Dropping: an Incomplete Memoir" | Pymble, NSW: HarperCollins | 0-7322-7468-0 | [34] |
| 2005 | "Air Mail: Three Women Letters from Five Continents" | John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd | 1740311272 | [34] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Panscript". Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
- ^ Sharp, Annette (12 November 2006). "Women get second shot at cricket". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Kate Fitzpatrick". National Portrait Gallery.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Kiss me, too, Kate". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 March 2004.
- ^ "ABC Classic FM – Midday – Kate Fitzpatrick". ABC Classic FM.
- ^ a b c d e f "Kate Fitzpatrick". Griffith Review. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "In the House with Kate Fitzpatrick". www.rahs.org.au. 10 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "The Best Kate Fitzpatrick Movies and TV Shows – From Classics to Hidden Gems We Explore Them All". www.serp.media. 24 May 2025.
- ^ a b Woolford, Lisa (17 January 2024). "Cricket and a classic – it's going to be a gas with Kate!". www.indailyqld.com.au.
- ^ Ugra, Sharda (June 2016). "Girls aloud". The Cricket Monthly. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ^ "Kate Fitzpatrick – Sydney". www.emvoices.com.au. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Name Dropping". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 May 2004.
- ^ "Name Dropping: An Incomplete Memoir". The Age. 2 May 2004.
- ^ a b "Fitzpatrick, Kate". Australian Women’s Register. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Ghosts". Theatregold. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "The Season at Sarsaparilla: A Charade of Suburbia in Two Acts". www.patrickwhitecatalogue.com. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
- ^ "Kate Fitzpatrick in the Patrick White play the Big Toys, Old Tote Theatre, Sydney, 1977 / Robert McFarlane". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
- ^ "Charity opening for play". The Canberra Times. Vol. 52, no. 14, 915. 26 October 1977. p. 19 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The misanthrope (Molière)". New York Public Library. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
- ^ "Poster advertising Bedroom Farce". New York Public Library. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
- ^ "The Sydney Theatre Company Arrives" (PDF). Trust News Vol. 3 No. 1. February 1979.
- ^ a b Weber, Kris (7 February 2024). "Kate Fitzpatrick in modern adaptation of Gaslight". www.theatrematters.com.au.
- ^ "Celluloid Heroes". Theatregold. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Insignificance". Malthouse Theatre. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Unsuitable for Adults". Malthouse Theatre. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Scapin". Malthouse Theatre. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "A Spring Song". Malthouse Theatre. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Costume designer Melody Cooper, actors Rupert Burns, Kate Fitzpatrick, Suzette Williams and director Rex Cramphorn after a performance of Don Juan at the Seymour Centre, Chippendale, New South Wales, 1991 / William Yang". My generation series, 1975-2008 via National Library of Australia. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Post Felicity". Malthouse Theatre. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "The Fat Boy". Malthouse Theatre. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Julia 3". Malthouse Theatre. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ Kary, David (6 May 2014). "Cruise Control". www.sydneyartsguide.com.au.
- ^ Spicer, David. "Cabaret". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
- ^ a b c "Margaret Throsby interview: Kate Fitzpatrick". www.abc.net.au. 11 May 2014.
External links
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| Artists | |
| People | |
