Kym Wilson
Kym Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 April 1973 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Education | Stella Maris College |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Spouse |
Sean O'Byrne (m. 2009) |
| Partner | Jeremy Sims (1990s) |
Kym Wilson (born 1 April 1973) is an Australian actress and former television host. Her breakout role was that of Rosemary Fitzgerald in the 1991 miniseries Brides of Christ, which earned her the Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent. She played Darcy Hudson in A Country Practice from 1991 until the series' cancellation in 1993. She then took on the recurring role of Sam Robinson in Heartbreak High. Wilson co-hosted the music program Video Smash Hits from 1992 to 1994. Further roles included Tess McLeod in the McLeod's Daughters television film, Charlotte Holloway in The Man from Snowy River and Raelene Gregson in All Saints. Wilson has also appeared in several theatre productions, including The Crucible and Blackrock.
Early life
[edit]Wilson was born in Brisbane on 1 April 1973.[1][2] She attended singing and dance classes from a young age. When she was six years old, she acquired an agent and she later appeared in television commercials.[3] At the age of eight, her family moved to Sydney.[4] She attended Stella Maris College in Manly.[5] Wilson left school during Year 11 to pursue an acting career.[6]
Career
[edit]Wilson made her television debut playing a minor role in the 1985 miniseries Professor Poopsnagle's Steam Zeppelin opposite Justine Clarke when she was 11 years old.[3][6] Five years later, she appeared in John Duigan's 1991 film Flirting, the sequel to The Year My Voice Broke, alongside Nicole Kidman and Noah Taylor.[4] Duigan recommend Wilson for her breakout role of Rosemary Fitzgerald in the 1991 ABC TV miniseries Brides of Christ.[4] In 1992, she won the Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent for her role in the miniseries.[7]
Wilson appeared in the Sydney Theatre Company's 1991 production of The Crucible, before joining the main cast of medical drama A Country Practice as Darcy Hudson in 1991.[8] She replaced Emily Symons as co-host of the music program Video Smash Hits from 25 January 1992 until 1994.[9][10] After A Country Practice ended in 1993, she had a three month recurring role as Sam Robinson in Heartbreak High.[11]
In 1995, Wilson co-founded the theatrical production company Pork Chop Productions with her then-boyfriend Jeremy Sims.[12] She guested in a March episode of G.P. as the girlfriend of Michael Winters (played by Brian Rooney).[13] She also starred as Rachel in the Sydney Theatre Company's first production of Nick Enright's play Blackrock, before taking the role of "streetwise" Tiffany in 1996.[12] Wilson appeared in the 1996 Australian film Inner Sanctuary, and had a starring role as Tess McLeod in the original McLeod's Daughters telefilm.[12] Wilson did not reprise her role for the subsequent television series.[14] She made a guest appearance in an episode of Water Rats in February 1997.[15]
In April 1998, Wilson appeared in the guest role of Raelene in All Saints.[16] She also starred in Geoffrey Brown's thriller film Reflections.[17] Midway through 1998, Wilson relocated to the United States and she undertook a three-month acting scholarship assisted by the Winston Churchill Fellowship.[18] She undertook studies at a Shakespearian company in Massachusetts, and the Moscow Art Theatre at Harvard.[19] Wilson appeared nude on the cover of the May 1999 edition of Australian Playboy.[20][21] She had previously appeared semi-naked in the first issue of Black+White magazine in 1992.[22]
In 2001, Wilson appeared in a Brisbane stage production of Secret Bridesmaids' Business.[23] She provided voice acting for the 2002 video game Ty the Tasmanian Tiger[24] and its 2004 and 2005 sequels.
She took a hiatus from acting to work as the LA-based business partner of Sydney fashion designer Leona Edmiston. She enjoyed the experience but realised that acting was still her passion.[1] In 2015, she returned to Sydney, to sell her first home in Elvina Bay. She also planned to return to television and was developing a limited television series with her husband.[1] Wilson appeared in Australian Theatre Company's production of Speaking in Tongues at the Matrix Theatre in Hollywood, which earned her a Stage Scene LA award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.[19]
In the early 1990s, Wilson played in Sydney country and western band, Honky Tonk Angels, together with fellow actors Loene Carmen, Justine Clarke, Noah Taylor, Terry Serio and Carmen's father Peter Head.[25] They performed in Sydney and Melbourne and appeared live on Tonight Live with Steve Vizard, but disbanded in 1992, without recording.[26] A book about the band, Honky Tonk Angels: An Illustrated History was written by Carmen in 2011.[25]
Together with her husband, Wilson runs BonnieBlue Productions.[27]
Personal life
[edit]Wilson began a relationship with fellow Australian actor and director Jeremy Sims in late 1991.[28] They met through her Brides of Christ co-star Josephine Byrnes and got to know one another at a charity flower show. They appeared together in a production of Love Letters at the Sydney Opera House in April 1992.[28] Wilson and Sims became engaged and were set to be married on 1 April 1994, but the wedding was postponed when Wilson accepted a recurring guest role in television series The Man from Snowy River.[29]
In November 1997, Wilson and her then-boyfriend, Sydney barrister Andrew Reyment were the last people to see INXS frontman Michael Hutchence alive, after they had visited him in his hotel 10 hours before his death.[30]
Wilson married her partner of ten years, Canadian screenwriter Sean O'Byrne on 9 October 2009.[31]
As of 2008, Wilson was a board member of Australians in Film, based in Los Angeles.[32]
Acting credits
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Flirting | Melissa Miles | |
| 1996 | Inner Sanctuary | Fiona | |
| 1998 | Reflections | Beth Owens | |
| 2010 | He She We | Cynthia | Short |
| 2017 | Treehouse | Laura | Short |
| 2017 | Weekend Getaway | Blythe | Short |
| 2018 | Haunted, Horrifying Sounds from Beyond the Grave | Wendy Stockdotter | Short |
| 2018 | Black Knuckle and Deputy Maltese | Sheriff Schaefer | Short |
| 2019 | Reborn | Valerie | Short |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Professor Poopsnagle's Steam Zeppelin | Alice | |
| 1989 | A Country Practice | Leanne Baxter | Episodes: "Fly Away Home: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 1990 | Family and Friends | Blondie | |
| 1991 | Brides of Christ | Rosemary Fitzgerald | Miniseries |
| 1991–1993 | A Country Practice | Darcy Hudson | Main cast |
| 1992 | The Main Event | Panellist | |
| 1992–1993 | Video Smash Hits | Co-Host | |
| 1994 | Cody: A Family Affair | TV film | |
| 1994–1995 | Heartbreak High | Sam Robinson | Season 1 |
| 1995 | G.P. | Tanya | Episode: "Filial Contract" |
| 1995 | The Ferals | Nikki | Episode: "Mixy Mania" |
| 1995 | The Man from Snowy River (aka Snowy River: The MacGregor Saga) | Charlotte Holloway | Episodes: "The Railroad", "Fathers & Sons" |
| 1996 | McLeod's Daughters | Tess McLeod | TV film |
| 1997 | Water Rats | Amanda White | Episode: "Closed Circuit" |
| 1998 | All Saints | Raelene Gregson | Episodes: "Terminal Speed", "Heart to Heart", "Nothing But the Truth" |
| 1998 | Cody: The Wrong Stuff | TV film | |
| 1999 | Without Warning | Josie Newman | TV film |
| 2002 | The Lost World | Narina | Episode: "A Witch's Calling" |
Theatre
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | The Book of Job | University of Adelaide | |
| 1991 | The Crucible | Sydney Opera House with STC | |
| 1992 | Love Letters | Melissa Gardner | |
| 1994 | Brilliant Lies | Civic Playhouse, Newcastle with Hunter Valley Theatre Company | |
| 1995 | Emerald City | Ensemble Theatre | |
| 1995–1996 | Blackrock | Rachel/Tiffany | Wharf Theatre with STC, Canberra Theatre |
| 1996 | The New Rocky Horror Show | Janet | Lyric Theatre, Brisbane with Paul Dainty |
| 1996 | Tales of a Faerie Called Angel | Wharf Theatre | |
| 1997 | The La Mama 30th Birthday Celebration | La Mama Theatre | |
| 2001 | Secret Bridesmaids' Business | Meg | Playhouse, Brisbane with La Boite |
| 2016 | Speaking in Tongues | Sonja | Matrix Theatre, Hollywood with Australian Theatre Company[19] |
- Source:[33]
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Logie Awards | Most Popular New Talent | Brides of Christ | Won | [7] |
| Most Popular Actress in a Telemovie or Miniseries | Nominated | [34] | |||
| 1993 | Most Popular Actress | A Country Practice | Nominated | [35] | |
| 1994 | Most Popular Actress | Longlisted | [36] | ||
| 2016 | Stage Scene LA Award | Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role | Speaking in Tongues | Won | [19] |
| 2019 | Independent Shorts Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Erin | Won |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Sheppeard, Amanda (20 February 2015). "'Acting was always my true love': Kym Wilson returns to Oz to sell home and develop TV series". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
- ^ Brown, David (24 April 1993). "Uproar in the party room!". TV Week. pp. 8–9.
Kym turned 20 on April 1, and she and Jeremy, 27, plan to marry on her 21st birthday next year.
- ^ a b Hessey, Ruth (22 January 1994). "Fast trackers". The Age. Retrieved 17 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Tuohy, Wendy (22 October 1994). "Full marks". The Age. Retrieved 17 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Macken, Lucy (16 October 2017). "Celebrity: Kym Wilson puts Pittwater property on the market". Domain.com.au. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
- ^ a b Williams, Glen (15 February 1992). "Sitting pretty!". TV Week. pp. 10–11.
- ^ a b Oliver, Robin (14 March 1992). "Finally, Jana gets her gold gong". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Brown, David (14 September 1991). "'Rebel' Kym goes bush". TV Week. pp. 2–3.
- ^ Brown, David (25 January 1992). "Kym's rockin' role". TV Week. p. 3.
- ^ "Video Smash Hits: Latest CD Reviews". National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ Brown, David (11 June 1994). "Kym rides into Heartbreak High!". TV Week. pp. 4–5.
- ^ a b c Browne, Rachel (1 September 1996). "Kym enters, stage right". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Browne, Rachel (26 February 1995). "Wilson role". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Idato, Michael (6 August 2001). "The black sheep". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Hughes, Simon (17 February 1997). "TV tonight". The Age. Retrieved 18 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Browne, Rachel (26 April 1998). "This week". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Urban, Andrew L (19 April 1998). "Rollar-coaster reflections". The Age. Retrieved 18 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Kym Wilson". www.backstage.com.
- ^ a b c d "Our Judges". Sparrowland Short Film Festival.
- ^ Browne, Rachel (3 January 1999). "Kym will". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "May 1999 Playboy cover". Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- ^ Thomas, Brett (22 November 1992). "Hanky panky". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Secret Bridesmaids' Business". La Boite Theatre Company. 2001.
- ^ "Elle the Platypus". www.behindthevoiceactors.com.
- ^ a b Honky Tonk Angels: An Illustrated History by Loene Carmen. Blurb. 14 June 2011.
- ^ "Acting Up For The Kids". The Advocate. 6 November 2012.
- ^ "Diva –Team". www.divatheplay.com.
- ^ a b Shelley, Garry (4 April 1992). "In love... and happy to show it!". TV Week. pp. 8–9.
- ^ Brown, David (19 February 1994). "The new 'man' in Kym's life". TV Week. pp. 10–11.
- ^ "The Death of a Rock Star". The Independent. 5 April 1998.
- ^ Davies, Rebecca (12 October 2009). "Kym Wilson marries long-term love". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
- ^ "Australians In Film". Archived from the original on 9 March 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
- ^ "Kym Wilson". AusStage. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ^ "Logies '92 Nominations". TV Week. 7 March 1992. p. 12.
- ^ "Logies '93 Nominations". TV Week. 20 March 1993. p. 10.
- ^ "Logies '94". TV Week. 8 January 1994. pp. 12–13.
External links
[edit]- Kym Wilson at IMDb