Tziporah Atarah Malkah (born Katherine Helen Fischer; 30 November 1973) is an Australian former model and actress.
Early life and career
Kate Fischer was born on 30 November 1973 in
Adelaide
Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...
,
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
, the daughter of future Australian politician
Pru Goward
Prudence Jane "Pru" Goward (born 2 September 1952) is a former Australian politician and was a Liberal member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 2007 to 2019, representing the seat of Goulburn.
She was the New South Wales Minis ...
and university lecturer Alastair Fischer.
She is the eldest of three daughters. She attended the
Canberra Girls' Grammar School
, motto_translation = To the young, anything is possible
, established = 1926
, type = Independent, day and boarding
, gender = Co-educational – Early Learning to Yr 3Girls – Yrs ...
before going to
Narrabundah College
Narrabundah College is a government college that teaches the last two years of secondary education in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). It was the first school in Australia to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB), starting the progr ...
.
In 1987, at the age of 13, Malkah won the ''
Dolly'' Covergirl of the Year competition
and was touted as the next
Elle Macpherson
Eleanor Nancy Macpherson (; née Gow; born ) is an Australian model, businesswoman, television host, and actress.
She is known for her record five cover appearances for the ''Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue'' beginning in the 1980s, leading ...
. By the early 1990s, she had become a high-profile model working in Sydney and New York.
She did shoots for Bloomingdales, ''Glamor'' magazine and ''Mademoiselle,''
and was featured on the covers of ''
Black + White'' magazine
and ''
Vogue Australia
''Vogue'' ''Australia'' is the Australian edition of ''Vogue'' magazine. ''Vogue Australia'' became the 4th edition of Vogue in 1959 after ''Vogue'', ''British Vogue'' and ''Vogue Paris''. Prior to becoming a stand-alone issue, the Australian edit ...
''.
In 2005–2006, Malkah was the face of AMP Capital Shopping Centres in Australia.
In 1993, Malkah had a role in the Australian film ''
Sirens
Siren or sirens may refer to:
Common meanings
* Siren (alarm), a loud acoustic alarm used to alert people to emergencies
* Siren (mythology), an enchanting but dangerous monster in Greek mythology
Places
* Siren (town), Wisconsin
* Siren, Wisco ...
'', playing alongside
Elle Macpherson
Eleanor Nancy Macpherson (; née Gow; born ) is an Australian model, businesswoman, television host, and actress.
She is known for her record five cover appearances for the ''Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue'' beginning in the 1980s, leading ...
,
Portia de Rossi
Portia Lee James DeGeneres (born Amanda Lee Rogers; 31 January 1973), known professionally as Portia de Rossi, is an Australian-American former actress. She played Nelle Porter on the American drama series '' Ally McBeal'' (1998–2002), for wh ...
,
Sam Neill
Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill (born 14 September 1947) is a New Zealand actor. Neill's near-50 year career has included leading roles in both dramas and blockbusters. Considered an "international leading man", he has been regarded as one o ...
and
Hugh Grant
Hugh John Mungo Grant (born 9 September 1960) is an English actor. He established himself early in his career as both a charming, and vulnerable romantic lead and has since transitioned into a dramatic character actor. Among his numerous a ...
as one of the three life models of painter
Norman Lindsay
Norman Alfred William Lindsay (22 February 1879 – 21 November 1969) was an Australian artist, etcher, sculptor, writer, art critic, novelist, cartoonist and amateur boxer. One of the most prolific and popular Australian artists of his genera ...
. In 1995, Malkah was recruited for an ongoing role in the Network 10 TV soap opera ''
Echo Point
''Echo Point'' is an Australian television soap opera produced by Endemol Australia, Southern Star Group for Network Ten on 1 June 1995 until 1 December 1995.
The series was devised as an attempt by the Ten Network to rival the opposition soap ...
'' which aired for six months. She appeared in several of the ''
Elle McFeast
Elle McFeast is an Australian television character created by comedian Libbi Gorr. The character appeared in several shows during the 1990s, beginning with the ABC series ''Live and Sweaty'' in 1991. The character became the host of the show in 19 ...
'' (
Libbi Gorr
Lisbeth Joanne "Libbi" Gorr (born 24 March 1965) is an Australian broadcaster working in both TV and radio. Gorr is also an author, voice artist, writer and performer. She first came to prominence with the satirical television character that sh ...
) comedy specials on ABC TV such as ''Breasts'' (1996) and ''The Whitlam Dismissal'' (1996).
For two years (1996–1997), Malkah was the host of the Looney Tunes cartoon show ''What's Up Doc?'' on the Nine Network. In 1997, she had a small part in the Australian film ''
Dust Off the Wings'', a drama set amidst Sydney's surfing culture. In 2000, she starred in the horror film ''
Blood Surf
''Blood Surf'' (also known by its original title, Krocodylus) is a 2000 horror film directed by James D.R. Hickox. It was released in the United States on June 26, 2001 but was released earlier in some countries. The plot is about a group of fr ...
'', filmed in South Africa.
Malkah starred as a blind girl who is courted by a struggling comedian in the Australian film comedy ''The Real Thing'' (2002) and had a small role as a CIA agent in the
Steven Seagal
Steven Frederic Seagal (; born April 10, 1952) is an American actor, screenwriter and martial artist. A 7th-dan black belt in aikido, he began his adult life as a martial arts instructor in Japan and eventually ended up running his father-in-l ...
direct-to-video action film ''
The Foreigner'' (2003). In 2002, she appeared in three episodes of the Channel 7 medical drama series ''
All Saints''.
In 2005, Malkah resurfaced on the Nine Network's ''
Celebrity Overhaul
Celebrity Overhaul was a reality television and infotainment show on Australia's Nine Network in which celebrities undergo a rigorous exercise and diet regime aimed at improving their fitness, health and general lifestyle, with the particular g ...
'', a show in which celebrities try to regain their fitness through good diet and exercise habits.
In 2006, Malkah appeared as a guest judge on the
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is an Australian hybrid-funded public service broadcaster. About 80 percent of funding for the company is derived from the Australian Government. SBS operates six TV channels ( SBS, SBS Viceland, SBS World ...
(SBS) program ''Song For The Socceroos'' and as a contestant on the Seven Network TV show ''
It Takes Two''.
The same year, she also made a guest appearance on the first series of ''
The Chaser's War on Everything'' on ABC TV and also became the host of the short-lived weekly clip show ''Top 40 Celebrity Countdown'' on the Seven Network.
In 2007, she filmed a short comedy video, ''Supermodel Hotdog'', which aired on YouTube. The sketch, filmed at her LA apartment, self-satirised her popular image as a celebrity and movie star.
In January 2017, Malkah (having legally changed her name several years earlier) became a contestant on the
Australian version of ''
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!'' She was evicted by a public vote on day 31 after spending 30 days in the African jungle. Following her departure, she made news headlines after some awkward post-eviction interviews.
Personal life
She was engaged to businessman
James Packer
James Douglas Packer (born 8 September 1967) is an Australian billionaire businessman and investor. Packer is the son of Kerry Packer , a media mogul, and his wife, Roslyn Packer . He is the grandson of Sir Frank Packer. He inherited control o ...
until the couple separated in 1998 after five years together and a two-year engagement. Their breakup received wide coverage in both the mainstream and tabloid press, fueled by rumours regarding the extent of the financial settlement. Malkah later stated she received "a few hundred thousand dollars" and the house they had formerly shared.
She eventually sold the house for A$2,825,000 in 2000. Since 1998, Malkah has spent much of her time living in the United States. While there, she converted to
Judaism
Judaism ( he, ''Yahăḏūṯ'') is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in the ...
and changed her name to Tziporah Atarah Malkah.
According to the ''Sydney Morning Herald'' in 2010, Malkah described herself as a political conservative and a supporter of the
US Republican Party
The Republican Party, also referred to as the GOP ("Grand Old Party"), is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States. The GOP was founded in 1854 by anti-slavery activists who opposed the Kansas–Nebraska Act, ...
and the
Australian Liberal Party
The Liberal Party of Australia is a centre-right political party in Australia, one of the two major parties in Australian politics, along with the centre-left Australian Labor Party. It was founded in 1944 as the successor to the United Austr ...
.
After returning to Australia in 2011, she resided at a boarding house for 22 months due to reduced circumstances.
In 2016, it was reported that Malkah was living in
Toorak, Victoria
Toorak () is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Stonnington local government area, on Boonwurrung Land. Toorak recorded a population of 12,817 at the 2021 ...
, and employed as an aged care worker.
Film and TV roles
*''
Sirens
Siren or sirens may refer to:
Common meanings
* Siren (alarm), a loud acoustic alarm used to alert people to emergencies
* Siren (mythology), an enchanting but dangerous monster in Greek mythology
Places
* Siren (town), Wisconsin
* Siren, Wisco ...
'' (film), 1993
*''
Full Moon, Dirty Hearts
''Full Moon, Dirty Hearts'' is the ninth studio album by Australian rock band INXS. It was released on 1 November 1993, through East West Records in Australia and in the United Kingdom by Phonogram's Mercury Records label. It was followed by the ...
'' by
INXS
INXS (a word play, phonetic play on "in excess") were an Australian Rock music, rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. The band's founding members were bassist Garry Gary Beers, main composer and keyboar ...
(music video), 1993
*''
Echo Point
''Echo Point'' is an Australian television soap opera produced by Endemol Australia, Southern Star Group for Network Ten on 1 June 1995 until 1 December 1995.
The series was devised as an attempt by the Ten Network to rival the opposition soap ...
'' (TV series), 1995 (ongoing role)
*''
What's Up Doc? (Australian TV series)
''What's Up Doc?'' was a children's program which aired on the Nine Network in Australia from 31 July 1993 until 24 December 1999. It centred on the showing of Warner Bros. cartoons and hosted segments with additional original elements. It fo ...
'', 1996–1997 (host)
*''
Elle McFeast
Elle McFeast is an Australian television character created by comedian Libbi Gorr. The character appeared in several shows during the 1990s, beginning with the ABC series ''Live and Sweaty'' in 1991. The character became the host of the show in 19 ...
Special: Breasts'' (TV special)- 1996 (guest appearance)
*''
Elle McFeast
Elle McFeast is an Australian television character created by comedian Libbi Gorr. The character appeared in several shows during the 1990s, beginning with the ABC series ''Live and Sweaty'' in 1991. The character became the host of the show in 19 ...
Special: The Whitlam Dismissal'' (TV special), 1996 (guest appearance)
*''
Twisted Tales'' (TV series), 1996 (1 episode)
*''The Munsters Scary Little Christmas'' (TV movie), 1996
*''
Dust Off the Wings'' (film), 1997
*''Pigeon'' (film), 1998
*''
Murder Call
''Murder Call'' is an Australian television series, created by Hal McElroy for the Southern Star Entertainment and broadcast on the Nine Network between 1997 and 2000. The series was inspired by the ''Tessa Vance'' novels by Jennifer Rowe, bot ...
'' (TV series), 1998 (1 episode)
*''
Blood Surf
''Blood Surf'' (also known by its original title, Krocodylus) is a 2000 horror film directed by James D.R. Hickox. It was released in the United States on June 26, 2001 but was released earlier in some countries. The plot is about a group of fr ...
'' (film), 2000
*''
All Saints'' (TV series), 2002 (3 episodes)
*''The Real Thing'' (film), 2002
*''
The Foreigner'' (film), 2003
*''
Celebrity Overhaul
Celebrity Overhaul was a reality television and infotainment show on Australia's Nine Network in which celebrities undergo a rigorous exercise and diet regime aimed at improving their fitness, health and general lifestyle, with the particular g ...
'' (TV series), 2005
*''
The Chaser's War on Everything'' (TV series), 2006 (guest appearance)
*''Top 40 Celebrity Countdown'' (TV), 2006 (host)
*''
I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!'', 2017
Cultural references
In 1997, "Kate and Barbie", a portrait of Malkah by Australian painter
Paul Newton was a finalist in the annual
Archibald Prize
The Archibald Prize is an Australian portraiture art prize for painting, generally seen as the most prestigious portrait prize in Australia. It was first awarded in 1921 after the receipt of a bequest from J. F. Archibald, J. F. Archib ...
exhibition and is now in her private art collection. Newton also painted another portrait of Malkah the same year titled "Homage to Madame X", now owned by her mother, Pru Goward.
David Bromley painted her portrait in 2001.
References
External links
Official website at Archive.orgProfile on the Rotten Tomatoes website*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fischer, Kate
1973 births
Living people
Australian Jews
Australian film actresses
American female models
Actresses from Adelaide
Converts to Judaism
Australian expatriate actresses in the United States
Australian female models
Australian television actresses
People with acquired American citizenship
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (Australian TV series) participants
21st-century American women