Kerry Kathleen Fitzpatrick (born 1 October 1947) known as Kate Fitzpatrick, is an Australian television, film, and theatre actress.
Early years
Kate grew up in the Adelaide suburb of
Dover Gardens, and it was in Adelaide that her love for classical music, art and cricket developed. A highlight of her early years was being selected by
Jeffrey Smart
Frank Jeffrey Edson Smart (26 July 1921 – 20 June 2013) was an expatriate Australian painter known for his precisionist depictions of urban landscapes that are "full of private jokes and playful allusions".
Smart was born and educated ...
("Phidias" of the ''
Argonauts Club'') for a travelling art scholarship to Japan. At the age of 18 she was accepted as a drama student by
NIDA and moved to
Sydney
Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
.
Career
Theatre roles include ''
The Lady of the Camellias
''The Lady of the Camellias'' (), sometimes called ''Camille'' in English, is a novel by Alexandre Dumas fils, Alexandre Dumas ''fils''. First published in 1848 and subsequently Theatrical adaptation, adapted by Dumas for the Drama, stage, the pl ...
'', ''
Hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...
'', ''
Celluloid Heroes'', ''The Ride Across Lake Constance'', ''Shadows of Blood'', ''
Rooted'', ''
Kennedy's Children''. With the
Old Tote Theatre Company
The Old Tote Theatre Company (1963–1978) was a New South Wales theatre company that began as the standing acting and theatre company of Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). It was the predecessor to the Sydney Theatre Company ...
she acted in ''
The Legend of King O'Malley'', ''
The Season at Sarsaparilla'', ''
The Misanthrope
''The Misanthrope, or the Cantankerous Lover'' (; ) is a 17th-century comedy of manners in verse written by Molière. It was first performed on 4 June 1666 at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal (rue Saint-Honoré), Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris by ...
'', ''
The Threepenny Opera
''The Threepenny Opera'' ( ) is a 1928 German "play with music" by Bertolt Brecht, adapted from a translation by Elisabeth Hauptmann of John Gay's 18th-century English ballad opera, '' The Beggar's Opera'', and four ballads by François V ...
'', and ''Big Toys'' by
Patrick White
Patrick Victor Martindale White (28 May 1912 – 30 September 1990) was an Australian novelist and playwright who explored themes of religious experience, personal identity and the conflict between visionary individuals and a materialistic, co ...
, who wrote the play for Fitzpatrick. She acted in ''Visions'' for the Paris Theatre Company, and in ''
The Recruiting Officer
''The Recruiting Officer'' is a 1706 play by the Irish writer George Farquhar, which follows the social and sexual exploits of two English Army officers, the womanising Plume and the cowardly Brazen, in the town of Shrewsbury (the town where ...
'' for the
Melbourne Theatre Company
The Melbourne Theatre Company is a theatre company based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1953 as the Union Theatre Repertory Company at the Union Theatre at the University of Melbourne, it is the oldest professional theatre com ...
. She played Magenta in the original Australian production of ''
The Rocky Horror Show
''The Rocky Horror Show'' is a Musical theatre, musical with music, lyrics and book by Richard O'Brien. A humorous tribute to various B movies associated with the Science fiction film, science fiction and Horror film, horror genres from the 193 ...
'' in 1974. Her latest appearance (2017) was in ''
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, casino, hotel, restaurant, or nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or drinking, ...
'' as Fraülein Schneider.
Fitzpatrick's film roles included appearances in ''
Homesdale
''Homesdale'' is a 1971 Australian film directed by Peter Weir. ''Homesdale'' is a black comedy about visitors at a guest house acting out their violent private fantasies and games under the control of the house staff.
Plot
Several people gather ...
'' (1971), ''
The Office Picnic'' (1972), ''
Promised Woman'' (1975), ''
The Great Macarthy'' (1975), ''
The Removalists'' (1975), ''
The Night Nurse'' (1977), ''
Goodbye Paradise'' (1983), ''
The Return of Captain Invincible'' (1983) and ''
A World Apart'' (1988). Her television series appearances include ''
Serpent in the Rainbow'', ''
Birds in the Bush'', ''
Boney'', ''
Something in the Air'', ''Scooter: Secret Agent'', ''
Blue Heelers
''Blue Heelers'' is an Australian police drama series that was produced by Southern Star Group and ran for twelve years on the Seven Network, from 1994 to 2006. Although based around the policing of the town, the series generally depicted th ...
'', ''
Marshall Law
''Marshall Law'' is an Australian television series, which aired on the Seven Network in 2002, starring Lisa McCune and Alison Whyte as lawyers and sisters.
History
The show was originally conceived as a legal drama mixed with ''Ally McBeal' ...
'', ''
Always Greener'', and ''
All Saints''. In 2006, Fitzpatrick briefly joined the cast of soap opera ''
Neighbours
''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera that has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap '' Sons and ...
'' in the role of
Loris Timmins. In 2009, Fitzpatrick appeared in ''
Packed to the Rafters
''Packed to the Rafters'' is an Australian family-oriented comedy drama television program which premiered on the Seven Network on Tuesday 26 August 2008 at 8:30 pm. The show continued on Tuesdays in this timeslot for its entire run. The dr ...
'' in a reprising guest role. In 2010, Fitzpatrick did a short film called ''Stay Awake'' and also appeared on ''
Satisfaction''.
In 1983, Fitzpatrick became the world's first female cricketing commentator on television, when she joined the
Nine Network
Nine Network (stylised 9Network, and commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of the five main free-to-air television ...
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. 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 is a published author, essayist, and humourist whose work has appeared in numerous major newspapers and journals over the last 30 years. Fitzpatrick has also worked as a political speech writer during the 1990s.
Recognition
She also has been awarded the Queen's "
Silver Jubilee Medal" for services to the theatre on the Britannia and has recently completed an Arts degree from
National Institute of Dramatic Art
The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) is an Australian educational institution for the performing arts based in Sydney, New South Wales. Founded in 1958, it offers bachelor's, master's and vocational degrees in subjects including acting ...
.
Personal life
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
Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi (born 5 October 1952) is a Pakistani politician, philanthropist, and former cricketer who served as the 19th prime minister of Pakistan from August 2018 until April 2022. He was the founder of the political party Pak ...
.
Filmography
Film
Television
Video game
Theatre
Bibliography
*
*
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzpatrick, Kate
Australian television actresses
Actresses from Perth, Western Australia
Living people
1947 births
National Institute of Dramatic Art alumni