Gina Riley (born 6 May 1961) is a retired Australian actress, writer, singer and comedian, known for portraying Kim Craig in the television series Kath & Kim, and for her work in musical theatre.
Gina Riley | |
|---|---|
 Riley in character as Kim Craig at the Kath & Kimderella film premiere in August 2012 | |
| Born | 6 May 1961 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Actress Writer Comedian Singer |
| Years active | 1983–2022 |
| Spouse | Rick McKenna |
| Children | 1 |
Television and film
editRiley became a popular television performer in the sketch shows Fast Forward, its successor Full Frontal, Big Girl's Blouse and Something Stupid.[1] In the latter she was also a producer and writer. On Fast Forward, Gina Riley sent-up such singers as Tina Arena, Paula Abdul, Bette Midler, Sinéad O'Connor and Dannii Minogue as well as Australian personalities Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Jacki MacDonald. She later appeared in The Games, a spoof behind-the-scenes look at the organising committee of the Sydney Olympics.[2]
She has enjoyed great success as Kim Craig in Kath & Kim, written and created by Riley and her long-time writing partner and friend Jane Turner. Riley also works frequently with Magda Szubanski.[3]
Riley starred as Kim in the Kath and Kim feature film Kath & Kimderella. The film opened in Australia on 6 September 2012 and despite negative reviews from critics it was a box office success having grossed $6,150,771.
In 2015, Riley appeared in an episode of Please Like Me.
Stage
editIn 1987, she played the part of 'Chrissie' (loosely based on rock singer Chrissy Amphlett) in Phil Motherwell's musical play Fitzroy Crossing which enjoyed successful seasons and rave reviews at LaMama Theatre, in Carlton, Victoria. The music for the play was composed by Joe Dolce.[citation needed]
Riley also had roles in musical theatre.[4] In 1992 and 1993, she appeared on stage as Janet in The New Rocky Horror Show; she is included on the cast album. In 1994, she played Trina in Sydney Theatre Company's production of Falsettos, winning a Green Room Award for its Melbourne season. In 1998, she played The Baker's Wife in a Melbourne Theatre Company production of Into the Woods. In 2009, she played Matron "Mama" Morton in a production of Chicago.[5]
In 2019, Riley starred as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street opposite Anthony Warlow.[6]
Personal life
editRiley is married to Rick McKenna. They are parents to Max McKenna (born 1996) a singer and actor who portrayed Muriel in the original Sydney production of Muriel's Wedding in 2017 and starred as Zoe Murphy in the Dear Evan Hansen US National Tour in 2018.[7] Max identifies as trans non-binary.[8]
In March 2013 Riley revealed she was being treated for breast cancer. It was later reported that she has since made a full recovery.[9][10]
Riley makes relatively few public appearances as herself. One notable exception was on Enough Rope with Andrew Denton, where she and Turner both appeared as themselves.[11]
Filmography
edit(as performer)
| Title | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|
| The Sullivans (TV series) | 1983 | Elsie |
| Six of the Best (TV series) | 1984 | Sal |
| While You're Down There (TV series) | 1986 | Various |
| Just Us | 1986 | Cathy |
| 100% Wool | 1986 | Therese |
| Acropolis Now (TV series) | 1990 | Demi Cashimedes |
| Fast Forward | 1990-1992 | Various |
| Bligh (TV series) | 1992 | Elizabeth Macarthur |
| A Royal Commission into the Australian Economy (TV movie) | 1992 | Peter Harvey |
| Full Frontal (TV series) | 1993 | Guest performer |
| The Making of Nothing (TV movie) | 1993 | Lyndall Roberts |
| Big Girl's Blouse (TV series) | 1994 | Various |
| Something Stupid (TV series) | 1998 | Various |
| The Games (TV series) | 1998-2000 | Gina |
| The Bob Downe Show | 2000-2003 | Coralee Hollow |
| Kath & Kim (TV series) | 2002-2007 | Kimberly "Kim" Day Craig/Trude/Robyn Nevinish |
| Bad Eggs | 2003 | AMW Host |
| Da Kath & Kim Code (TV movie) | 2005 | Kim Craig/Trude |
| Little Britain: Down Under (TV movie documentary) | 2007 | Kim Day Craig |
| Kath & Kimderella (feature film) | 2012 | Kim Craig (nee Day)/Trude |
| Kath & Kim Kountdown | 2013 | Kim Craig |
| Holding the Man | 2015 | Popcorn seller (uncredited) |
| Open Slather (TV series) | 2015 | Various |
| The Beautiful Lie (TV miniseries) | 2015 | Catherine Ballantyne |
| Please Like Me (TV series) | 2015-2016 | Donna |
| How to Life (TV series) | 2017 | Charlotte Shelton |
| Our Effluent Life: Kath and Kim (TV miniseries) | 2022 | Kim Craig |
References
edit- ^ Turner, Tonya: Gina Riley leaves Kim for a spell in Chicago, The Courier-Mail, 5 December 2008.
- ^ The Games: Complete Series, The Games (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).
- ^ Quinn, Karl: The Magda carta, The Age, 14 September 2003.
- ^ AusStage - Gina Riley AusStage. Retrieved 22 February 2015
- ^ "Gina Riley leaves Kim for a spell in Chicago". news.com.au.
- ^ "TEG Life Like Company – Sweeney Todd starring Anthony Warlow & Gina Riley". Retrieved 22 June 2019.
- ^ "Australia's Maggie McKenna Completes Cast of DEAR EVAN HANSEN Tour Taking on the Role of Zoe".
- ^ "Melbourne's most well-known nepo babies".
- ^ "Kath & Kim star battling cancer". 3 News NZ. 19 March 2013. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
- ^ Coster, Alice (28 December 2020). "Jane Turner jumps to it for Melbourne Theatre Company". Herald Sun.
- ^ Jane Turner and Gina Riley (Kath and Kim), Enough Rope with Andrew Denton, ABC TV, 28 July 2003.
External links
edit- Gina Riley at IMDb
- Look at moi: The many faces of Gina Riley Archived 30 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine (photo gallery), The Sydney Morning Herald