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Gina Riley

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Gina Riley
Riley in character as Kim Craig at the Kath & Kimderella film premiere in August 2012
Born (1961-05-06) 6 May 1961 (age 63)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation(s)Actress
Writer
Comedian
Singer
Years active1983–2022
SpouseRick McKenna
Children1

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.


Career

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Television and film

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Riley 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.

In 2022, Riley appeared alongside members of the cast in a Kath and Kim special that screened on Channel 7, which included new skits and unseen footage from the series.[4]

Stage

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In 1987, Riley 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.[5] 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.[6]

In 2019, Riley starred as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street opposite Anthony Warlow.[7]

Personal life

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Riley 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.[8] Max identifies as trans non-binary.[9]

In March 2013 Riley revealed she was being treated for breast cancer. It was later reported that she has since made a full recovery.[10][11]

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.[12]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1983 The Sullivans Elsie 2 episodes
1984 Six of the Best Sal
1986 While You're Down There Various 6 episodes
1986 Just Us Cathy TV movie
1990 Acropolis Now Demi Cashimedes 1 episode
1990–1992 Fast Forward Various 68 episodes
1992 Bligh Elizabeth Macarthur 13 episodes
1992 A Royal Commission into the Australian Economy Peter Harvey TV movie
1993 Full Frontal Guest performer 5 episodes
1993 The Making of Nothing Lyndall Roberts TV movie
1994 Big Girl's Blouse Various 9 episodes
1998 Something Stupid Various 6 episodes
1998–2000 The Games Gina 26 episodes
2000–2003 The Bob Downe Show Coralee Hollow 12 episodes
2002–2007 Kath & Kim Kimberly "Kim" Day Craig / Trude / Robyn Nevinish 32 episodes
2005 Da Kath & Kim Code Kim Craig / Trude TV movie
2007 Little Britain: Down Under Kim Day Craig TV movie
2015 Open Slather Various 20 episodes
2015 The Beautiful Lie Catherine Ballantyne Miniseries, 6 episodes
2015–2016 Please Like Me Donna 2 episodes
2017 How to Life Charlotte Shelton 2 episodes
2022 Fisk Maureen MacIntyre 1 episode
2022 Our Effluent Life: Kath and Kim Kim Craig Miniseries, 2 episodes

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1986 100% Wool Therese
2003 Bad Eggs AMW Host Feature film
2012 Kath & Kimderella Kim Craig (nee Day) / Trude Feature film
2013 Kath & Kim Kountdown Kim Craig
2015 Holding the Man Popcorn seller (uncredited) Feature film

Stage

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Year Title Role Notes
1980 Cain's Hand Scott Theatre, Adelaide, St Martins Youth Arts Centre, Melbourne
1980 Slipped Disco Jean The Flying Trapeze Cafe, Melbourne
1981 When Lips Collide Ita Playbox Theatre, Melbourne
1987 Fitzroy Crossing Chrissie La Mama, Melbourne
1988 Dizzy Spells The Last Laugh, Melbourne
1989 Bob and Coralie's Pick a Hit The Last Laugh, Melbourne
1990 A Night of Infectious Laughter Melbourne Athenaeum
1992; 1993 The New Rocky Horror Show Janet Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney
1994 Falsettos Trina Sydney Opera House, Monash University, Melbourne, Canberra Theatre with STC
Won Green Room Award
1994 Mack and Mabel – In Concert State Theatre, Melbourne, State Theatre, Sydney with The Gordon Frost Organisation
1996 Merrily We Roll Along Mary Flynn University of Sydney with STC
1997 Big Hair in America Wanda Universal Theatre, Melbourne with Stable Productions
1998 Into the Woods The Baker's Wife Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC
1999 She Loves Me Ilona Ritter Melbourne Concert Hall with The Production Company
2009 Chicago Matron 'Mama' Morton Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Lyric Theatre, Sydney, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne with The Gordon Frost Organisation
2009 Hats Off! National Theatre, Melbourne
2015 Nice Work if You Can Get It Estonia Dulworth, The Duchess of Woodford State Theatre, Melbourne with The Production Company
2016 North by Northwest Clara Thornhill State Theatre, Melbourne with MTC
2018 An Ideal Husband Lady Markby Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC
2019 Sweeney Todd Mrs. Lovett Darling Harbour Theatre, Sydney, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne with Life Like Company

[13]

References

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  1. ^ Turner, Tonya: Gina Riley leaves Kim for a spell in Chicago, The Courier-Mail, 5 December 2008.
  2. ^ The Games: Complete Series, The Games (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).
  3. ^ Quinn, Karl: The Magda carta, The Age, 14 September 2003.
  4. ^ Riga, Jessica (22 November 2022). "Kath & Kim: Our Effluent Life and 20 Preposterous Years offer up new storylines, rehashed footage while touching on cultural significance - ABC News". amp.abc.net.au. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  5. ^ AusStage - Gina Riley AusStage. Retrieved 22 February 2015
  6. ^ "Gina Riley leaves Kim for a spell in Chicago". news.com.au.
  7. ^ "TEG Life Like Company – Sweeney Todd starring Anthony Warlow & Gina Riley". Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  8. ^ "Australia's Maggie McKenna Completes Cast of DEAR EVAN HANSEN Tour Taking on the Role of Zoe".
  9. ^ "Melbourne's most well-known nepo babies".
  10. ^ "Kath & Kim star battling cancer". 3 News NZ. 19 March 2013. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  11. ^ Coster, Alice (28 December 2020). "Jane Turner jumps to it for Melbourne Theatre Company". Herald Sun.
  12. ^ Jane Turner and Gina Riley (Kath and Kim), Enough Rope with Andrew Denton, ABC TV, 28 July 2003.
  13. ^ "Gina Riley". AusStage.
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