Gina Riley
Encyclopedia
Gina Riley is an Australian actress, writer, singer and comedian.
Riley became a popular television performer in the sketch shows Fast Forward, its successor Full Frontal
, Big Girl's Blouse
and Something Stupid
. In the latter she was also a producer and writer. On Fast Forward, Gina Riley sent-up such singers as Paula Abdul
, Bette Midler
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
.
Recently she has enjoyed great success as Kim Craig and Trude in Kath & Kim
, written, produced and created by Riley and her long-time writing partner and friend Jane Turner
. Riley also works frequently with Magda Szubanski
.
In contrast to the rest of her cast (such as Glenn Robbins
, Peter Rowsthorn and Magda Szubanski
), Riley makes relatively few public appearances as herself. Most of the time she appears in character as Kim, with Jane Turner. One notable exception was on Enough Rope
with Andrew Denton
, where she and Turner both appeared as themselves.
Riley has also had some roles in musical theatre. One notable role was as the baker's wife in a 1998 Australian Melbourne Theatre Company
production of Into the Woods
. She also appeared on stage as Janet in The New Rocky Horror Show
; she is included on the cast album. In 2009, she played the part of Matron "Mama" Morton in a production of Chicago
.
Riley became a popular television performer in the sketch shows Fast Forward, its successor Full Frontal
Full Frontal (TV series)
Full Frontal was an Australian sketch comedy series which debuted in 1993. The show first aired on the Seven Network on 13 May 1993, and finished on 18 September 1997....
, Big Girl's Blouse
Big Girl's Blouse
Big Girl's Blouse is an Australian skit program that aired in the mid-1990s on the Seven Network. The show was created by Gina Riley, Jane Turner and Magda Szubanski who all went on to star in Kath & Kim. There were four one-hour episodes, plus the pilot, which are usually shown as eight half-hour...
and Something Stupid
Something Stupid
Something Stupid was a short-lived Australian sketch comedy series which aired in 1998 on the Seven Network. The program was produced, written and performed by much the same team that was behind the Fast Forward series...
. In the latter she was also a producer and writer. On Fast Forward, Gina Riley sent-up such singers as Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
, Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
and Dannii Minogue
Dannii Minogue
Danielle Jane "Dannii" Minogue is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress, television personality, radio personality, fashion designer and model...
as well as Australian personalities Kerri-Anne Kennerley
Kerri-Anne Kennerley
Kerri-Anne Wright Kennerley is an Australian television personality. She is one of Australia's most seasoned light entertainment hosts...
and Jacki MacDonald
Jacki MacDonald
Jacki MacDonald is a former Australian television personality.-Career:...
. She later appeared in The Games, a spoof behind-the-scenes look at the organising committee of the Sydney Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
.
Recently she has enjoyed great success as Kim Craig and Trude in Kath & Kim
Kath & Kim
Kath & Kim is a Logie Award-winning character-driven Australian television situation comedy series. The series was created by, and is written by Jane Turner and Gina Riley who play the title characters: a suburban mother and daughter with a dysfunctional relationship...
, written, produced and created by Riley and her long-time writing partner and friend Jane Turner
Jane Turner
Jane Turner is an Australian actress, comedian and Logie Award winning comedy writer.Turner has appeared in many popular Australian TV programs, namely Prisoner in a straight dramatic role, with comedy roles in sketch comedy programs The D-Generation, Fast Forward, Full Frontal, Big Girl's Blouse...
. Riley also works frequently with Magda Szubanski
Magda Szubanski
Magda Szubanski is a British-born Australian actress, comedian, television presenter, radio host and author.Szubanski's career began while she was studying at university and she progressed to television sketch comedy, as both a writer and performer...
.
In contrast to the rest of her cast (such as Glenn Robbins
Glenn Robbins
Glenn Maxwell Robbins is an Australian comedian, writer and actor.Robbins attended Strathmore Secondary College and graduated in 1975...
, Peter Rowsthorn and Magda Szubanski
Magda Szubanski
Magda Szubanski is a British-born Australian actress, comedian, television presenter, radio host and author.Szubanski's career began while she was studying at university and she progressed to television sketch comedy, as both a writer and performer...
), Riley makes relatively few public appearances as herself. Most of the time she appears in character as Kim, with Jane Turner. One notable exception was on Enough Rope
Enough Rope
Enough Rope with Andrew Denton is a television interview show originally broadcast on ABC Television in Australia...
with Andrew Denton
Andrew Denton
Andrew Christopher Denton is an Australian television producer, comedian, Gold Logie-nominated television presenter and former radio host, and was the host of the ABC's weekly television interview program Enough Rope. He is known for his comedy and interviewing technique...
, where she and Turner both appeared as themselves.
Riley has also had some roles in musical theatre. One notable role was as the baker's wife in a 1998 Australian Melbourne Theatre Company
Melbourne Theatre Company
The Melbourne Theatre Company is a theatre company based in Melbourne. Founded in 1953, it is the oldest professional theatre company in Australia, and has its own theatre, The MTC Theatre – which houses the 500-seat Sumner Theatre and the 150-seat Lawler Studio – located in Melbourne's Arts...
production of Into the Woods
Into the Woods
Into the Woods is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986, and premiered on Broadway in 1987. Bernadette Peters' performance as the Witch and Joanna Gleason's portrayal of the Baker's Wife brought acclaim...
. She also appeared on stage as Janet in The New Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the 1975 film adaptation of the British rock musical stageplay, The Rocky Horror Show, written by Richard O'Brien. The film is a parody of B-movie, science fiction and horror films of the late 1940s through early 1970s. Director Jim Sharman collaborated on the...
; she is included on the cast album. In 2009, she played the part of Matron "Mama" Morton in a production of Chicago
Chicago (musical)
Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"...
.
External links
- Look at moi: The many faces of Gina Riley (photo gallery), The Sydney Morning HeraldThe Sydney Morning HeraldThe Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...