Rebecca Rigg
Encyclopedia
Rebecca Rigg is an Australian actress. She was once best known by Australian audiences as the bratty but troubled teenager, Gabrielle "Gabe" Baker, in the 1980s drama series A Country Practice
.
, Queensland, Australia.
Her Australian television appearances include the television series Rafferty's Rules
(in which she appeared as the daughter of the Magistrate, Michael Rafferty); the television special Joh's Jury (as one of the jurors), as well as a starring role in the Australian comedy television series Willing and Abel
(in which she appeared as "Angela Reddy"). She also appeared in the television mini-series
Emma, Queen of the South Seas. She made guest appearances in other Australian television series, including The Flying Doctors
, G. P.
, Blue Heelers
and Winners – Quest beyond Time.
Rigg also had a role as Nurse Amy as part of the Mr Bad storyline on hugely popular Australian soap – E Street
– where she met future husband Simon Baker
who was also a cast member. As a young girl she was also in the Australian film Fortress
, which was about the kidnapping of a teacher (played by Rachel Ward
) and a small class of students.
In the United States, Rigg appeared in the series Michael Hayes
, in which she had an ongoing role as United States Attorney Lindsay Straus. She also appeared in the American television series L.A. Doctors
as Kelly Newman.
Rebecca recently appeared in a movie, Ellie Parker
, with fellow actress Naomi Watts
.
Her husband stated during an interview on The View that Rigg attended the same high school in Sydney as film star Nicole Kidman
and that Kidman is godmother
to their youngest child, Harry. Fellow Australian actress, Naomi Watts
is reportedly godmother to another of Simon and Rebecca's children.
A Country Practice
A Country Practice is an Australian television drama series. One of the longest-running of its kind, produced by James Davern of JNP Productions, it ran on the Seven Network for 1,058 episodes from 18 November 1981 to 22 November 1993. It was produced in ATN-7's production facility at Epping,...
.
Early life and career
Rigg was born in the Gold CoastGold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
, Queensland, Australia.
Her Australian television appearances include the television series Rafferty's Rules
Rafferty's Rules
Rafferty's Rules was an Australian television drama series which ran from 1987 to 1990 on the Seven Network.The producers of the series were Posie Graeme-Evans , and Denis Phelen. The directors were Graham Thorburn, Mike Smith and Russell Webb...
(in which she appeared as the daughter of the Magistrate, Michael Rafferty); the television special Joh's Jury (as one of the jurors), as well as a starring role in the Australian comedy television series Willing and Abel
Willing and Abel
Willing and Abel is an Australian television comedy series which was made in 1987, about two handymen.The main cast were Grant Dodwell as "Charles Willing", Shane Withington as "Abel Moore", and Rebecca Rigg as "Angela Reddy"....
(in which she appeared as "Angela Reddy"). She also appeared in the television mini-series
Emma, Queen of the South Seas. She made guest appearances in other Australian television series, including The Flying Doctors
The Flying Doctors
The Flying Doctors is an Australian drama series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday lifesaving efforts of the real Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia....
, G. P.
G. P.
G.P. was an Australian television series produced by Roadshow, Coote & Carroll for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation between 1989 and 1996.The series was set around a general medical practice in an inner-city suburb...
, Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :...
and Winners – Quest beyond Time.
Rigg also had a role as Nurse Amy as part of the Mr Bad storyline on hugely popular Australian soap – E Street
E Street
E Street is an Australian television soap opera created by Forrest Redlich and produced by the Ten Network from 1989 to 1993.Whereas Neighbours is set in a middle-class suburb, Home and Away in a seaside town, and Richmond Hill a semi-rural ordinary community, E Street was set in a tough inner-city...
– where she met future husband Simon Baker
Simon Baker
Simon Baker is an Australian actor. Since 2008, he has starred in the CBS television series The Mentalist.-Early life:...
who was also a cast member. As a young girl she was also in the Australian film Fortress
Fortress (1986 film)
Fortress is a 1986 film directed by Arch Nicholson and written by Everett De Roche. It is based on Gabrielle Lord's novel of the same name, which was loosely based on the 1972 Faraday School Kidnapping....
, which was about the kidnapping of a teacher (played by Rachel Ward
Rachel Ward
Rachel Claire Ward, AM is a British actress, columnist, film director, and screenwriter who has primarily pursued her career in Australia.-Early life:...
) and a small class of students.
In the United States, Rigg appeared in the series Michael Hayes
Michael Hayes (TV series)
Michael Hayes was a TV series that ran on CBS from 1997 to 1998. It starred David Caruso and Ruben Santiago-Hudson.This series spotlighting surveys Michael Hayes, a former policeman became Deputy Prosecutor of the City of New York....
, in which she had an ongoing role as United States Attorney Lindsay Straus. She also appeared in the American television series L.A. Doctors
L.A. Doctors
L.A. Doctors was an American medical drama television series set in a Los Angeles practice. It ran on CBS during the 1998-99 season.-Premise:...
as Kelly Newman.
Rebecca recently appeared in a movie, Ellie Parker
Ellie Parker
Ellie Parker is a 2005 American drama film, written and directed by Scott Coffey. The title character, played by Naomi Watts, is a young woman struggling as an actress in Los Angeles....
, with fellow actress Naomi Watts
Naomi Watts
Naomi Ellen Watts is a British actress. Watts began her career in Australian television, where she appeared in series such as Hey Dad..! , Brides of Christ , and Home and Away . Her film debut was the 1986 drama For Love Alone...
.
Personal life
Simon Baker and Rebecca Rigg married in 1998 and have three children. They moved back to Sydney from Malibu where they had been living for a number of years.Her husband stated during an interview on The View that Rigg attended the same high school in Sydney as film star Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Mary Kidman, AC is an American-born Australian actress, singer, film producer, spokesmodel, and humanitarian. After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, Kidman's breakthrough was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm...
and that Kidman is godmother
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
to their youngest child, Harry. Fellow Australian actress, Naomi Watts
Naomi Watts
Naomi Ellen Watts is a British actress. Watts began her career in Australian television, where she appeared in series such as Hey Dad..! , Brides of Christ , and Home and Away . Her film debut was the 1986 drama For Love Alone...
is reportedly godmother to another of Simon and Rebecca's children.
Films
- Fatty Finn – 1980
- Doctors and Nurses – 1981
- Monkey GripMonkey Grip (film)Monkey Grip is a 1982 Australian drama film directed by Ken Cameron. It is based on the novel, also titled Monkey Grip, by Helen Garner...
– 1982 - FortressFortress (1986 film)Fortress is a 1986 film directed by Arch Nicholson and written by Everett De Roche. It is based on Gabrielle Lord's novel of the same name, which was loosely based on the 1972 Faraday School Kidnapping....
– 1986 - Raw NerveRaw Nerve (1991 film)Raw Nerve is a 1991 film directed and written by David A. Prior. The film stars Glenn Ford in his final film role, Jan-Michael Vincent and Traci Lords.-Plot:...
– 1991 - The Lonely Ones – 1989
- Hunting – 1991
- SpotswoodSpotswood (film)Spotswood is an Australian comedy film directed by Mark Joffe, made in 1990-1991, released in 1992 in some locations. It is also known as The Efficiency Expert in America....
– 1991 - My Forgotten Man – 1993
- Ellie ParkerEllie ParkerEllie Parker is a 2005 American drama film, written and directed by Scott Coffey. The title character, played by Naomi Watts, is a young woman struggling as an actress in Los Angeles....
– 2005
Australian television
- The Restless YearsThe Restless YearsThe Restless Years is an Australian soap opera which followed the lives of several Sydney school-leavers and young adults. It was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation for Network Ten. It debuted December 1977 and ran until late 1981. It was not renewed by the network due to declining ratings...
– 1981–1982 - The Grahame Bond TV Special – 1982
- A Country PracticeA Country PracticeA Country Practice is an Australian television drama series. One of the longest-running of its kind, produced by James Davern of JNP Productions, it ran on the Seven Network for 1,058 episodes from 18 November 1981 to 22 November 1993. It was produced in ATN-7's production facility at Epping,...
– 1983–1984 - The Great Bookie Robbery (miniseries) – 1986
- Willing and AbelWilling and AbelWilling and Abel is an Australian television comedy series which was made in 1987, about two handymen.The main cast were Grant Dodwell as "Charles Willing", Shane Withington as "Abel Moore", and Rebecca Rigg as "Angela Reddy"....
– 1987 - Emma, Queen of the South Seas (miniseries) – 1988
- E StreetE StreetE Street is an Australian television soap opera created by Forrest Redlich and produced by the Ten Network from 1989 to 1993.Whereas Neighbours is set in a middle-class suburb, Home and Away in a seaside town, and Richmond Hill a semi-rural ordinary community, E Street was set in a tough inner-city...
– 1990 - Blue HeelersBlue HeelersBlue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :...
– 1996
American television
- Michael HayesMichael Hayes (TV series)Michael Hayes was a TV series that ran on CBS from 1997 to 1998. It starred David Caruso and Ruben Santiago-Hudson.This series spotlighting surveys Michael Hayes, a former policeman became Deputy Prosecutor of the City of New York....
- L.A. DoctorsL.A. DoctorsL.A. Doctors was an American medical drama television series set in a Los Angeles practice. It ran on CBS during the 1998-99 season.-Premise:...
- The MentalistThe MentalistThe Mentalist is an American police procedural television series which debuted on September 23, 2008, on CBS. The show was created by Bruno Heller, who is also the show's executive producer...
Awards and nominations
- 1981: Aged 13, Rebecca Rigg was nominated for an AFI awardAustralian Film Institute AwardsThe Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the film Fatty FinnFatty FinnFatty Finn is a 1980 Australian film, directed by Maurice Murphy and starring Ben Oxenbould with Rebecca Rigg. It is based on the 1930s cartoon-strip character, Fatty Finn, created by Syd Nicholls and is loosely based on the 1927 silent fim, The Kid Stakes.-Plot:Set in inner-city Woolloomooloo in...
.
Further reading
- The Australian Film and Television Companion – compiled by Tony Harrison – Simon & Schuster Australia, 1994
External links
- Rebecca Rigg – "A Country Practice" cast's actor filmographies
- Rebecca Rigg – Australian Film Commission website