Kate Atkinson (actress)

Kate Atkinson
Born (1972-06-28) 28 June 1972
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
OccupationsActress, voice artist, theatre actor
Years active1994–present
Notable workWentworth
SeaChange
Offspring
Underbelly: Vanishing Act
Height160 cm (5 ft 3 in)

Kate Atkinson (born 28 June 1972)[1] is an Australian film, television and theatre actress. She is best known for her roles in television series SeaChange[2] as police officer Karen Miller, Offspring as Renee[3] and Wentworth as Vera Bennett.

Early life

Atkinson was born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, on 28 June 1972 to an English mother and Tasmanian father. She was raised in Perth, Western Australia.[1] Her older brother was actor John Atkinson,[4] who died in 2026.

Atkinson studied English at Curtin University in Perth from 1990 to 1993, earning a BA with a double major in theatre and film and television.[1]

Career

Atkinson has had regular roles in the television series Fat Cow Motel, Blue Heelers, The Cooks and Kath & Kim. Her film roles include The Hard Word (2002), Japanese Story (2003) and The Jammed (2007).

From 2010 to 2012, Atkinson had a recurring role in the first three seasons of Offspring, playing Renee, opposite Asher Keddie.

Atkinson notably appeared in the long-running drama Wentworth as Deputy Governor (later Governor) and Industries Manager, Vera Bennett from season 1 in 2013, until the series finale in 2021.[5] She reprised the role in 2020 when the series returned to production for season 8, after the show was renewed. Atkinson appeared in all 100 episodes of the show and was a part of the "100 club", alongside co-stars Jacquie Brennan, Katrina Milosevic and Robbie Magasiva. The "100 club" received a placard for their efforts.[6]

In 2016, Atkinson appeared in a Melbourne Theatre Company production of Lungs.[7] She returned to the MTC in 2017, for its production of Three Little Words.[8]

Atkinson revealed in 2021 that she had planned to walk away from acting altogether before she was offered her role in Wentworth, as she was studying a Masters in International Politics at the time and said "I'll do a season. But I don't know if this thing has legs." She had believed that the show would not last more than a single season.[9]

In March 2022, Channel 9 announced that Atkinson was named as the lead for Underbelly: Vanishing Act as con woman Melissa Caddick. She was cast in the role at the time when Caddick's story was of high public interest and it was announced just weeks after Caddick had disappeared from her home, sparking a manhunt to find her. The miniseries, which aired over two nights, told the story of Caddick's disappearance from a 'what if' angle, as the investigation into her disappearance was still ongoing and Caddick's foot had washed up on a beach some weeks later.[10] After the show went to air Atkinson said "There was still a lot of hurt" for the victims of Caddick's crimes.[11] The show aired to mostly negative reviews, where some labeled the show "in poor taste" and "tacky".[12][13][14]

In September 2022, Atkinson appeared at the "Wentworth Con" fan convention in Melbourne alongside many others in the Wentworth cast. She also appeared frequently for events in the UK.[15]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Trapped Jackie Short film
2002 The Hard Word Pamela Feature film
2003 Japanese Story Jackie Feature film
2007 The Jammed Gabi Feature film
2024 The Hoist Shaz Short film

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref
1996 The Man from Snowy River Biddie O'Brien / Jeannie Drabble Recurring role
1997 Blue Heelers Stacey Cooper / Stacey Norse Recurring role
State Coroner Ilana Summers Episode: "Final Approach"
1998–2000 SeaChange Karen Miller Regular role
2003 Temptation Ruth TV film
Fat Cow Motel Cassie Brown Main role
CrashBurn Deb Wallington Episode: "Seven Letters or Less"
2003 Kath & Kim Clothing Store Assistant Season 2, episode 4
2004 Mother Season 3, episode 2
2004–2005 The Cooks Ruth O'Neill Main role
2006 Doves of War Sophie Morgan 1 episode
Sinchronicity Helena 2 episodes
2009 Rush Freya Season 2, 1 episode
2010 Sleuth 101 Jacqui Episode: "A Tan to Die For"
2010–2012 Offspring Renee Recurring role (seasons 1–3)
2012 Jack Irish: Black Tide Simone Bendtson TV film
2013 The Doctor Blake Mysteries Monica Patterson Episode: "Still Waters"
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Maude Ashmead Episode: "Death Comes Knocking"
2013–2021 Wentworth Vera Bennett Main role, 100 episodes [16]
2016 Molly Mother Miniseries
2016–2021 Jack Irish Simone Regular role [17]
2022 Underbelly: Vanishing Act Melissa Caddick Main role, 2 episodes [18]

Podcasts

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2017 Interrogation Room Self Podcast [19]
2021 Nova 100 Self Podcast / Radio [20]
2022 Isolation Interviews Self Podcast [21]
2022 Hot off the Press Self Podcast [22]

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Serial Killers Simone Derby Playhouse
2007 Romantic Comedy Phoebe Craddock UK tour
2009 Rockabye Julia MTC
2010 Becky Shaw Becky Shaw Echelon
2015 The Waiting Room Sue / Catrina / Robin MTC
2016 Lungs W MTC
2017 Three Little Words Annie MTC
2024 I'm With Her Julia Gillard
2026 A Room With A View Miss Lavish / Mrs Honeychurch Belvoir St [23]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Showcast - Kate Atkinson". Showcast.com.au. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  2. ↑ "Sea Change - Karen Miller". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 30 January 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "Australian Television: Offspring". Australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  4. ↑ Yeap, Sue (28 August 2002). "Viewers vote in DIY drama". The West Australian. Retrieved 19 May 2026 – via australiantelevision.net.
  5. ↑ Pobjie, Ben (25 August 2021). "Kate Atkinson planned to walk away from acting. Wentworth changed that". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  6. ↑ Knox, David (7 September 2020). "Wentworth wraps filming". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  7. ↑ Wilson, Sean (5 February 2016). "Wentworth's Kate Atkinson talks about performing in Lungs at Arts Centre Melbourne". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  8. ↑ Woodhead, Cameron (23 April 2017). "Three Little Words: A misery-go-round caught between comedy and contemplation". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  9. ↑ Pobjie, Ben (25 August 2021). "Kate Atkinson planned to walk away from acting. Wentworth changed that". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  10. ↑ Vnuk, Helen (27 March 2022). "EXCLUSIVE: Kate Atkinson reveals the toughest part of playing alleged conwoman Melissa Caddick on Underbelly: Vanishing Act". Now to Love. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  11. ↑ "Kate Atkinson on playing Melissa Caddick in Underbelly: Vanishing Act". www.nine.com.au. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  12. ↑ Van Homrigh, Mitchell (5 April 2022). "The first episode of Melissa Caddick's Underbelly has been slammed". News.com.au. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  13. ↑ Van Hormigh, Mitchell (5 April 2022). "Latest season of Underbelly sparks crazy Melissa Caddick theories". News.com.au. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  14. ↑ Jack, Amberleigh (19 August 2022). "TV's Underbelly take on Melissa Caddick mystery in poor taste and too soon". Stuff. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  15. ↑ "The Wentworth community is very strong". TV Tonight. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  16. ↑ "Australian Television: Wentworth". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  17. ↑ "Australian Television: Jack Irish". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  18. ↑ "Australian Television: Underbelly: Vanishing Act [Part 1]". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  19. ↑ Wentworth France (25 June 2017). Wentworth S5; Kate atkinson (Vera Bennett) Interviews. Retrieved 22 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  20. ↑ Natasha Graver (11 October 2021). Kate Atkinson's Interview with the Chrissie, Sam & Browny show on Nova 100 (Melbourne). Retrieved 22 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  21. ↑ Matthew Rolland (17 January 2022). Isolation Interviews Episode 119 (Kate Atkinson). Retrieved 22 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  22. ↑ SCREEN STAR EVENTS (12 March 2022). Wentworth Live Chat with Pamela Rabe and Kate Atkinson. Retrieved 22 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  23. ↑ "A Room with a View". Belvoir St Theatre. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
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