Gina Riley

Gina Riley (born 6 May 1961) is an Australian retired actress, writer, singer and comedian, known for portraying Kim Craig in the television series Kath & Kim, and for her work in musical theatre.

Career

Television and film 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 satirised 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.

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.

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, grossing $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.

Stage 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.

Riley also had roles in musical theatre. 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.

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

Personal life 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.

In March 2013, Riley revealed she was being treated for breast cancer. It was later reported that she made a full recovery.

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.

Filmography

Television Year Title RoleNotes 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 YearTitleRoleNotes 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 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 STCWon 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