Kate Kendall

Kate Kendall is a British-born Australian actress and director. She played Angie Piper in the long-running Nine Network Australian drama Stingers from 1998 to 2004. Kendall has appeared in television series The Librarians, Rush (2010) and Conspiracy 365. She joined the cast of television soap opera Neighbours in 2013 as Lauren Turner. After leaving the role in 2017, Kendall became a director, and later producer, on the serial.

Early life and education Kendall was born in England and moved to Australia with her family when she was six months old. Her father, David Kendall, was prominent in the Pram Factory and La Mama Theatres in Melbourne, and, after moving to Adelaide, with the State Theatre Company of South Australia (STCSA) in the 1980s. In Adelaide, he also headed the new acting course at the Centre for Performing Arts (CPA) (now the Adelaide College of the Arts) in 1987.

Kate studied at the CPA in Adelaide. before scoring a guest role as Rosie Burgess in Blue Heelers in 1997. Her breakthrough television role was as Angie Piper in Stingers, a role she played for 192 episodes from 1998 to 2004.

Kendall played a minor role as Lisa in 2007 American miniseries The Starter Wife and the same year, appeared in three episodes of comedy series The Librarians, as Jacinta McSweeney. Kendall appeared on the Australian police drama Rush in 2010. She then played Emily Ormond in the twelve-part drama series Conspiracy 365, which was based on the book of the same name.

Kendall took over the role of Lauren Turner on Neighbours in 2013. As she was wrapping up the role of Lauren in 2017, she began directing small scenes. She has since directed numerous episodes of the series. In June 2020, it was announced that Kendall would become a producer. She covered for series producer Natalie Lynch, while she was on maternity leave. David Knox of TV Tonight believed Kendall was the show's first actor, director, producer. On 21 July 2025, it was announced that she would be a director for a new co-commission alongside Herbison, called Imposter.

Personal life Kendall married former Carlton Football Club AFL player Wayne Johnston and has a son and four stepchildren.

She enjoys horse-riding and is a fan of country music and cricket. She was a supporter of Greenpeace.

As director Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2010 Marcel & Albertine Director Alliance Francaise, Melbourne with Stork Theatre 2014 Neighbours Equity Ensemble Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series 2020 Neighbours Australian Directors' Guild Award Best Director of TV or SVOD Drama Serial