Kym Wilson

Kym Wilson (born 1 April 1973) is an Australian actress and former television host. Her breakout role was that of Rosemary Fitzgerald in the 1991 miniseries Brides of Christ, which earned her the Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent. She played Darcy Hudson in A Country Practice from 1991 until the series' cancellation in 1993. She then took on the recurring role of Sam Robinson in Heartbreak High. Wilson co-hosted the music program Video Smash Hits from 1992 to 1994. Further roles included Tess McLeod in the McLeod's Daughters television film, Charlotte Holloway in The Man from Snowy River and Raelene Gregson in All Saints. Wilson has also appeared in several theatre productions, including The Crucible and Blackrock.

Early life Wilson was born in Brisbane on 1 April 1973. She attended singing and dance classes from a young age. When she was six years old, she acquired an agent and she later appeared in television commercials. At the age of eight, her family moved to Sydney. She attended Stella Maris College in Manly. Wilson left school during Year 11 to pursue an acting career.

Career Wilson made her television debut playing a minor role in the 1985 miniseries Professor Poopsnagle's Steam Zeppelin opposite Justine Clarke when she was 11 years old.

Wilson appeared in the Sydney Theatre Company's 1991 production of The Crucible, before joining the main cast of medical drama A Country Practice as Darcy Hudson in 1991. She replaced Emily Symons as co-host of the music program Video Smash Hits from 25 January 1992 until 1994. After A Country Practice ended in 1993, she had a three month recurring role as teacher Sam Robinson in Heartbreak High. She also filmed a role in miniseries The Man from Snowy River and appeared in David Williamson's play Brilliant Lies.

In 1995, Wilson co-founded the theatrical production company Pork Chop Productions with her then-boyfriend Jeremy Sims. The company staged a production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead at the Belvoir street theatre, which Wilson produced and Sims directed and starred as Guildenstern. She also starred as Rachel in the Sydney Theatre Company's first production of Nick Enright's play Blackrock, before taking the role of "streetwise" Tiffany in 1996. Wilson appeared in the 1996 Australian film Inner Sanctuary, and had a starring role as Tess McLeod in the original McLeod's Daughters telefilm. She made a guest appearance in an episode of Water Rats in February 1997.

In April 1998, Wilson appeared in the guest role of Raelene in All Saints. She also starred in Geoffrey Brown's thriller film Reflections. Midway through 1998, Wilson relocated to the United States and she undertook a three-month acting scholarship assisted by the Winston Churchill Fellowship. She undertook studies at a Shakespearian company in Massachusetts, and the Moscow Art Theatre at Harvard. Wilson appeared nude on the cover of the May 1999 edition of Australian Playboy. She had previously appeared semi-naked in the first issue of Black+White magazine in 1992.

In 2001, Wilson appeared in a Brisbane stage production of Secret Bridesmaids' Business. She provided voice acting for the 2002 video game Ty the Tasmanian Tiger and its 2004 and 2005 sequels.

She took a hiatus from acting to work as the LA-based business partner of Sydney fashion designer Leona Edmiston. She enjoyed the experience but realised that acting was still her passion. They performed in Sydney and Melbourne and appeared live on Tonight Live with Steve Vizard, but disbanded in 1992, without recording. A book about the band, Honky Tonk Angels: An Illustrated History was written by Carmen in 2011.

Personal life Wilson began a relationship with fellow Australian actor and director Jeremy Sims in late 1991. They met through her Brides of Christ co-star Josephine Byrnes and got to know one another at a charity flower show. They appeared together in a production of Love Letters at the Sydney Opera House in April 1992.

In November 1997, Wilson and her then-boyfriend, Sydney barrister Andrew Reyment were the last people to see INXS frontman Michael Hutchence alive, after they had visited him in his hotel 10 hours before his death.

Wilson married her partner of ten years, Canadian screenwriter Sean O'Byrne on 9 October 2009.

As of 2008, Wilson was a board member of Australians in Film, based in Los Angeles.

Acting credits

Film Year Title Role Notes 1991 Flirting Melissa Miles 1996 Inner Sanctuary Fiona 1998 Reflections Beth Owens 2010 He She We Cynthia Short 2017 Treehouse Laura Short 2017 Weekend Getaway Blythe Short 2018 Haunted, Horrifying Sounds from Beyond the Grave Wendy Stockdotter Short 2018 Black Knuckle and Deputy Maltese Sheriff Schaefer Short 2019 Reborn Valerie Short

Television

Theatre Year Title Role

Awards and nominations Year AssociationCategory Work Result 1992 Logie Awards Most Popular New Talent Brides of Christ 1993 Most Popular Actress A Country Practice 1994 Most Popular Actress 2016 Stage Scene LA Award Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Speaking in Tongues 2019 Independent Shorts Awards Best Supporting Actress Erin