Kate Atkinson (actress)

Kate Atkinson (born 28 June 1972)^[1] is an Australian film, television and theatre actress. She is best known for her roles on television series SeaChange^[2] as police officer Karen Miller and Offspring as Renee.^[3] From 2013 to 2021 she appeared in a regular role in Wentworth as Deputy Governor (later Governor) and Industries Manager Vera Bennett.

Kate Atkinson
Born	(1972-06-28) 28 June 1972 (age 52) Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Australia
Occupation(s)	Actress, voice artist, theatre actor
Years active	1994–present
Notable work	Wentworth, SeaChange, Underbelly: Vanishing Act
Height	160 cm (5 ft 3 in)

Atkinson has also had regular roles in the television series Fat Cow Motel, Blue Heelers, The Cooks and Kath & Kim. Film roles include Japanese Story, The Hard Word and The Jammed.

Biography

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. She 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]

Atkinson appeared in the long-running drama Wentworth as Vera Bennett from series 1 to the finale in 2021.^[4] She reprised the role in 2020 when the series returned to production for series 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" would receive a placard for their efforts.^[5] 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." As she had believed the show would not last more than a single season.^[6]

In March 2022 Channel 9 had announced that Atkinson was named as the lead for Underbelly: Vanishing Act as con woman Melissa Caddick. She was cast in the role as Caddick's story was of high public interest at the time and it was announced just weeks after Caddick had disappeared from her home, sparking a manhunt to find her. The mini series, 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.^[7] After the show went to air Atkinson said "There was still a lot of hurt" for the victims of Caddick's crimes.^[8] The show aired to mostly negative reviews, where some labeled the show 'in poor taste' and 'tacky'.^[9][10][11]

In September 2022 Atkinson appeared at the "Wentworth Con" fan convention in Melbourne alongside many others in the Wentworth cast and she also appeared frequently for events in the UK.^[12]

Filmography

Film

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

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	"Final Approach"
1998–2000	SeaChange	Karen Miller	Regular role
2003	Temptation	Ruth	TV film
	Fat Cow Motel	Cassie Brown	Main role
	CrashBurn	Deb Wallington	"Seven Letters or Less"
2003	Kath & Kim	Clothing Store Assistant	Series 2, Episode 4
2004		Mother	Series 3, Episode 2
2004–05	The Cooks	Ruth O'Neill	Main role
2006	Doves of War	Sophie Morgan	"1.6"
	Sinchronicity	Helena	"1.5", "1.6"
2009	Rush	Freya	"2.22"
2010	Sleuth 101	Jacqui	"A Tan to Die For"
2010–2012	Offspring	Renee	Recurring role (series 1–3)
2012	Jack Irish: Black Tide	Simone Bendtson	TV film
2013	The Doctor Blake Mysteries	Monica Patterson	"Still Waters"
	Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries	Maude Ashmead	"Death Comes Knocking"
2013–2021	Wentworth	Vera Bennett	Main role 100 episodes	[13]
2016	Molly	Mother	TV miniseries
2016–2021	Jack Irish	Simone	Regular role	[14]
2022	Underbelly: Vanishing Act	Melissa Caddick	Main role, 2 episodes	[15]

Other appearances

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref
2022	Isolation Interviews	Self	Podcast	[16]
2022	Hot off the Press	Self	Podcast	[17]
2021	Nova 100	Self	Podcast / Radio	[18]
	Wentworth Unlocked	Self	TV special	[19][20]
2020	Wentworth: Behind the Bars 2	Self	TV special	[21]
2019	Wentworth: Behind the Bars	Self	TV special
2017	Interrogation Room	Self	Podcast	[22]

Stage

In 2016 Atkinson appeared in Melbourne Theatre Company production Lungs.,^[23] Atkinson returned to the MTC in 2017 for its production of Three Little Words.^[24]

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2024	I'm With Her	Julia Gillard
2017	Three Little Words	Annie	MTC
2016	Lungs	W	MTC
2015	The Waiting Room	Sue / Catrina / Robin	MTC
2010	Becky Shaw	Becky Shaw	Echelon
2009	Rockabye	Julia	MTC
2007	Romantic Comedy	Phoebe Craddock	UK Tour
2005	Serial Killers	Simone	Derby Playhouse