Jane Turner

Ms Jane Turner (BA 1988)

Distinguished Alumni Professional Achievement Award 2010

Jane Turner (BA 1988) is one of Australia’s most popular female comedians. She is renowned for her writing, and performances in ‘Fast Forward’, ‘The D-Generation’, ‘Big Girl’s Blouse’ and ‘Something Stupid’.

However she is probably best known for her roles as Kath Day-Knight and Prue the shopkeeper from Fountain Gate Shopping Centre, in the highly-popular comedy series ‘Kath and Kim’, which she created, wrote, and produced with long time friend Gina Riley.

The show became the most successful ABC syndicated show in Australian television history.

Ms Turner began her career as a dramatic actress starring in Man in the Balloon and Blabbermouth for the Melbourne Theatre Company, and in Paul Dainty’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

She has appeared in five films, as well as television dramas ‘Cop Shop’, ‘Prisoner’ and ‘Carson’s Law’.

But it was when she started working in comedy that she began to receive real recognition. Since then she has cemented her position as an important figure-head in Australian popular culture.

She has recently returned to the theatre, making her West End theatrical debut in the Australian play Holding the Man.

Outside of acting, Ms Turner is a special representative for Australia of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

In November 2004 she participated in a mission to visit refugee camps in Sudan and Chad. Her aim was to learn about the refugees’ experiences of persecution in Dafur with hopes to raise awareness for potential donors.

Photo credit:  'Jane Turner and Gina Riley' - Wayne Taylor/Fairfaxphotos