# Jane Turner

Jane Turner OAM (born 1 December 1960) is an Australian actress, comedian and Logie Award-winning comedy series creator and screenwriter. She is widely known for her role as Kath in the TV sitcom Kath and Kim.

## Career

Jane Turner, although best known as a comedy performer, made her acting debut in the internationally renowned TV cult drama series Prisoner in a 15-episode guest role.
She is notable for numerous comedy roles including the sketch comedy programs The D-Generation, Fast Forward, Full Frontal, Big Girl's Blouse and Something Stupid.
On Fast Forward Turner (Svetta) recorded a song with cast member Peter Moon (comedian) (Victor), called "Don't Do Your Soviet Bloc".
In the 2000s Turner has received accolades for her performance in Kath & Kim, an ABC Television (later Seven Network) comedy series which she created, wrote, produced, and starred in, with her longtime friend and collaborator, Gina Riley. Kath & Kim became the most successful ABC syndicated show in Australian television history. Turner plays Kath Day Knight, one of the leading roles in the show and an occasional recurring character, Prue, a shop keeper at the Fountain Gate Shopping Centre.
Turner reprised the role in the 2005 telemovie Da Kath & Kim Code and the 2012 feature film Kath & Kimderella.
Turner made her West End theatrical debut in the Australian hit play Holding the Man at London's Trafalgar Studios in April 2010.
In 2022, Turner and the cast of Kath and Kim produced a special that released on channel 7. The special included interviews, new skits and behind the scenes insights to the famous TV show.

## Personal life

Turner attended Sacré Cœur School in Glen Iris, Victoria, and later studied law at Monash University. Turner graduated from Monash with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1988.
She is married to lawyer John Denton and they have three children including model Anna Denton and actor Nicholas Denton.

## Filmography

Television :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1983–84 | Prisoner | Belinda Johns | Seasons 5−6 (recurring; 15 episodes) |
| 1987 | The D-Generation | Various characters | Season 2 & Seven Network specials (8 episodes) + Writer (7 episodes) |
| 1989–92 | Fast Forward | Various characters | Seasons 1–4 (lead; 90 episodes) + Writer (90 episodes) |
| 1992 | Bligh | Mad Lottie | Season 1 (guest; 1 episode) |
| 1993 | Full Frontal | Various characters | Season 1 (guest; 13 episodes) |
| 1993 | The Making of Nothing | Pasha | Television special |
| 1993 | A Royal Commission Into the Australian Economy | Court Official / Travel Agent | Television special |
| 1994 | Big Girl's Blouse | Various characters | Season 1 (main; 9 episodes) + Writer & producer (9 episodes) |
| 1998 | Something Stupid | Various characters | Season 1 (main; 6 episodes) + Writer & producer (6 episodes) |
| 2002–07 | Kath & Kim | Kath Day-Knight / Prue | Seasons 1−4 & special (33 episodes) + Writer & executive producer (32 episodes); producer (25 episodes) |
| 2007 | Little Britain Down Under | Kath Day-Knight | Television documentary |
| 2015 | Open Slather | Various characters | Season 1 (main; 11 episodes) |
| 2018 | Rake | Senator Penny Evans | Season 5 (recurring; 5 episodes) |
| 2020 | Parlement (French TV series) | MEP Sharon Redlion | Season 1 (recurring; 10 episodes) |
Film :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1987 | Bachelor Girl | Vicki | Television film |
| 1987 | The Bit Part | Actress in Play | Feature film |
| 1997 | Thank God He Met Lizzie | Anne | Feature film |
| 2002 | Guru Wayne | Sarg | Feature film |
| 2005 | Da Kath & Kim Code | Kath Day-Knight / Prue | Television film (+ writer & producer) |
| 2012 | Kath & Kimderella | Kath Day-Knight / Prue | Feature film |