# Kate Duchêne

Kate Duchêne (/duːˈʃɛn/, born Catherine Anne Purves Duchêne; 5 January 1959) is an English actress best known for her role as the teacher Miss Hardbroom in the adaptation of the children's books The Worst Witch.

## Career

Duchêne started to act at the age of 14. She studied French and Spanish at Trinity College, Cambridge in the 1980s, where she became a member of the Footlights theatre group, writing and performing her own material. She also acted with the Cambridge Mummers, appearing in such plays as Measure For Measure (as Isabella) in Cambridge and the Edinburgh Fringe. In the 1980s she joined the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, appearing in the premiere productions of Losing Venice and The White Rose. Since 2000 she has appeared frequently at the National Theatre in London, frequently working with director Katie Mitchell.
She briefly went to Spain, teaching English to children, and returned in 1986.

### Television

Duchêne is best known for her work as Miss Constance Hardbroom, the strict "deputy head and potions teacher" on the popular TV series The Worst Witch. She stayed with the programme for its three-year run, and appeared in the first episode of its 2001 spinoff Weirdsister College but did not return for the second spinoff, The New Worst Witch (2005–2006). Later projects included Afterlife, a paranormal drama series, and extensive theatre work.

### Radio

From October 1987 to July 1991, Duchêne played Alex Parker in BBC Radio 4's drama series Citizens. In 2013 she guest-starred in the final Series 4 episode of Cabin Pressure, playing a captain in the service of a Zurich-based airline.

## Private life

Duchêne spent her infancy in France, and was brought back to England permanently in 1962, residing in the seaside town of Brighton. Her partner is Robert Hickson. As of 2010, they have 2 children.

## Filmography

| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
| Miss Marple | 1987 | Rose | Episode 7 – "At Bertram's Hotel" |
| Boon | 1987 | Pregnant Lady | Series 2, Episode 11 – "Paper Mafia" |
| The Tall Guy | 1989 | Old Girlfriend | Feature film |
| A Sense of Guilt | 1990 | Marsha Hinde | Series 1 – Episodes 3 & 5 |
| This Is David Harper | 1990 | Caroline Jones | Episode 1 |
| The Bill | 1996 | Helen Palmer | Series 12, Episode 134 – "Trust Me" |
| Kiss Me Kate | 1998 | Lesley | Series 1, Episode 2 – "Mike" Series 1, Episode 3 – "Calendar" |
| Out of Hours | 1998 | Sue Craven | Episode 2 |
| Calendar Girls | 1999 | | Short film |
| Peak Practice | 1999 | Jenny Ryan | Series 8, Episode 5 – "Buying Time" |
| The Bill | 2000 | Laura | Series 16, Episode 11 – "On the Wagon" |
| Midsomer Murders | 2000 | Jane Bennett | Series 4, Episode 1 – "Garden of Death" |
| The Worst Witch | 1998–2001 | Miss Constance Hardbroom | Lead role Series 1–4 – 52 episodes |
| Weirdsister College | 2001 | Miss Constance Hardbroom | Sequel to The Worst Witch Series 1, Episode 1 – "The All-Seeing Eye" |
| Monsieur N. | 2003 | Madame Balcombe | Feature film |
| Casualty | 2004 | Debbie Hansell | Series 18, Episode 32 – "Forget Me Not" |
| Family Affairs | 2005 | Carrie Lawson | Episodes 2222 & 2223 |
| Afterlife | 2005–2006 | Barbara Sinyard | Lead role Series 1 & 2 – 13 episodes |
| An Education | 2009 | Latin Teacher | Feature film |
| All Good Children | 2010 | Lynne | Feature film |
| Foyle's War | 2013 | Helen Fraser | Series 7, Episode 1 – "The Eternity Ring" |
| Doctors | 2013 | Sarah Jones | Episode 2502 – "The Girl Next Door" |
| Roxane | 2019 | Wendy | French movie |