Kathy Burke Explained

Kathy Burke
Birth Name:Katherine Lucy Bridget Burke
Birth Date:1964 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Islington, London, England
Occupation:Actress, comedian, writer, producer, director
Years Active:1982–present

Katherine Lucy Bridget Burke (born 13 June 1964)[1] is an English actress and comedian. She appeared in sketch shows such as French and Saunders (1988–1999), played a recurring role as Magda on the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2012), and performed frequent collaborations with fellow comedian Harry Enfield. From 1999 to 2001, she starred as Linda La Hughes on the BBC sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme, for which she received a British Comedy Award and two BAFTA nominations.

Burke made her film debut in the 1982 drama Scrubbers. For her portrayal of Valerie in the 1997 film Nil by Mouth, she won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Her other film appearances include Sid and Nancy (1986), Dancing at Lughnasa (1998), Elizabeth (1998), This Year's Love (1999), Kevin & Perry Go Large (2000), The Martins (2001), Anita and Me (2002) and Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (2002). Having spent most of the 2000s concentrating on her work as a theatre director, she returned to film roles in the 2010s with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), Pan (2015) and (2016). Starting from 2019, Burke fronted a series of documentaries for Channel 4: Kathy Burke's All Woman (2019), Kathy Burke: Money Talks (2021) and Kathy Burke: Growing Up (2023).

Early life

Burke was born at the Royal Free Hospital, London, on 13 June 1964, and was brought up in Islington, North London, by her Irish Catholic parents Paddy and Bridget.[2] She has two elder brothers.[3] Her mother, known as Bridie, died of cancer when Burke was two years old. She lived with her father, a builder who was an alcoholic, and attended the Maria Fidelis Convent School, a secondary school in Euston, until she was 16 years old.[2] She then studied at the Anna Scher Theatre School in Islington.[4] [5]

Career

Burke's first role was in the 1982 film Scrubbers, directed by Swedish actress Mai Zetterling and featuring Pam St. Clement, Robbie Coltrane, Miriam Margolyes, Honey Bane, Debby Bishop and Eva Mottley. The film was set in a young offenders' institute for girls and was seen as a female version of the film Scum.

Burke appeared in a non-speaking role in a 1985 public information film about heroin addiction.[6] The following year she appeared in a non-speaking role as 'witness in doorway' in an award-winning advert for The Guardians 'Points of View'.[7]

Burke first became familiar to television audiences as a player of minor roles in sketches by better-known performers such as Harry Enfield, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. Early TV work included regular appearances on the chat show The Last Resort hosted by Jonathan Ross on UK Channel 4 in the mid-1980s, playing the characters 'Tina Bishop' and 'Perry the Pre-pubescent Schoolboy". Bishop was a continually pregnant "expert" offering advice on household chores, always with disastrous results. Both Perry and Tina (renamed "Waynetta Slob") later re-appeared as recurring sketch characters in Harry Enfield programmes. Along with French and Saunders, she has contributed to two Comic Relief charity singles. She first appeared as a member of Bananarama parody band Lananeeneenoonoo in 1989, and then as a member of Spice Girls look-alike band the Sugar Lumps in 1997. In real life Burke was a big fan of Morrissey and appeared in the video for his 1989 single "Ouija Board, Ouija Board" and later in the 2002 Channel 4 documentary The Importance of Being Morrissey. On the 7 November 2023 episode of her Where There's a Will There's a Wake podcast, with Dolly Alderton as her guest, Burke admitted "We don't like Morrissey anymore...because he's a racist wanker". Alderton shared Burke's disappointment with Morrissey's views with Burke adding "We idolise these people...but then people are three-dimensional and you get to know what they really think about life and it's just always a disappointment"

She became successful in her own right and although mainly associated with comedy, she has played several serious roles including that of Queen Mary Tudor in the film Elizabeth, which was released in 1998.[8]

In 1994 Burke was awarded the Royal Television Society Award for Best Actress, for her performance as the mute Martha in the 1993 BBC TV series Mr. Wroe's Virgins.[9] The series was directed by Danny Boyle and is based on Jane Rogers' book about John Wroe.

Burke won the Best Actress award at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival for her role in the gritty drama Nil by Mouth. Burke was so convinced she would not win that she made no plans to attend the ceremony; when told shortly beforehand she had won, she found her passport was out of date. The film also earned her a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role.[10] From 1999 to 2001 she appeared as Linda La Hughes in the BBC TV series Gimme Gimme Gimme (which she developed with writer Jonathan Harvey) where she was nominated for three British Comedy Awards (winning one), two BAFTA TV Awards and a National Television Award for her performance. In 2000, she appeared in the cult film Love Honour and Obey with Ray Burdis,[11] and as Perry in the comedy film Kevin & Perry Go Large.[12]

In 2003, she was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.[13]

Beginning in 2001, she refrained from acting and began theatre directing; something she considers to be one of her true passions.[14] She said in an interview with Dawn French in Dawn French's Girls Who Do Comedy that she no longer felt the same creative energy associated with acting that she used to have (she described it as a "feeling in my belly") and that this was the reason she had stopped acting. However, since then, she has done some voiceover work, including UK TV adverts for Ski yoghurt (2005)[15] and the voice of Rita's mum in the animated film Flushed Away (2006).[16] She also appeared in the 2007 Christmas Special of The Catherine Tate Show as Nan's daughter Diane.

In February 1990, she wrote and directed Mr Thomas at the Old Red Lion Theatre. It was filmed and shown on Channel 4 the next year.

In 2007, Burke contracted Clostridium difficile while in hospital for an operation, resulting in her having to pass directing duties on Dying for It at the Almeida Theatre (which starred Charlie Condou and Sophie Stanton who she worked with on Gimme Gimme Gimme).

In 2009, Burke made her television directorial debut with the BBC Three sketch show series Horne & Corden, starring Mathew Horne and James Corden.[17]

Burke wrote and appeared as a nun in the short autobiographical film "Better Than Christmas" for Sky 1's Little Crackers, a collection of comic shorts that aired in December 2010. On 19 January 2012, it was announced that Burke had written her first TV series; her short for Little Crackers had led to the four-part series "Walking and Talking", based on her teenage years. Burke appeared as a nun in each episode of the series, which aired in the summer of 2012 on Sky Atlantic.[18]

In 2011, Burke played Connie Sachs in the film adaptation of the novel Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. She was long-listed for a BAFTA nomination for her performance as Supporting Actress in 2012.[19]

Burke appeared in the 2015 Peter Pan prequel film Pan,as Mother Barnabas.[20] In November 2015, Burke presented the BBC topical news panel show Have I Got News for You.[21]

In 2019, Burke starred in her own self-titled three-part documentary Kathy Burke's All Woman. The programme aired on Channel 4 and focused on the stereotypes and expectations of modern women. Burke touched on subjects such as marriage, pregnancy and cosmetic surgery.[22]

In 2021, Burke appeared as a guest judge in series 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.[23]

Burke directed ITV's four-part murder mystery series Holding, which premiered on 14 March 2022 and is based on Graham Norton's novel of the same name.[24]

in 2022 Burke started a podcast called Where There's a Will, There's a Wake. In the podcast Burke talks a guest through how the guest believes (or hopes) they will die and what they want to be done for their funeral. Notable guests have been Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Emerald Fennell and Steve McQueen. The podcast is produced by Sony Music Entertainment.[25]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1982ScrubbersGlennis
1986Sid and NancyBrenda Windzor
1987Straight to HellSabrina
WalkerAnnie Mae
Two of UsVera
1989Work ExperienceSally
1997Nil by MouthValerie
1998ElizabethQueen Mary Tudor
Dancing at LughnasaMaggie Mundy
1999This Year's LoveMarey
2000Love, Honour and ObeyKathy
Kevin & Perry Go LargePerry
2001The MartinsAngie
2002Anita and MeDeirdre Rutter
Once Upon a Time in the MidlandsCarol
2006Flushed AwayRita's MumVoice
2011Tinker Tailor Soldier SpyConnie Sachs
The Antics RoadshowNarrator
2015PanMother Barnabas
2016Magda
2022The Sea BeastGwen BatterbieVoice[26]
TBABlitzFilming

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986A Very Peculiar PracticeAlice
Ladies in ChargeDaisy
1988The Comic Strip Presents... Funseekers VeraCredited as Cathy Burke
1988–1999French and SaundersVarious
1990Set of SixTarquin's girlfriend[27]
1990–1992Harry Enfield's Television ProgrammeVarious
1991CasualtyLorraine Mccullier
1992The Fat SlagsSandra[28]
1992–1996Absolutely FabulousMagda
1993Mr. Wroe's VirginsMartha
1994–1998Harry Enfield & ChumsVarious
1997The History of Tom Jones: A FoundlingHonour
1998Rex the RuntMrs Mandelbrotska
1999Let Them Eat CakeCecile
1999–2001Gimme Gimme GimmeLinda La Hughes
2006Dawn French's Girls Who Do ComedyHerself
2007The Catherine Tate Show Christmas SpecialDiane
2009Horne & CordenDirector
2010Kathy Burke's Little Cracker: Better Than ChristmasNunWriter[29]
2012Walking and TalkingNunWriter
Never Mind the BuzzcocksGuest Host
2012, 2013, 2015Have I Got News for YouHerself
2013PsychobitchesMona Lisa; The Queen Mother
20148 Out of 10 Cats Does CountdownHerself
Celebrity Gogglebox
2016CrashingAunt Gladys
2017–presentSchool of RoarsMs. GrizzlesniffVoice
2019Kathy Burke's All WomanHerself[30]
Joe Lycett's Got Your Back
2021RuPaul's Drag Race UKHerself; Guest judgeSeries 3, Episode 9
Kathy Burke: Money TalksHerself; presenter2-part Channel 4 documentary[31]
2022HoldingDirector
2023Kathy Burke: Growing UpHerself; presenter2-part Channel 4 special[32]

Theatre

As actress

YearTitleRoleVenue
1989Amongst BarbariansLilliRoyal Exchange, Manchester
1993It's a Great Big Shame! Theatre Royal Stratford East

As director

YearTitleVenueNotesNotes
1990Mr Thomas by Kathy BurkeOld Red LionAlso shown on Channel 4
1995Bush Theatre
2001Out in the Open by Jonathan Harvey Hampstead Theatre
2002Betty by Karen McLachlan Vaudeville Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
2003Hampstead Theatre
2004Oxford Stage Company
Hampstead Theatre[33]
2005Cambridge Arts Theatre
Donmar Warehouse
2006Smaller by Carmel MorganLyric Theatre, London
2014Tricycle Theatre
2018Vaudeville Theatre, West End, London[34]

Awards

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
1994Royal Television Society AwardBest ActressMr Wroe's Virgins
1997Cannes Film FestivalBest ActressNil By Mouth
1997British Independent Film AwardBest ActressNil by Mouth
1998Bafta Film AwardsBest ActressNil By Mouth
1998Bafta TV AwardsBest ActressTom Jones
1998Bafta TV AwardsBest Light Entertainment PerformanceHarry Enfield & Chums
1999BAFTA TV AwardsBest Light Entertainment PerformanceHarry Enfield's Yule log Chums
2001BAFTA TV AwardsBest Comedy PerformanceGimme Gimme Gimme
2002BAFTA TV AwardsBest Comedy PerformanceGimme Gimme Gimme
2002British Comedy AwardsBest Comedy ActressGimme Gimme Gimme

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/484838/index.html "Burke, Kathy (1964-)"
  2. Web site: Galton . Bridget . 21 November 2013 . Kathy Burke stages showdown with nuns in Once a Catholic . Islington Gazette.
  3. https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800018834/bio "Kathy Burke"
  4. Web site: Biography . 10 April 2012. kathyburke.co.uk.
  5. Web site: Kathy Burke Biography (1964-) . Filmreference.com . 6 November 2015.
  6. Kathy Burke . YouTube . . 165 . Richard . Herring . 8 February 2018 . 9 February 2018. 08:30 .
  7. Kathy Burke . YouTube . . 165 . Richard . Herring . 8 February 2018 . 9 February 2018 . 09:00.
  8. Web site: Elizabeth (1998) . https://web.archive.org/web/20160624094703/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b80a0379a . dead . 24 June 2016 . 2022-03-24 . BFI . en.
  9. Web site: Awards – Kathy Burke . 2022-03-19 . kathyburke.co.uk . en-GB.
  10. Web site: Festival de Cannes: Nil by Mouth . 23 September 2009. festival-cannes.com.
  11. Web site: Love, Honour and Obey (2000) . https://web.archive.org/web/20170310014349/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b82a89570 . dead . 10 March 2017 . 2022-03-25 . BFI . en.
  12. Web site: Kevin & Perry Go Large (2000) . https://web.archive.org/web/20170703073928/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b82db5cb8 . dead . 3 July 2017 . 2022-03-25 . BFI . en.
  13. News: The A-Z of laughter (part one). 7 December 2003. The Observer. 2 January 2020 .
  14. News: My acting days are over . https://web.archive.org/web/20060910075141/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2004/10/19/btburke19.xml&sSheet=/arts/2004/10/19/ixtop.html . dead . 10 September 2006 . The Daily Telegraph . London . 19 October 2004 . 7 May 2010.
  15. Web site: Kathy Burke searches for something simple in Ski Yogurt relaunch ad . 2022-03-25 . campaignlive.co.uk . en.
  16. Web site: Flushed Away (2006) . 25 March 2022 . Rotten Tomatoes.
  17. Web site: BBC - Press Office - Horne and Corden come up trumps for BBC Three. bbc.co.uk. 8 June 2015.
  18. Web site: 19 January 2012 . Kathy Burke writes her first TV comedy . 8 June 2015 . chortle.co.uk.
  19. Web site: 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' and 'My Week With Marilyn' Top BAFTA Longlists. TheWrap. 6 January 2012. 8 June 2015.
  20. Web site: PETER PAN Prequel, PAN, Adds Amanda Seyfried and More. Collider. 24 April 2014. 8 June 2015.
  21. Web site: BBC One - Have I Got News for You, Series 50, Episode 6 . Bbc.co.uk . 6 November 2015 . 6 November 2015.
  22. Web site: Kathy Burke's All Woman - All 4 . 2022-03-18 . channel4.com.
  23. Web site: BBC Three - RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Series 3, Episode 9 . 2022-07-05 . BBC . en-GB.
  24. Web site: 2022-03-13 . Holding Is the 'Darkly Funny' New Drama From Graham Norton's Hit Book – Here's What You Need To Know . 2022-03-18 . HuffPost UK . en.
  25. Web site: Apple Podcasts . Where There's A Will, There's A Wake .
  26. Web site: Netflix's 'The Sea Beast' Rises from the Depths with Teaser, Cast & Date Reveal. Animation Magazine. March 30, 2022. March 30, 2022.
  27. Rivron, Rowland. What the f*** did I do last night?: the memoir of an accidental comedian. Sidgwick & Jackson, 2011
  28. Web site: Viz: Oh, Lordy! It's The Fat Slags [DVD]]. amazon.co.uk. 29 November 2004. 8 June 2015.
  29. Web site: Little Crackers 2010, Episode 6 - Kathy Burke's Little Cracker . 2022-03-18 . British Comedy Guide . en.
  30. News: Mangan . Lucy . Kathy Burke's All Woman review – beauty tips from the nation's bluntest nana . 17 August 2019 . The Guardian . Guardian News & Media Ltd . 13 August 2019.
  31. Web site: Kathy Burke: Money Talks All 4 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210707114420/https://www.channel4.com/programmes/kathy-burke-money-talks . 7 July 2021 . 16 March 2023 . channel4.com . en.
  32. Web site: Kathy Burke: Growing Up All 4 . 2023-03-16 . channel4.com . en.
  33. Web site: Nick Stafford. The Agency. 11 March 2023. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110726065822/http://www.theagency.co.uk/clients/clientdisplay.html?viewListing=Mjkx. 26 July 2011. dmy-all.
  34. News: Gardner. Lyn. Lady Windermere's Fan review – Saunders simmers at Wilde's West End party. 23 January 2018. the Guardian. 22 January 2018.