Kaiya Jones Explained

Kaiya Jones
Birth Date:19 March 1996
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:2005–present

Kaiya Jones (born 19 March 1996) is a Scottish-born Australian actress, best known for playing the role of Sophie Ramsay in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.[1] She previously played Jess Cooper in the third series of The Saddle Club. Jones wrote and directed a short film called Coping, which was screened at Tropfest in 2013. In 2014, she joined the cast of Party Tricks.

Early and personal life

Jones was born in Glasgow, Scotland but moved to Australia with her parents in 2005.[2] Jones studied at Preshil. Her hobbies include acting, writing screenplays and stories, as well as writing her own songs and playing the guitar.[3] Jones is also a supporter of the Australian Orangutan Project which raises funds to support the protection and conservation of orangutans.[4]

Career

Jones played the role of Jess Cooper in The Saddle Club from 2008 to 2009.[5] In February 2009, it was announced Jones had been cast as Sophie Ramsay in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.[6] [7] Jones began filming her first scenes with Neighbours in the same month.[7] Of her casting, Jones told Samantha Booth of the Daily Record, "Filming Neighbours is so much fun. I just love my job and wouldn't want to be doing anything else. The cast and crew are so kind and lovely. They are practically my second family now. They're also very patient".[7]

On 26 November 2012, it was announced that Jones would be leaving Neighbours. She made her screen exit the following year.[8] In 2013, Jones made a guest appearance as Poppy in an episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.[9] Jones has written and directed a short film called Coping, which focuses on three orphaned children who move in with their uncle.[10] Coping was one of 16 films selected to screen at Tropfest on 8 December 2013.[10] Jones was named Best Female Actor at the festival.[11] In 2014 Jones was cast in the miniseries Party Tricks.[9]

In 2017, Jones wrote and directed a short film called Jolly Roger which was shown at the St Kilda Film Festival on 22 May 2017.[12]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013CopingAbigailShort film
Tropfest Award for Best Female Actor
Writer and director
2015Alienation Short film
2014LeanYoung Jennifer Short film
2017Jolly RogerShort film
Writer and director
2017 I Am NotFayeShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2008–2009The Saddle ClubJess CooperMain cast
2009–2014NeighboursSophie RamsayMain cast
2013Miss Fisher's Murder MysteriesPoppyEpisode: "Marked for Murder"
2014Party TricksMatilda McLeodMain cast
2015Footballer Wants a WifeProduction Assistant/SubstituteEpisodes: "Pack Date" & "Slave to Love"
2016The Doctor Blake MysteriesRobyn DawsonEpisode: "Against the Odds"
2021HarrowMadison Moreland Episode: "Ut Biberent Quoniam Esse Nollent"
2023Turn Up the VolumeStevieRecurring role

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://neighbours.com.au/The-New-Kids-on-the-Street.htm Official Site – The New Kids on the Street!
  2. Web site: Neighbours soap star has Coltness roots. Johnson. Alexandra. 19 August 2009. Wishaw Press. 5 March 2011.
  3. Web site: Neighbours: The Perfect Blend – Kaiya Jones. PerfectBlend. 29 September 2010.
  4. Web site: Christmas Stories . https://web.archive.org/web/20101202054542/http://www.theweeklyreview.com.au/article-display/Christmas-stories/3461 . dead . 2 December 2010 . Hall . Katrina . 25 November 2010 . The Weekly Review . 5 March 2011 .
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20090913075917/http://www.saddleclubtv.com/page/Series%2B3%2BCharacters?select=character&rowid=42 The Saddle Club Characters. Jess Cooper
  6. Web site: Return of the Ramsays. Holy Soap. 22 February 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101004165126/http://holysoap.five.tv/neighbours/news/return-of-the-ramsays-1046. dead. 4 October 2010.
  7. News: Meet the Scots schoolgirl joining the cast of Neighbours. Booth. Samantha. 3 September 2009. Daily Record. 8 June 2010.
  8. Web site: 'Neighbours': Rhys, Andrew and Sophie to leave show. Kilkelly. Daniel. 26 November 2012. Digital Spy. 26 November 2012.
  9. News: Neighbours star Kaiya Jones puts toe in cold water in directing debut. Hawker. Philippa. 21 May 2014. The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 July 2014.
  10. News: Kaiya Jones: Actor coping fine with Tropfest spotlight. Maddox. Gary. 8 December 2013. The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 December 2013.
  11. News: Tropfest 2013: Matt Hardie and Bamboozled win top prize. Bungard. Matt. 9 December 2013. The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 December 2013.
  12. KaiyaJ. 866464069469036544. Jones, Kaiya. 22 May 2017. Melbournians! You can catch my newest short #JollyRoger at @stkildafilmfest tonight along with some wicked other wee films..