Kaarin Fairfax

Last updated

Kaarin Fairfax
Born
Kaarin Louise Fairfax

(1959-09-30) 30 September 1959 (age 64)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Other namesMary-Jo Starr
Occupations
  • Actress
  • director
  • singer
  • theatre founder
Years active1980 (1980)–present
Spouse Paul Kelly (1993–2001)
Children2
Website kaarinfairfax.com.au

Kaarin Louise Fairfax (born 30 September 1959) is an Australian actress, director and singer who played the role of Dolour Darcy in two TV miniseries, The Harp in the South (1986) and its sequel Poor Man's Orange (1987), based on books of the same names by Ruth Park.

Contents

Career

Acting

Fairfax acted in several Australian television series throughout the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. [1]

She appeared in the Australian sitcom Col'n Carpenter , a spin-off from The Comedy Company , after Vikki Blanche left the series. She starred in the Rachel Perkins 2001 short film One Night the Moon alongside her husband at the time, Paul Kelly – a story of racial prejudice in the outback. [2] She also played the role of Deb Mathieson on Australian Broadcasting Corporation TV series, Bed of Roses (2008, 2010). [3] [4]

Fairfax has worked as both actor and director in Australian theatre. By 2008, Fairfax had established The Little Theatre Company in Frankston, Victoria, in honour of her father George Fairfax. Fairfax directed t he musical Frankston Lights in January 2009, which included songs co-written by her children (Madeleine and Memphis) and Robert McHugh. Kaarin has been working extensively since that time, joining forces with Sally Baillieu and directing The Wetlands Project, One Last Chance, performed in the Wetlands at Tootgarook. In January 2012 she directed Good People for Red Stitch Actors Theatre.

In 2015, Fairfax co-starred in the film StalkHer alongside John Jarratt.

Music

Fairfax was a vocalist for Wild Blue Yonder, a Sydney-based band from 1985 which had a varied line-up but had no known recordings. [5] In the late 1970s she was part of a comedy vocal trio The Droolettes which also included Gina Riley and Gina Mendoza, with Geoff O'Connell on piano. During 1989–1991 she supplied backing vocals on tracks by Paul Kelly & the Messengers.

In 1990, under the name, Mary-Jo Starr, she released three singles and an album, Too Many Movies. [1] She was nominated for the 1991 ARIA Award for Best New Talent [6] and appeared on the Breaking Ground - New Directions in Country Music compilation which was also nominated for Best Country Album. [7] She joined Truckasaurus in 1993, a Melbourne-based Grungey/country band which released Truckasaurus in October. [8]

Together with Sally Baillieu, Fairfax runs The Lineup at Frankston Arts Centre Cube37, a musical mentorship program for young emerging artists. Madeleine and Memphis, together with band member Sam Humphrey, record under the band name Wishful. Their first EP, Fifty Days was produced by their father Paul Kelly. Fairfax and Baillieu also have an arts program on 3RPP Radio Port Phillip on the Mornington Peninsula, called Arts About.

Personal life

Fairfax is the former wife of Australian musician Paul Kelly—they met in 1988. Their two children are Madeleine (born 1991) and Memphis (born 1993). Memphis appeared with her parents in short film, One Night the Moon . The couple separated not long after the film's release. [2]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleType
1982 Starstruck Icecream GirlFeature film
1983 A Descant for Gossips Vinny LalorTV movie
1987Around the World in Eighty WaysCheckout ChickFeature film
1987Damsels Be DamnedMichelleShort film
1988 Belinda SandraFeature film
1988 Young Einstein The BrunetteFeature film
1988A Crack in the CurtainsSarahShort film
1989Shadow PanicThe HotheadShort film
1990Worse than XmasAngelaShort film
2001 One Night the Moon Rose RyanShort film
2015 Holding the Man Wedding SingerFeature film
2015 StalkHer EmilyFeature film
2017PillarsRosettaShort film
2017What if it Works?Dr. Karen Di ScalaFeature film
2017 West of Sunshine AndreaFeature film
2017Deep SixBonnieShort film
2018The ResurgenceMelanieShort film
2018Just Between UsMerylFeature film
2018In the WakeSueShort film
2018The Greta FragmentsMaryShort film
2018SkewwhiffRaeShort film
2019The HuntNellShort film
2019The DiverDorothyShort film
2019BloomAunty VeraShort film
2020The Green DoorLady in ChurchFeature film
2020Paper ChampionsMorineFeature film
2020HakuumacaatoMarion (voice)Short film
2023What About Sal?SophieFeature film

Television

YearTitleRoleType
1980 The Last Outlaw GraceTV miniseries, 4 episodes
1981-84 Cop Shop Joan Wyndham/ Mary PalmerTV series, 3 episodes
1981 I Can Jump Puddles ReneTV miniseries, 1 episode
1982 Sons and Daughters SchoolgirlTV series, 1 episodes
1982 Prisoner Kathy HudsonTV series, 2 episodes
1983 Home TV series, 3 episodes
1983 The Sullivans MonaTV series, 1 episodes
1984 Carson's Law Agnes KnightTV series, 1 episode
1984 The Mike Walsh Show Guest - HerselfTV series, 1 episode
1986 The Harp in the South Dolour DarcyTV miniseries, 3 episodes
1987 Poor Man's Orange Dolour DarcyTV miniseries, 2 episodes
1990 Catalyst PresenterTV series
1990-91 Col'n Carpenter Linda WilliamsTV series, 26 episodes
1992 Tuesday Night Live: The Big Gig Mary-Jo StarrTV series, 1 episode
1995 Correlli TerriTV miniseries, 1 episode
2000 SeaChange SuzyTV series, 1 episode
2003 Kath & Kim NurseTV series, 1 episode
2004 Fergus McPhail Ms. RollaTV series, 4 episodes
2009 Rush Janey MerrynTV series, 1 episode
2010 Offspring FloristTV series, 1 episode
2008-11 Bed of Roses Deb MathiesonTV series, 26 episodes
2012-13 You're Skitting Me Additional castTV series, 26 episodes
2017MethodGina DelawareTV series, 1 episode
2018 Picnic at Hanging Rock CookTV miniseries, 4 episodes
2019InternmentJanetTV series, 3 episodes
2022 Darby and Joan HeidiTV series, 1 episode

As crew

YearTitleRoleType
1993 Say a Little Prayer Drama CoachFeature film
2015 StalkHer Co-directorFeature film
2018The Greta FragmentsWriterShort film

Stage

Actor

YearTitleRoleType
1979The WomanAstyanax / Gemil Pram Factory with Australian Performing Group
Zig Zag FolliesLead Adelaide Festival
1980-81Cain's HandKathy (Lead girl)Scott Theatre, Adelaide & St Martins Youth Arts Centre with Nimrod Theatre Company
Quick Ease CafeComedy Lead
1980Slipped DiscoCigsFlying Trapeze Cafe, Fitzroy
1983 Summer of the Seventeenth Doll BubbaAnthill Theatre, Melbourne with Australian Nouveau Theatre
1984 Beach Blanket Tempest GidgetTownsville, Cairns Civic Theatre, Theatre Royal, Mackay, Rockhampton, Mount Isa, Araluen Arts Centre, Playhouse, Adelaide, Canberra Theatre & University of Sydney with New Moon Theatre Company
1984The KidSnakeSt Martins Theatre, Melbourne with Playbox Theatre Company
1984 Top Girls Shona / Kit Russell Street Theatre with Melbourne Theatre Company
1985The Doll Trilogy: Kid Stakes / Other Times / Summer of the Seventeenth Doll Bubba Sydney Opera House & Athenaeum Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company & Melbourne Theatre Company
1986No WorriesEnsemble Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company
1987 A Lie of the Mind Beth Belvoir Street Theatre
1987Shakers Belvoir Street Theatre
1988 Darlinghurst Nights Gunman's Girl Wharf Theatre, Australian National University with Sydney Theatre Company
1988 King Lear CordeliaPlayhouse, Adelaide with State Theatre Company of South Australia
1988-90 The Glass Menagerie LauraPlayhouse, Adelaide & Marian Street Theatre with State Theatre Company of South Australia
1989 Speed-the-Plow Karen Sydney Opera House, Russell Street Theatre with Melbourne Theatre Company
1990 Beach Blanket Tempest GidgetQ Theatre, Penrith
1994The SwanDora Space Theatre, Adelaide with State Theatre Company of South Australia
1995Haxby's CircusGinaPlayhouse, Adelaide with Stare Theatre Company of South Australia
1996Miss BosniaSelma Fairfax Studio, Melbourne, West Gippsland Arts Centre, Monash University, Canberra Theatre, Bendigo Performing Arts Centre, Geelong Performing Arts Centre, Gold Coast Arts Centre with Melbourne Theatre Company
1999 Into the Woods Lucinda (Stepsister) Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company

Director

YearTitleRoleType
Go Away Mr. Worrythoughts Frankston Arts Centre & Australian regional tour
Almost with You La Mama & Cube37 FAC
The Wetlands Project: One Last ChanceDirector Frankston Arts Centre Cube37 & 3940 Arts
1992Funerals and CircusesDirector, AssistantTheatre 62, Universal Theatre, Playhouse, Canberra
1993 Tall Tales and True DirectorSouth Australia with Magpie Theatre Company
1994Planet KDirectorContinental Cafe, Prahran
1994All of MeDirector Belvoir Street Theatre & Melbourne Town Hall for Melbourne International Comedy Festival
1997Patsy Cline: Her Songs, Her StoryDirector Universal Theatre, Melbourne
1998-2002Mum's the WordDirector Glen Street Theatre, Bendigo Performing Arts Centre, Fairfax Studio, Melbourne, Athenaeum Theatre for Melbourne Comedy Festival
2001It's a Dad ThingDirector Athenaeum Theatre
2001Always ... Patsy ClineDirector Darwin Entertainment Centre with Majestic Theatre Company
2002Uncle BobDirector Red Stitch Actors Theatre
2002 The Play About the Baby Director Red Stitch Actors Theatre
2003The War Against Short TrousersDirector Chapel Off Chapel
2003Push UpDirector Red Stitch Actors Theatre
2008Mum's the Word 2: TeenagersDirector Theatre Royal, Sydney, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
2009Frankston LightsDirectorThe Little Theatre Company
2010Fairweather IslandDirectorial consultantCarlton Courthouse with La Mama
2012Good People Red Stitch Actors Theatre
Popcorn Popcorn Productions

[9]

Discography

Albums

YearTitleArtistDetails
1990Too Many MoviesMary-Jo Starr

Singles

YearTitleArtistAlbum
1989"Kissing in a Taxi"Mary-Jo StarrToo Many Movies
1990"Passionate Kisses"Mary-Jo Starr
"Lonesome, Lovely & Alone"Mary-Jo Starrnon album single
1989"Killer in Me" StalkHer film soundtrack

Awards & nominations

Film & TV

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
1987 Belinda AFI Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated
1988 Poor Man's Orange AFI Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries Nominated
2002Uncle Bob Green Room Award for Outstanding DirectionWon [10]
2011 Bed of Roses Ensemble Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Series in a Drama Series Nominated
2012Nominated
2018The Greta FragmentsTop Indie Film Award for Best WritingNominated

Music

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
1991 Too Many Movies ARIA Award for Best New Talent Nominated [11]

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References

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  2. 1 2 Wilkie, Meredith (25 April 2004). "Lure of hearth and home". The Age . Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  3. "Bed of Roses Episode guide: Series 1". Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  4. "Bed of Roses Episode guide: Series 2". Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  5. Spencer, Chris; Zbig Nowara, Paul McHenry with notes by Ed Nimmervoll (2002) [1987]. "WILD BLUE YONDER". The Who's Who of Australian Rock. Noble Park, Vic.: Five Mile Press. ISBN   1-86503-891-1.
  6. "ARIA Awards Best New Talent". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 5 April 2017.
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  8. Spencer, Chris; Zbig Nowara, Paul McHenry with notes by Ed Nimmervoll (2002) [1987]. "TRUCKASAURUS". The Who's Who of Australian Rock. Noble Park, Vic.: Five Mile Press. ISBN   1-86503-891-1.
  9. "AusStage".
  10. http://www.bgmagency.com.au/uploaded/cv/FAIRFAXKaarin.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  11. "Winners by Year 1991". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 8 June 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2013.