Kathy Burke

Everything you could reasonably want to know about the actress and director

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  • News
  • Career
    • Films
    • Television
    • Directing
    • Theatre
    • Awards
    • TV appearances
  • Podcast
  • Media
  • About

What’s this site about?

Everything you could reasonably want to know about the actor and director Kathy Burke.

And why does it exist?

Because Kathy Burke is the best British character actress of her generation, a comic marvel, and a down-to-earth hero to millions.

She has won worldwide acclaim in both comedy and serious drama roles. She has range – in both life and work.

As an actress, she stunned as a battered wife in Nil by Mouth, appalled as a crass tart in her own sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme, and amazed as a horny (male) teenager in Harry Enfield’s comedy show. Her cameos often steal the show.

As a director, Kathy has produced numerous plays to critical acclaim. And as a human being she has inspired, encouraged and cheered millions of ordinary citizens. Who else would Stephen Fry put in “Room Lovely” where everything about the world is good and life-enhancing?

See more on her, from recent news to a rundown of her career in films, television and theatre to date, interviews and articles about her and a small piece about Kathy and this website.

  • Articles,  Media

    60-second interview: Kathy Burke

    June 2, 2005 /

    The Metro Kathy Burke is one of Britain’s best loved actresses for parts including the comedy roles of Waynetta Slob and Linda in Gimme, Gimme, Gimme. She won Best Actress at Cannes in 1997 for Nil By Mouth but gave up acting to direct in 2001. Her latest play, Brendan Behan’s The Quare Fellow, returns to London’s Tricycle Theatre after a sell-out national tour. The Quare Fellow has had great reviews. Does that bolster your confidence as a director?Not really – but it does get people in to see the play. Good reviews obviously help a lot more than bad reviews. We’ve done this play before and we know that it works and that…

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    kierenmccarthy Comments Off on 60-second interview: Kathy Burke

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    Patron saint of underdogs

    March 13, 2001

    Kathy Burke: Why I’m giving up acting

    July 9, 2002

    ‘I’m a person who walks on eggshells’

    October 23, 2005
  • Articles,  Media

    60-second interview: Kathy Burke

    July 9, 2002 /

    The Metro Kathy Burke is probably the UK’s most versatile actress; whether playing Linda in Gimme Gimme Gimme or portraying a victim of domestic violence in Nil By Mouth, the plaudits are all hers. Yet now she’s turned to her other love, and has her West End directorial debut with Betty, starring Geraldine McNulty at the Vaudeville Theatre. How crazy is it seeing yourself on screen?It’s horrible. People started to get really body-conscious when camcorders came along. They suddenly saw what they really looked like. You look in the mirror and see what you want to see but when you find out how other people see you, it’s a bit of a shock. Is…

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    kierenmccarthy Comments Off on 60-second interview: Kathy Burke

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    With most television stars, their small-screen personas are larger than life. With Kathy Burke, it’s the other way round

    August 13, 1995

    60-second interview: Kathy Burke

    June 2, 2005

    Patron saint of underdogs

    March 13, 2001

Recent Posts

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  • Dawn of the Dead
  • Wakey wakey! Kath’s dying to be heard
  • Many happy returns
  • Holding Norton

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