Kate Ritchie

Kate Ritchie
Born	Katherine Ritchie 14 August 1978 (1978-08-14) (age 33) Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia
Years active	1986–present
Spouse	Stuart Webb (2010–present)

Katherine "Kate" Ritchie (born 14 August 1978 in Goulburn, New South Wales^[1]) is an Australian actress, best known for her long-running role as Sally Fletcher on the television soap opera Home and Away. She played the character for 20 years from 1988–2008. Prior to her retirement from the role, she shared the record (recognised by Guinness World Records) for the longest continuous role in an Australian drama series, with fellow original cast member Ray Meagher.^[2]

In addition to 20 years on Home and Away, Ritchie has also hosted various television events, appeared in commercials, a mini-series and an Australian film. She has also been involved with the Campbelltown Musical Society.^[3]

Early life

Ritchie's parents are Heather and Steve, and she has three younger siblings – Rebecca, Stuart and Susan.^[4] Ritchie attended Campbelltown North Public School and Hurlstone Agricultural High School – the latter a New South Wales agricultural and selective school.^[5]

Career

1986–2007

Richie was cast as Molly, the child lead in the 1986 Nine Network–PBL mini-series Cyclone Tracy, starring Chris Haywood and Tracy Mann.^[6] Ritchie started working with Home and Away in 1987, at age 8. Production began in July 1987 (shortly before her ninth birthday) and it premiered on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988.^{[citation needed]} In 2006, Ritchie played "Nicole" in the ABC film Stepfather of the Bride.^[7] Whilst promoting Home and Away in the United Kingdom in 2006 with Mark Furze and Jodi Gordon, Ritchie appeared on The Friday Night Project and Loose Women, and appeared on interviews for Five and Five life.^{[citation needed]}

In 2006, Richie was also a contestant on the celebrity singing competition It Takes Two, partnered with Troy Cassar-Daley. The pair placed fourth in the competition.^[8] She went on to co-host the second series of It Takes Two with Grant Denyer in 2007.^[9] In 2007 Ritchie joined Nova radio to co-host the drive show with comedian Akmal Saleh, replacing Matthew Newton.^[10] She was replaced in May by New Zealand comedian Cal Wilson.^[11]

In September 2007, Ritchie announced that she would be leaving Home and Away in mid-December.^[12] Her final scenes were filmed on 13 December 2007,^[13] and she last appeared on Australian screens as Sally Fletcher on 3 April 2008. Her UK demise with the same episode, was not long after the Australian with her departure being screened on UK terrestrial television on 12 May 2008.^[14]

2008–present

On 14 January 2008, Ritchie began work on the Nova 96.9 breakfast show with Merrick and Rosso.^[15] Shortly after the 2008 Logie Awards Ritchie did an interview with Rove McManus on Network Ten, her first interview with another network since leaving Home and Away, thus making it her first television appearance since leaving the show. On 16 October Ritchie appeared on pay-TV, on the Merrick & Rosso Show.

In November, it was revealed that Ritchie would appear in the second series of Underbelly, as Judi Kane, the wife of slain 1970s standover man Les Kane.^[16] The series screened in 2009. This was her first TV drama role since leaving Home and Away. Through-out 2009 Ritchie continued her radio role on the "Merrick & Rosso and Kate Ritchie Show", and also starred in Underbelly: A Tale Of Two Cities as Judi Kane.

In 2009 Ritchie also became the face of Vaseline.^[17] It was announced on 7 November 2009 that Ritchie would host The 2009 ARIA Awards on 26 November, alongside actor and fellow "Underbelly" cast member Gyton Grantley.^{[citation needed]}

On 10 November 2009, Ritchie announced she would be leaving Nova 96.9's breakfast team and returning to acting.^[18] In January 2010 it was announced that Ritchie had been cast with a lead role in Nine's new police drama Cops L.A.C.. The series did not rate well and was cancelled after the season finale.

Personal life

Ritchie started dating St George Illawara Dragons player Stuart Webb in 2008.^{[citation needed]} On 9 September 2009, it was announced that Ritchie had become engaged to Webb.^[19] On 25 September 2010 Ritchie married Webb in a countryside outdoor wedding in Tasmania.

Filmography

References

External links

• Kate Ritchie at the Internet Movie Database
• Charena Media – Kate's Management
• Kate Ritchie Online