Catherine McClements

Australian actress From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Catherine McClements

Catherine McClements is an Australian stage, film, and television actress, and television presenter. She is known for her TV roles in Water Rats and Tangle, for which she won Logie Awards, and has performed in stage productions for theatre companies such as Belvoir St Theatre, the Melbourne Theatre Company, the Sydney Theatre Company and the State Theatre Company of South Australia.

Quick Facts Born, Education ...
Catherine McClements
Thumb
McClements at the 2011 Logie Awards
Born
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
EducationNational Institute of Dramatic Art (BFA)
OccupationActress
Years active1986–present
Known forRachel Goldstein in Water Rats
Kerry Vincent in Rush
Christine Williams in Tangle
SpouseJacek Koman (c. 1990–present)
Children2
Close

Early life and education

Catherine McClements was born in Melbourne, Victoria,[citation needed] the daughter of Frank, a high school teacher, and Pamela.[1]

She attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), graduating in 1985, alongside Baz Luhrmann, Sonia Todd, and Justin Monjo.[2][3][4] In 1988, McClements, along with a number of other people including Baz Luhrmann, set up an experimental theatre ensemble called Six Years Old and worked on expanding the play Strictly Ballroom, which was first produced in their second year of NIDA in 1984.[5]

Career

Summarize
Perspective

Screen

In 1993, McClements had a role in The Girl from Tomorrow Part II: Tomorrow's End.[citation needed] She is best known, however, for her starring role as Rachel Goldstein in the Australian police drama Water Rats from 1996 to 1999.[citation needed] She followed this up with a recurring guest role on The Secret Life of Us in 2001, for which she won the AFI Award for Best Actress in a Guest Role in a Television Drama.[citation needed]

She starred as Rosie in the 2003 drama series CrashBurn and appeared in the Network Ten telemovie Mary Bryant in 2005.[citation needed]

From 2008 she played Inspector/Superintendent Kerry Vincent in the Australian police drama Rush, and psychologist Christine Williams in the Showcase drama Tangle. A second and third season of Tangle and Rush respectively were announced in 2009 and both aired in 2010.[6][7] Tangle and Rush were commissioned for new seasons, both to start filming in mid-2011.[8][9] In 2010, McClements won an AFI Award for her role in Tangle.[citation needed] She has also won ASTRA Awards for her role in Tangle in 2011 and 2013.[10]

In 2011, McClements guest starred in a YouTube and Facebook-only show called Queer as F**k, playing Mel, a friend of main character Aaron (Gary Abrahams).[citation needed]

In 2012, McClements was cast as Meg Jackson in Wentworth, a contemporary reimagining of the Australian classic Prisoner. She was cast in a leading role for Season One of Wentworth, but her character did not appear beyond episode one.[citation needed]

Earlier in 2013, McClements was cast in new ABC telemovie The Broken Shore, alongside Don Hany, Dan Wyllie and Claudia Karvan. It premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival in October 2013 and aired on the ABC in early 2014.[11]

In September 2013, McClements was cast in the film The Menkoff Method, directed by David Parker.[12]

In 2019 she starred in Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries as Birdie Birnside.[13]

In August 2022 she played the part of a teacher in the State Theatre Company South Australia and Sydney Theatre Company co-production Chalkface, written by Angela Betzien. The play opened at the Dunstan Playhouse in Adelaide.[14]

In 2023, McClements was announced as part of the cast for SBS series Erotic Stories.[15] She was also announced as part of the cast of the third and final season of ABC drama Total Control,[16] as well as ABC drama Return to Paradise.[17] On 21 November 2024, it was announced that McClements was a part of the cast for ABC drama The Family Next Door.[18] McClements was also named for Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar.[19] On 31 January 2025, McClements was announced as part of the cast for the Netflix series The Survivors.[20] On 17 April 2025, McClements would return for the second series of Return to Paradise as the show would enter production again.[21]

Stage

McClements has also appeared in stage productions for many theatre companies, including Belvoir St Theatre, the Melbourne Theatre Company, the Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, State Theatre Company of South Australia, and the Malthouse Theatre.[22]

In 2013, McClements returned to the stage in Sharr White's play The Other Place for Melbourne Theatre Company[1] and Phèdre for Bell Shakespeare.[23]

Awards

More information Year, Award ...
Year Award Category Title Result
1990 AFI Award Best Actress in a Lead Role Weekend with Kate Won
1993 Asia-Pacific Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Redheads Won
1994 Green Room Award Best Female Actor in a Play Angels in America Nominated
1998 Logie Award Most Popular Actress Water Rats Nominated
Most Outstanding Actress Water Rats Won
People's Choice Award Favourite Actress in a Drama or Serial Water Rats Nominated
1999 AFI Award Best Actress in a Lead Role Water Rats (episode 4.17: I'm Home) Nominated
2000 Logie Award Most Outstanding Actress Water Rats Nominated
2001 AFI Award Best Actress in a Guest Role in a Television Series The Secret Life of Us Won
2007 AFI Award Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama Call Me Mum Nominated
2008 Helpmann Award Best Female Actor in a Play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Nominated
2010 Astra Award Most Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor Tangle Nominated
AFI Award Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama Tangle Won
2011 Astra Award Most Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor Tangle Won
Logie Award Most Outstanding Actress Rush Nominated
2013 Logie Award Most Outstanding Actress Tangle Nominated
ASTRA Award Most Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor Tangle Won
Close

Personal life

McClements' husband is actor Jacek Koman, who also guest-starred in The Secret Life of Us as Dominic, though they were not on the show at the same time.[24] They have two children.[1]

McClements' brother is Brendan McClements, who as of 2013 was the CEO of Victorian Major Events Company, who is 18 months older than her and her "best friend growing up".[1]

McClements is good friends with fellow actress Claudia Karvan, whom she met at the AFI Awards in 1990 and starred with in the film Redheads in 1992.[25]

Filmography

Film

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
1986 Just UsJessica TaylorTelemovie
1987 The Right Hand ManSarah RedbridgeFeature film
1990 Struck by LightningJill McHughFeature film
Weekend with KateKate MuirFeature film
1992 RedheadsDiana FerraroFeature film (aka Desperate Prey)
2000 Waiting at the RoyalDinny WestonTelemovie
Better Than SexSamFeature film
2003 After the DelugeNikki KirbyTelemovie
FloodhouseAva50 minute film
2005 Mary BryantMarleenTelemovie
2006 Call Me MumKateTelemovie
Sexy ThingMumShort film
2007 Fast LaneLouiseShort film
2008 Emerald FallsRosalie BaileyFeature film
2013 The Broken ShoreErica BurgouyneTelemovie
2014 The Menkoff MethodMajorieFeature film
Close

Television

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
1986 My Brother TomMargaret 'Peggy' McGibbonMiniseries
1993 The Girl from Tomorrow: Tomorrow's EndLorienMiniseries
1993 G.P.Heather RyanTV series, 1 episode: "Close Encounters"
1996–99 Water RatsRachel GoldsteinTV series, 109 episodes
2001–02 The Secret Life of UsCarmenTV series, 10 episodes. Won AFI award for episode: "Love Sucks"
2003 CrashBurnRosie Denton HarfieldTV series
2006 Real StoriesJillianTV series, episode 8
2008–11 RushKerry VincentTV series, all 70 episodes
2009–12 TangleChristine WilliamsFoxtel series
2010 The PacificCatherine LeckieTV series, 1 episode: "Home"
2013 WentworthMeg JacksonFoxtel series, 4 episodes
2014 The Time of Our LivesDiana SoutheyTV series, season 2
2015 The Beautiful LieTess du PontTV series
2016 RakeJulieTV series, season 4
2017 SistersGenevieveTV series, 7 episodes
2019 Ms Fisher's Modern Murder MysteriesBirdie BirnsideTV series
2022 Pieces of HerGrace JunoNetflix series, 6 episodes
2023 The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart Sarah TV miniseries, 2 episodes
Erotic StoriesSamAnthology TV series, 1 episode: "Philia"
2024 Total ControlMarion BeaumontTV series, season 3, 4 episodes
2024-present Return to Paradise Senior Sergeant Philomena Strong TV series, 6 episodes
2024 Bump Gaby TV series: 1 episode
2025 Apple Cider Vinegar Julie Gibbs TV series: 5 episodes
The Survivors Trish TV series
The Family Next Door TBA In production
Close

Other appearances

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
1999Doing TimeNarrator10-part TV documentary
2009Whale PatrolNarratorTV documentary
2011Things on Sunday: SexPanel memberMalthouse Theatre
2015Sperm Donors AnonymousNarratorTV documentary
Close

Theatre work

Summarize
Perspective

McClements' work on stage includes:[22]

More information Name, Year ...
Name Year Character Venue
1984Holiday MakersSashaNIDA
1984Impromptu at Versai (part of Three French Farces)Mrs MolièreNIDA
1984All's Well That Ends WellHelenaNIDA
1984; 1986Strictly BallroomBarbara PierceNIDA, Bratislava
1985DreamplayNIDA
1985The Unseen Hand (part of Hallucinogenics? 3 plays from the 60s)NIDA
1985The War (from The Greeks trilogy)IphigeniaNIDA & St Martins Youth Arts Centre
1985Once in a LifetimeNIDA
1986And a Nightingale SangJoyceSydney Opera House with Gary Penny Productions
1987Much Ado About NothingHeroPlayhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1987Shepherd on the RocksRhonda Moffat / News team member / Female whale saverPlayhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1987The Winter's TalePerdita; ServantPlayhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1987Les Liaisons dangereusesCecile de VolangesPlayhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1987AwayMegPlayhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1988Molière (aka The Cabal of Hypocrites)ArmandoKey Studios, Melbourne with Australian Nouveau Theatre for Spoleto Melbourne Festival of the Arts
1989; 1990The Imaginary InvalidAngeliqueNew Fortune Theatre for Perth Festival, Anthill Theatre, Melbourne, Universal Theatre, Melbourne, Armoury Lawns for Adelaide Festival with Australian Nouveau Theatre
1990Crystal ClearThomasinaUniversal Theatre
1991The CrucibleAbigail WilliamsSydney Opera House with STC
1993; 1994Angels in AmericaHarper Amity PittRussell Street Theatre, Melbourne & Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC, Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1994Seeing Violet (part of Unsettled trilogy)Isabel HopeNapier Street Theatre, Melbourne with $5 Theatre Company
1994No Family (part of Unsettled trilogy)DorisNapier Street Theatre, Melbourne with $5 Theatre Company
1994At Dusk (part of Unsettled trilogy)LilyNapier Street Theatre, Melbourne with $5 Theatre Company
1995The Blind Giant Is DancingLouiseBelvoir St Theatre, Sydney
2000Suddenly Last SummerCatharineBelvoir St Theatre, Sydney
2000Emma Celebrazione!Gasworks Arts Park, Melbourne
2003MacbethLady MacbethBelvoir St Theatre, Sydney
2005Cruel and TenderAmeliaFairfax Studio, Melbourne with MTC
2006It Just StoppedBethMalthouse Theatre & Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney
2007Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?MarthaBelvoir St Theatre, Sydney
2008AppetiteLouiseDunstan Playhouse, Adelaide, Sydney Opera House, Fairfax Studio, Melbourne
2011Happy Ending (part of the Cybec Readings)LouiseLawler Studio, Melbourne
20128 – The PlaySandy StierHer Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne & Sydney Town Hall
2012Never Did Me Any HarmSouthbank Theatre Force Majeure & STC for Melbourne Festival
2013The Other PlaceJuliana SmithtonArts Centre Melbourne with MTC
2013PhèdrePhèdreMalthouse Theatre, Melbourne & Sydney Opera House with Bell Shakespeare
2013White Rabbit, Red RabbitMalthouse Theatre, Melbourne
2016; 2018The EventsClaireGranville Town Hall, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide with STCSA for Adelaide Festival, Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney for Sydney Festival, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, Studio Underground, Perth, IMB Theatre, Wollongong
2017Three Little WordsTessSouthbank Theatre, Melbourne with MTC
2018Antony and CleopatraCleopatraSydney Opera House, Canberra Theatre Centre, Arts Centre Melbourne with Bell Shakespeare
2022The Sound InsideBella BairdFairfax Studio, Melbourne with MTC
2022ChalkfacePat NovitskyDunstan Playhouse with STCSA & Sydney Opera House with STC[14]
Close

References

Loading related searches...

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.