Kate Ellen Jenkinson (born 24 August 1981) is an Australian actress, known for her various roles on The Wedge, as well as her role of Kendall Quinn on Super Fun Night. She is known for her role as Allie Novak in the Australian TV series Wentworth.
Education Jenkinson graduated from Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2004, winning the Nigel Rideout Award and has since been working constantly in drama and comedy on both stage and screen.
Career In 2005, Jenkinson was nominated for the Best Newcomer Award for her role as Julia in the Black Swan State Theatre Company production of Zastrozzi and was a regular on the TV comedy series The Wedge from 2005 to 2007. She appeared as herself on Thank God You're Here from 2006 to 2007, as well as Forgotten Cities, a new pilot for Working Dog Productions.
In 2007, she was in an episode of Shaun Micallef's Newstopia and had a lead guest role on the Channel 9 drama series, Canal Road. She began 2008 in the Melbourne Theatre Company's production of Don Juan in Soho before commencing as a regular on SBS's Bogan Pride and guest roles on Rush, Satisfaction, Tangle, and Whatever Happened to That Guy?. In 2013, she joined the cast of fellow Australian Rebel Wilson's TV series Super Fun Night. In 2015, she played Carol, the daughter of the title character in Shaun Micallef's sitcom The Ex-PM.
In 2015, Jenkinson joined the cast of Wentworth as prison inmate Allie Novak, and in season 8 (2020), she became a 'top dog' of the prison.
In 2019, Jenkinson joined the cast of Australian medical drama, Doctor Doctor (known as The Heart Guy internationally). She played the role of Tara Khourdair during the fourth season, which commenced filming in April 2019, and aired from February to May 2020.
In 2023 Jenkinson reprised the role of Mel for season four of Five Bedrooms.
Personal life Jenkinson lives with her partner Nathan and their two rescue dogs, Bowie and Bruno. In 2021 they had their first child, a son.
She was previously in a same-sex relationship.
In late 2025, Jenkinson announced that she was releasing a cook book titled 'Half Baked' based on the success of her cooking segments on social media.
Theatre Year Title Role Notes Ref 2005 Zastrozzi Julia Black Swan Theatre, Perth 2008 Don Juan in SoHo Mattie/Dalia Melbourne Theatre Company 2009 Secret Bridesmaids Business Naomi Kay + McLean Productions 2010 The Graduate Elaine Robinson
Filmography
Television Year Title Role NotesRef 2006–2007 The Wedge Various 48 episodes 2007 Forgotten Cities Various Newstopia Amanda 1 episode 2008 Canal Road Felicity 1 episode Bogan Pride Tizneen 6 episodes 2008–2009 Rush Nina Wise 4 episodes 2009 Whatever Happened to That Guy? IVF Nurse 1 episode 2009–2010 Satisfaction Jemima 4 episodes 2009–2012 Tangle Melanie 6 episodes 2010 City Homicide Lara Conlon 1 episode Wilfred Caddy 1 episode 2010–2012 Lowdown Samantha 5 episodes 2011 Killing Time Wendy Peirce 6 episodes 2011–2013 Offspring Kate Reid 23 episodes2012 The Straits Antoinette Montebello 9 episodes Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Isabella 1 episode Home and Away Mackenzie Watson 2 episodes House Husbands Nadine Nadir 6 episodes 2013 The Time of Our Lives Eloise 8 episodes 2013–2014 Super Fun Night Kendall Quinn 16 episodes 2015 Hiding Rebecca Swift / Maree Quigg 8 episodes 2015, 2017 The Ex-PM Carol 12 episodes 2016 Beat Bugs Tawny Owl 1 episode 2016–2021Wentworth Allie Novak Regular role (season 4–8), 66 episodes 2018 True Story with Hamish & Andy Michelle 1 episode Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted to You Pat Carroll Miniseries, 2 episodes 2019 Doctor Doctor Tara Khourdair 8 episodes Get Krack!n Catherine McLeod 1 episode 2019–2023 Five Bedrooms Melanie Best 14 episodes 2021 Wentworth: The Fall Girl Allie Novak Podcast series Amazing Grace Grace Cresswell 8 episodes 2022 Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell Various characters 3 episodes 2023–2025 NCIS: Sydney Rebecca Dempsey 2 episodes2024 Roast Night Susan Turner 6 episodes2026Monarch: Legacy of MonstersGwynn2 episodes (2.2 'Resonance'), (2.4)2026Who The Hell is Hamish?TBATV series
Films +YearTitleRolesNotesTBALove, Wine & Valentine JessFilm2026RunnerBird LadyFilm2024A Vintage ChristmasDarlaFilm2014The HecklerBree2012StuffedAndieTV short
Other appearances YearTitleRoleNotes 2021 Wentworth: Unlocked Self TV special 2019 Wentworth: Behind the Bars Self TV special2018 Have You Been Paying Attention? Guest Quiz Master Talkin Bout Your Generation Herself 2012 Agony Aunts Herself 2006–2007 Thank God You're Here Herself
Awards Year Organisation Award Notes 2004 Nigel Rideout Award Teacher's Choice WAAPA 2005 Equity Benevolent Guild Best Newcomer Nominee Zastrozzi 2013 Australians in Film Finalist Heath Ledger Scholarship
References
External links