Dame Catherine Winifred Harcourt ( Fulton; born 16 June 1927), known professionally as Kate Harcourt, is a New Zealand actress. Over her long career she has worked in comedy as well as drama in theatre, film, TV and radio.
Personal life
Harcourt was born and grew up on a sheep station in the rural area of Amberley, New Zealand. Her mother was Winifred Harriet (née Austin) and her father was Gordon Fulton. Harcourt was the youngest of three children, with an older brother, John Fulton, a prominent Canterbury farmer, and president of the Canterbury Jockey Club, as well as an older sister. From age nine onward she attended boarding school, first at Amberley House and then at Woodford House (Hawke's Bay).
Music was important to Harcourt in her early years as it was to her mother too. She went to Christchurch to train as a kindergarten teacher partly so she could continue with her singing and piano. She also attended the Joan Cross Opera School in London.
Harcourt is the mother of actress Miranda Harcourt and former Fair Go television presenter Gordon Harcourt,A lifetime walking the boards Capital Times, 12 October 2011."Harcourt siblings: The tables are turned" , nz.lifestyle.yahoo.com, 23 October 2011. and grandmother of actresses Thomasin McKenzie, Davida McKenzie and journalist Peter McKenzie. She played a part in the movie adaptation of The Changeover. Harcourt met her husband Peter Harcourt (1923–1995) at Wellington Repertory Theatre. He was from the family that founded Harcourts International real estate. Peter Harcourt died on 6 March 1995 of cancer, two years after being appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order in the 1993 New Year Honours for service to the community as an actor, broadcaster and presenter for 54 years since 1941. The Ngā Whakarākei O Whātaitai / Wellington Theatre Awards annually has an award called The Peter Harcourt Outstanding New Playwright.
Career Harcourt returned to New Zealand from London and took up a teaching position at Woodfood House in Havelock North. After that she moved to Wellington initially teaching at Marsden College, before working at the department store Kirkaldie and Stains organising and MC'ing weekly fashion shows for seven years.
Her entry into national entertainment came as a regular voice in the morning Listen with Mother which was a radio show for pre-schoolers on Radio New Zealand. She was later host of the children's TV show Junior Magazine.
Harcourt has acted in numerous stage and screen works. Stage work includes comedy with Hens' Teeth, and acting in a version of Hedda Gabler. She had a long association with theatre company Downstage starting out putting up posters for them. She lists acting in New Zealand playwright Renée's Wednesday to Come as one of her career favourites. Harcourt played Mary in the world premiere at Downstage Theatre in 1984.
In 1998 Harcourt performed on stage alongside her daughter Miranda Harcourt in the biographical Flowers from my Mother's Garden at the New Zealand Festival of the Arts. Written by Harcourt's daughter and son-in-law Stuart McKenzie, it was partly based on letters between mother and daughter. A review stated that the play shared "the experiences of a mother, daughter and extended family with an ingenious simplicity that belies the depth of insight. It's a prime example of how universal the particular can be."
Honours In the 1996 Queen's Birthday Honours, Harcourt was appointed as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the theatre.
Theatre and screen work Film YearProductionRoleProduction company / directorRef.2017The ChangeoverWinter CarlisleChangeover Films Ltd, dir. Stuart McKenzie, Miranda Harcourt2013Hope & WireDottyGPP / Hope & Wire Productions2008Separation CityMrs SimpsonSeparation City Limited, dir. Paul Middleditch2007Apron StringsNan (Core Cast)Dir. Sima Urale2007Garage SaleMargieGS Productions Ltd, dir. Paul Murphy2003Without a PaddleOld WomanViacom Ltd2002The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers3'6" Ltd, dir. Peter Jackson1988Send a GorillaDir. Melanie Read1984Mr WrongDir. Gaylene Preston1982Carry Me BackMrs. BrewsterDir. John Reid1981TrespassesDir. Peter Sharp1980Beyond Reasonable DoubtDir. John Laing
Television YearProductionRoleProduction company / directorRef.2015LumenChambermaidNinth Floor NZ Productions2008The Table Plays – Jack in the boxNanFirst Hand Productions, dir. Keith Hunter2007A Tall Long Faced TaleSophie/ Pirate Mother voiceProduction Shed.TV Ltd2007The Killian Curse 2TVNZ2005The Insider's Guide to LoveShaunGibson Group2005Shortland StreetMavis MillerSouth Pacific Pictures1997William TellCloud 9 Entertainment Ltd1997Mirror, MirrorDir. Gibson Group1996 1997HerculesPacific Renaissance1995Plain TastesMontana Sunday Theatre, dir. Niki Caro1994FalloutMargaret ThatcherSouth Pacific Pictures, Avalon Studios1991Rodney and JulietDir. Fane Flaws1987Gloss: Between the Lines(final ep)1986Worzel Gummidge1986Seekers1986Open HouseTVNZ1985Night of the Red Hunter1984Inside Straight1983Mark llDir. John Anderson1982Gliding On1981Open File1980Cleaning Company1980Country GPTVNZ1983Hooks and FeelersDir. Melanie Read1964–1965 Junior MagazinePresenter
Short film YearProductionRoleProduction company / directorRef.2017The PactBettyHappiness Ltd2013PigeonMo Fresh Productions2012The SilkMrs BlackieDir. Nathalie Boltt, Clare Burgess2010Pacific DreamsGrace LeahyMorepork Films Ltd / Inspire Films Ltd2007The Shoe BoxMartha WilsonDir. Chaz Harris2005The PlantBerylIsola Productions1994The DigDir. Neil Pardington2012Rhode Island Film FestivalBest Actress in a Short FilmPacific Dreams2011Rhode Island Film FestivalBest ActressPacific Dreams
Web series YearProductionRoleProduction company / directorRef.2017Lucy Lewis Can't Lose s2LibrarianRedletter TV
Theatre YearProductionRoleProduction company / directorRef.2020The Older the BetterHens Teeth2014Destination BeehiveCirca Theatre, dir. Jan Bolwell2012Flowers from my Mother's GardenKate HarcourtDownstage Theatre, dir. Tim Spite2010Auntie & MeAuntieWgtn Opera House / Tour, dir. Kevin Baddeley2007Babar The ElephantNarratorNZ Symphony Orchestra2007Uncle VanyaNurseCirca Theatre, dir. Susan Wilson2006 07Music Hallcore castCenterstage, dir. Kevin Baddeley2006Truth About LoveExpressions Theatre, Lower Hutt2006Mum's ChoirAuntie (core cast)Downstage Theatre, dir. Cathy Downes2003My Fair LadyMrs HigginsDir. Stephen Robinson2002Halfmen of OCalico Theatre, Napier2001Musicians of BremenGypsy Capital E / Tour1998 1999Flowers From My Mothers GardenHarcourt/McKenzieTe Papa Soundings Theatre / Int. Fest of the Arts1998 1999Son'sMrs McFarlaneTe Papa Soundings Theatre / Int. Fest of the arts1998 1999WeekendsIris PollardCirca Theatre1996Hens TeethVariousNZIFA / Circa Theatre1993Ophelia Thinks HarderGertrudeCirca Theatre1993Joyful and TriumphantLila BishopCentrepoint Theatre1992The Importance of Being EarnestLady BracknellCentrepoint Theatre1991 92Hens TeethAdelaide Festival, Auckland Festival1990Oracles and MiraclesMotherNational Tour1990Hedda GablerBerthaDownstage / Edinburgh / Oslo / Sydney / Festival
References
External links
The Wellingtonian interview: Dame Kate Harcourt