Asher Keddie (born 31 July 1974[citation needed]) is an Australian actress. Beginning her career in the television series Five Mile Creek in the mid 1980s, Keddie received wide recognition for her role in the television series Offspring. Her significant repertoire in television has led to her being dubbed as the 'Golden Girl of Australian Television'.[1] Keddie also had a small role in the film X-Men Origins: Wolverine, as Dr. Carol Frost. Aside from television and film work, she has several theatre credits, including in the Melbourne Theatre Company production of Les Liaisons dangereuses as Madame de Tourvel.

Asher Keddie
Keddie in May 2012
Born (1974-07-31) 31 July 1974 (age 49)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
EducationSt Michael's Grammar School
OccupationActress
Years active1984–present
Spouses
Jay Bowen
(m. 2007; div. 2011)
(m. 2014)
Children2

She won the Logie Award for Most Popular Actress five times in a row between 2011 and 2015. Keddie won the 2013 Gold Logie award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television, for her role as Dr Nina Proudman in the Network Ten drama Offspring. She had previously been nominated twice for the award. Keddie has a total of seven Logie Awards.

Early life

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Keddie was born to Robi and James Keddie, both school teachers.[2] As a child, she took dancing lessons for nine years and at age 14, she dislocated her knee prior to an audition at the Australian Ballet School. Despite her initial misfortune, she landed an acting gig in a dance wear ad while at ballet school and subsequently landed an agent.[3] Keddie completed her secondary education at St Michael's Grammar School, St Kilda.In 2000 she scored a starring role as dancer in the music video, “Since I Left You” by the Avalanches, which by 2024 had been viewed 16 million times.[4]

Entertainment career

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Television and film career

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Keddie had guest roles early in her career in various television dramas, including her first roles in Five Mile Creek (1985), Fortress (1986) and Janus (1994). She played the role of Marriane Sheridan in Blue Heelers (season 3, episode 21) airing on 18 June 1996 and Good Guys, Bad Guys (1997). From 1997 to 1998, she came to the attention of senior network television producers, appearing in State Coroner. Following this, she had a recurring role in Stingers from 2000 to 2004.

Keddie's big break came in 2004, where she had a leading role in Love My Way, a drama series airing on Foxtel. The series ended in late 2007. This role led to Keddie being nominated for various awards for playing the part of Julia Jackson, a woman who struggles to cope with her own identity in the midst of family tragedy. Keddie's award win came at the end of Love My Way's third series in 2006.

In 2009, Keddie appeared in three different roles. She portrayed police officer Liz Cruickshank in the television drama Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities and journalist Jacinta Burns, in the TV series Rush, as well as Dr Carol Frost in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

In 2010, Keddie depicted author Blanche d'Alpuget in Hawke, a telemovie about the premiership of Bob Hawke (the Prime Minister of Australia, 1983–91). She also became the star of the drama series Offspring, which began airing in August 2010. In April 2011, she had the leading role of Ita Buttrose in ABC1's telemovie Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo, the story of Buttrose's rise to success as the editor of Cleo magazine.

In 2014, Keddie starred in Party Tricks as Premier Kate Ballard. Ballard faces an election campaign alongside newly announced Opposition candidate David McLeod (Rodger Corser), with whom she once had a tumultuous affair.

In 2019, Keddie starred in the ABC1 acclaimed series "The Cry". In March 2020, she starred in a 6 part series on ABC1, "Stateless". The series also stars and is produced by Australian actress, Cate Blanchett and is set in a detention centre in the middle of the Australian outback.

In 2021, Keddie played Heather Marconi in the Nicole Kidman led Hulu series, Nine Perfect Strangers alongside Melissa McCarthy, Samara Weaving and Bobby Cannavale.[5][6][7]

Stage

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Making her theatre debut for the Melbourne Theatre Company in 1998 in Patrick Marber's Closer, Keddie went on to appear in Cyrano de Bergerac, Les Liaisons dangereuses, Birthrights, Great Expectations, The Seagull and Hannie Rayson's Life After George. Her performances in the 2005 Melbourne Theatre Company production of Les Liaisons dangereuses, and the Playbox's The Ishmael Club, both earned her Green Room Award nominations.[8]

In 2007 Keddie starred alongside Jay Bowen in the Melbourne Theatre Company's play The Glass Soldier written by Hannie Rayson.[9]

Personal life

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Keddie married actor and musician Jay Bowen in January 2007.[10] The pair separated in December 2011.[10] In April 2014, she married artist Vincent Fantauzzo.[11] On 19 November 2014 she announced at the GQ Men's Award that she was pregnant. On 1 March 2015, their first child was born.[12][13]

Filmography

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Film

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YearTitleRoleNotes
1985FortressSueFilm based on a novel by Gabrielle Lord
1988Two Brothers RunningRuthie BornsteinFilm
1993The Feds: DeadfallSusan LehmanTV film
1997The Devil GameKarinTV film
1999RedballGirl #2Film
2003Roy Hollsdotter LiveCateTV film
2006The Society MurdersPrue ReedTV film
PhaseIoneTV film
2007CurtinElsie Curtin JnrTV film
Murder in the OutbackAnne BarnettTV film
2009X-Men Origins: WolverineDr. Carol FrostFilm
Possession(s)SelinaFilm
2010HawkeBlanche d'AlpugetTV film
2018Swinging SafariGale MarshFilm
2019Dark Whispers Vol 1ZoeFilm
2020RamsAngelaFilm

Television

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YearTitleRoleNotesRef
1985Five Mile CreekEmmaEpisode: Possum
Glass BabiesAnna SimpsonMiniseries
Palace of DreamsYoung Girl (uncredited)Miniseries
1986The Last FrontierEmma HannonMiniseries
1988DustyMiniseries
1993SnowyYoung GirlEpisode: Dams, Schemes & Damn Schemes
1994JanusLisaEpisodes: Without Prejudice, Burden of Proof, Improper Influences
1996Law of the LandShannon RaynerEpisode: Leader of the Pack
1996–2003Blue HeelersMarriane Sheridan/Kelly Lonsdale/Lee-Anne Rheinberger4 episodes
1997Good Guys, Bad GuysAimeeEpisode: The Sound of One Hand Killing
Simone de Beauvoir's BabiesKarla (aged 17)Miniseries
1997–1998State CoronerClaire FerrariMain cast (15 episodes)
2000–2004StingersSamantha Piper7 episodes
2002The Secret Life of UsMelissaEpisode: “From Little Things Big Things Grow”
MDARachel O’ConnorEpisode: “1.6”
2004–2007Love My WayJulia JacksonMain cast (30 episodes)
2005Last Man StandingJemimaEpisode: “1.6”
2006Two TwistedSarahEpisode: “A Date with Doctor D”
2009Underbelly: A Tale of Two CitiesDetective Liz CruickshankMain cast (13 episodes)
RushJacinta Burns7 episodes
2010–2017OffspringNina ProudmanMain role (86 episodes)
2010SatisfactionRuby O’KaneEpisode: “Bug Crush”
2011Paper Giants: The Birth of CleoIta ButtroseMiniseries
2013It’s A DateVerityEpisode: “1.3”
2014Party TricksKate Ballard6 episodes
2018The CryAlexandraMiniseries: 4 episodes
2019The HuntingSimoneMiniseries: 4 episodes
2020StatelessClaire Kowitz6 episodes
2021Nine Perfect StrangersHeather MarconiMiniseries
2023The Lost Flowers of Alice HartSallyMiniseries
StrifeEvelyn Jones8 episodes[14]
2024FakeBirdie BellIn production[15]
2025PlumIn production[16]

Awards and nominations

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YearAwardCategoryResultWork
2005Logie AwardMost Outstanding Actress[17]NominatedLove My Way
ASTRA AwardMost Outstanding Performance by an Actor – FemaleNominated
2006Australian Film Institute AwardsBest Lead Actress in Television Drama[17]Nominated
Logie AwardMost Outstanding Actress[17]Nominated
ASTRA AwardMost Outstanding Performance by an Actor – FemaleNominated
2007ASTRA AwardMost Outstanding Performance by an Actor – FemaleWon
Logie AwardMost Outstanding ActressNominated
2008Logie AwardMost Outstanding ActressNominated
ASTRA AwardMost Outstanding Performance by an Actor – FemaleNominated
2009Australian Film Institute AwardsBest Lead Actress in Television DramaNominatedUnderbelly: A Tale of Two Cities
2010Logie AwardMost Outstanding ActressNominated
Australian Film Institute AwardsBest Supporting Actress in Television DramaNominatedHawke
2011Gold LogieNominatedOffspring and Hawke
Logie AwardMost Popular ActressWonOffspring
Logie AwardMost Outstanding ActressNominated
Equity AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (Shared with castmates)Nominated
2012Equity AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (Shared with castmates)Nominated
Equity AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Mini Series or Telemovie (Shared with castmates)NominatedPaper Giants: The Birth of Cleo
AACTA AwardsAudience Award for Best PerformanceWon
AACTA AwardsBest Lead Actress in Television DramaNominated
Logie AwardMost Outstanding ActressNominated
Gold LogieMost Popular Personality on Australian TelevisionNominatedOffspring and Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo
Logie AwardMost Popular ActressWon
2013Gold LogieWonOffspring
Logie AwardMost Popular ActressWon
Equity AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (Shared with castmates)Nominated
2014Logie AwardMost Popular ActressWonOffspring
Logie AwardMost Outstanding ActressWon
2015Gold LogieMost Popular Personality on Australian TVNominatedOffspring and Party Tricks
Logie AwardMost Popular ActressWon
2017Logie AwardBest ActressNominatedOffspring
2018Logie AwardMost Popular ActressNominated
2019Logie AwardMost Outstanding Supporting Actress

Most Popular Actress

NominatedThe Cry

References

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  1. ^ "Asher Keddie is Australian TV's Golden Girl". The Queensland Times. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  2. ^ "The rise of Asher Keddie". The Australian. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Keddie. We can't get enough". Mamamia. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  4. ^ It is in IMDB, saying this...Asher was the blonde dancer in the Avalanches music video titled Since I left you.
  5. ^ "Exclusive: Asher Keddie On Her Big Hollywood Break". Marie Claire. 6 June 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Where You've Seen the Cast of Nine Perfect Strangers Before". E! Online. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  7. ^ Lawler, Kelly. "Review: Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy can't save Hulu's messy 'Nine Perfect Strangers'". USA TODAY. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Offspring". Network Ten. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  9. ^ "Rising star Asher Keddie". Herald Sun. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  10. ^ a b "Asher's brush with love again". Herald Sun. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  11. ^ "Asher Keddie marries Vincent Fantauzzo in Fiji". 21 April 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  12. ^ "Asher Keddie and Vincent Fantauzzo welcome first child". 17 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  13. ^ "First pics: Asher Keddie's son Valentino".
  14. ^ Knox, David (27 March 2023). "Asher Keddie begins production on Strife | TV Tonight". TV Tonight.
  15. ^ Knox, David (14 September 2023). "Paramount+ filming new thriller series, Fake. | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  16. ^ Slatter, Sean (16 January 2024). "ABC to serve up 'Plum' with Brendan Cowell, Asher Keddie leading the cast". IF Magazine. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  17. ^ a b c "Asher Keddie (Liz Cruickshank)". Ninemsn. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
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