Jane Turner: Biography, Career, and Life After Kath & Kim

For millions of Australians, Jane Turner is Kath Day-Knight – the cheerful, wig-wearing wife of Kel in the suburban sitcom that defined early-2000s comedy. Away from the screen, though, Turner has led one of the most deliberately quiet lives in show business. This profile pieces together what can be confirmed about her career after Kath & Kim, from theatre stages and wig workshops to her 2023 exhibition portrait at the National Portrait Gallery.

Born: 1 December 1960 in Newcastle, NSW ·
Known for: Creating and starring in Kath & Kim ·
Awards: Logie Award for Most Popular Comedy Program (shared) ·
Order of Australia: Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) ·
Collaboration: Writer/performer with Gina Riley since the 1990s

Seven facts about Jane Turner, from birth to recognition – one pattern: she has built a career almost entirely outside the public spotlight, letting her characters do the talking.

How Turner’s career path compares with her creative partner’s reveals how differently two collaborators navigated life after a shared hit.

Where is Jane Turner now?

Current projects and media appearances

• Turner appeared in Open Slather (2015), a sketch comedy series reuniting Gina Riley and Magda Szubanski (Now To Love (entertainment news)).
• She played Senator Penny Evans in the fourth season of Rake (2018) (Now To Love (entertainment news)).
• According to a 2020 feature, Turner has also performed in theatre productions including Holding the Man, Northwest, An Ideal Husband, and Sweeney Todd (2021) (Now To Love (entertainment news)).

Public engagement and exhibitions

In 2023, Turner was featured in a portrait exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, a rare public exposure that journalists noted for its contrast with her usual low profile. She continues to work as a wig specialist for stage and screen, a craft she has honed since the early days of Kath & Kim (Jolitson (personal blog interview)).

What this means: Turner is still active in Australian entertainment, but entirely on her own terms – picking character-driven theatre roles and behind-the-scenes wig work over the celebrity circuit.

Did Gina Riley and Jane Turner get along?

Their creative partnership

Turner met Riley in the 1990s, and together they created Kath & Kim, which became one of Australia’s most beloved sitcoms. They co-wrote every episode, sharing a Logie Award for Most Popular Comedy Program in 2004 (Wikipedia (biographical reference)). Their writing partnership was famously equitable – both women have described it as a genuine collaboration rather than a formal division of labour.

Friendship beyond the screen

The same 2020 feature reported that Turner and Riley remain close, though Riley has retreated from public life more sharply since the show ended. They reunited on screen for Open Slather and have appeared together in charity events. A 2014 interview with Turner noted that she still speaks warmly of Riley (Jolitson (personal blog interview)).

The pattern: their bond was professional and personal – a rare duo who wrote, performed and stayed friends without public friction.

How old are Jane Turner and Gina Riley?

Jane Turner’s biography

Turner was born on 1 December 1960 (IMDb (filmography database)). As of 2025, she is 64 years old. She attended Sacré Cœur School in Glen Iris, Victoria, and graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1988 (Wikipedia (biographical reference)).

Gina Riley’s biography

Riley was born on 3 March 1961 (Wikipedia (biographical reference)). She is 63 years old as of 2025. Unlike Turner, Riley chose a more complete withdrawal from acting after Kath & Kim, a decision that has prompted ongoing fan curiosity.

Two comedians, born just months apart – yet their post-show paths diverged dramatically: Turner in theatre and wigs, Riley largely out of the frame.

Does Jane Turner wear a wig in Kath and Kim?

The role of wigs in character comedy

Yes – Turner wore wigs as Kath Day-Knight. In a 2014 interview, she explained that the original nylon wig used in the first series became so stretched that she eventually wore it back to front (Jolitson (personal blog interview)). The wig itself became a running visual gag, central to Kath’s identity.

Behind-the-scenes hair and makeup

Turner described some of the early wigs as “not funny”, meaning the comedy came from meticulous costume detail rather than slapstick. She now works as a specialist wig maker for theatre productions, including Sweeney Todd and An Ideal Husband (Now To Love (entertainment news)).

The takeaway: wigs are not a footnote – they are the architectural foundation of Turner’s character work, from Kath to Margaret Thatcher to her stage roles.

What are Jane Turner and Gina Riley doing now?

Recent projects

• Turner continues theatre work, with her last confirmed stage performance in Sweeney Todd (2021) (Now To Love (entertainment news)).
• She reportedly stepped away from full-time acting after Kath & Kim to work as a representative for the United Nations, visiting refugee camps and supporting charities in Africa (Now To Love (entertainment news)).
• Riley has not taken visible acting roles since 2015’s Open Slather, according to available records (IMDb (filmography database)).

Public appearances and interviews

Turner gave a rare wig-focused interview in 2014, but has otherwise avoided press. The 2020 Now To Love feature remains the most detailed profile of her current life. Both women have declined further public commentary on their private lives.

For fans of Australian comedy, the gap between Turner’s visible work (theatre, wigs, the occasional TV role) and Riley’s near-silence is wide – and unlikely to be filled soon.

“Wigs are my secret weapon. I can’t get into character without them. They are the first thing I choose.”

Jane Turner, interview with Jolitson, 2014 (Jolitson (personal blog interview))

“Jane and Gina wrote every line together. There was no ‘mine and hers’ – it was just their voice.”

Now To Love feature, 2020 (Now To Love (entertainment news))

Timeline

Summary: Turner’s career has two distinct acts – the high-profile sitcom years (2002–2007) and the quiet but steady theatre/charity phase that followed.

For a comprehensive look at her life and work, you can read Jane Turners biography and career on OzInsightly.

Frequently asked questions

For fans of Australian comedy, the question isn’t whether Jane Turner will return to the screen – it’s what she chooses to share next. Her post-Kath & Kim career proves you can stay in the industry without staying in the spotlight. Turner keeps the wig off but the craft alive, proving her post-Kath & Kim career is as deliberate as it is enduring.