Jean Kittson
| Jean Kittson | |
|---|---|
 Jean Kittson launching the 11th Hour Campaign for the 2010 Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month campaign | |
| Birth name | Jean Kittson |
| Medium | Comedian, television |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Years active | 1989–present |
Jean Kittson is an Australian performer, writer and comedian in theatre and print, on radio and television. She made her comedy debut at Melbourne’s comedy venue Le Joke in a series of solo performances, and then in the stage version of Let The Blood Run Free.[1]
She came to national attention on The Big Gig. This was followed by Let the Blood Run Free, Kittson Fahey, the Great Debate series as well as Good News Week, The Glasshouse and The Einstein Factor. She is also well known for her lively comedy debates for the ABC, Channel 9 and Channel Ten and was a regular guest on Channel 7's the Morning Show, Channel 9's KAK Show and 20 to One. She has also been a judge on Strictly Speaking and a guest on Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation.
Jean Kittson is a regular guest on TGIF, ABC radio 702, Sydney and has been a regular columnist with New Weekly, Sunday Telegraph, the SMH Sydney Magazine, Inspire Magazine, and the Readers Digest Health Smart magazine.
She is the author of Tongue Lashing, published by Penguin.
Television
Kittson is best known for her performances, particularly as a news commentator, on the ABC1 evening comedy program, The Big Gig, which aired in the early 1990s. Kittson also starred in the TV series of Let The Blood Run Free, which was first shown on Network Ten in 1990, and ran for two seasons. Kittson has become a regular guest on ABC1’s The Einstein Factor and The Glasshouse.
Theatre highlights
Theatre highlights include: A Midsummer Night's Dream; The Night of The Missing Bridegroom; and Behind The Mask. Kittson also performed Love Letters with Glynn Nicholas for the Melbourne Arts Festival and revisited the role in 2003 at the Noosa Arts and Cultural Festival with the late Campbell McComas.
Charity work
Jean Kittson is an avid supporter of multiple charities and is currently the Chair of the National Gynaecological Cancer Foundation.
In February 2010, Kittson became the official spokesperson for the Ovarian cancer awareness month.[1] for Ovarian Cancer Australia, and in 2011 became the official national 'Afternoon Teal' ambassador.
Jean is Patron of The Junction Works - Community Services
An Ambassador for;
- The Macular Degeneration Foundation
- Northcott Disability Services
- The Raise Foundation – Youth Mentoring
- Taldumande Member Foundation (Taldumande Youth Services) - Homeless youth and families in crisis.
Cinema
In 2010, Kittson appeared in Bad Behaviour, starring Lindsay Farris, John Jarratt and Roger Ward, written and directed by Joseph Sims.
Personal life
She is married to the cartoonist Patrick Cook.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2002 | The Nugget | Joyce | |
| 2005 | Hating Alison Ashley | Miss Belmont | |
| 2010 | Bad Behaviour | Jane | Appeared in the 2010 Melbourne Underground Film Festival (received five awards) [2] 2011 Cinequest Film Festival[3] in California, 2011 Australian Film Festival, 2011 Another Hole in the Head Festival |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1989 | The Big Gig | Writer/actor | |
| 1990–1992 | Let The Blood Run Free | Nurse Pam Sandwich | 26 episodes |
| 1992–1993 | Kittson Fahey | Various characters | |
| 1999–2009 | Good News Week | Herself | 7 episodes |
| 2000 | Gloria's House' | Dorothy | 26 episodes |
| 2003–2004 | The Glass House | Herself | 3 episodes |
| 2004–2008 | The Einstein Factor | Herself | 17 episodes |