Fiona Corke (born 24 September 1961) is an Australian actress best known for her role as Gail Robinson on the Australian soap opera ''

Neighbours ''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera that has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap '' Sons and ...

''.

Early life

Corke grew up in Chewton near

Castlemaine, Victoria Castlemaine ( , Variation in Australian English, non-locally also ) is a town in west central Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, in the Goldfields region of Victoria, Goldfields region about 123 kilometres (76 miles) northwest by road ...

, in Australia. She lived in

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

from the age of 18. At the age of 20, Corke began her acting career with New Theatre Day Time, a theatre-in-education group. She auditioned for her role as Gail in ''

'' a week before leaving on a holiday to New York. While away, she received the news from her manager that she had scored the role, and had to come back to Australia several weeks early.

Career

Corke began her career with a minor role in the 1985 TV film '' I Live with Me Dad''. That same year, she appeared as a guest star in '' Zoo Family''. In 1986, she then had a role in '' Prisoner: Cell Block H'' as Alison Mills, who dated derided prison officer Rodney Adams. The role was intended to be ongoing, however, it prematurely ended when ''Prisoner'' was cancelled. Corke then joined the cast of Grundy stable-mate ''

'' in 1987, playing regular character Gail Lewis/Robinson, staying with the show until 1989. Corke has also made guest appearances on a variety of prime time shows and had a recurring role as Trudi Dawson on the ABC drama '' SeaChange''. After Corke returned for a cameo appearance as Gail in ''

'' in 2005, she returned three more times for guest appearances in 2006, 2007 and again in 2019 for an extended guest stint which saw the return of all of Paul Robinson’s ex-wives in a plot devised by Gail and Paul's daughter

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, played by Pippa Black. In 2007 and 2008, Corke appeared in '' Rush'' and several episodes of '' City Homicide''. Corke wrote, produced and directed her first short film ''Woundead'', which was selected for the 2009 St Kilda Short Film Festival.

Personal life

Corke is married to actor and musician Nick Carrafa who also appeared in ''

'' as Tony Romeo. Corke has lived in Victoria's Macedon Ranges since 2002. She is a well-known wildlife activist and campaigner. In 2007, she co-founded the Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network with other local wildlife carers and rescuers. She is also vice president of the Australian Society for Kangaroos, raising awareness of the cruelty involved in the culling/shooting of kangaroos under government permits. Corke took several years hiatus from acting due to a bad skin cancer on her face.

Filmography

Film

As producer / director

Television

Theatre

As actor

As writer

References

External links

*
Bring Back Gail
{{DEFAULTSORT:Corke, Fiona 1961 births Australian television actresses Living people Actresses from Melbourne Australian soap opera actresses