Kate Hood

{{short description|Australian actress}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Use Australian English|date=February 2014}}  {{Infobox person | name = Kate Hood | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|59|2018|03|26}}<ref name="Straits Times">{{cite web| last=Rashith| first=Rahimah| title=Setting the stage for performers with disability| url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/setting-the-stage-for-performers-with-disability| website=The Straits Times| date=26 March 2018| access-date=3 September 2021}}</ref> | birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | occupation = Actress, writer, director | years_active = 1981−present | notable_works = ''Prisoner'' (1986) }} '''Kate Hood''' (born {{Birth based on age as of date|59|2018|03|26|noage=y}}<ref name="Straits Times"/>) is an Australian actress, born in Sydney. She studied drama in New Zealand and joined The Mercury Theatre{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}

She is best known to international audiences for her role in the cult television drama ''Prisoner''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ellis|first=Katie|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9EOEDwAAQBAJ&q=kate+hood+prisoner&pg=PT13|title=Disability and Digital Television Cultures: Representation, Access, and Reception|date=2019-01-18|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-62784-5|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Dow|first=Steve|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/sep/24/disability-and-the-new-normal-why-australia-needs-to-ramp-up-access-to-stage-and-screen|title=Disability and the 'new normal': why Australia needs to ramp up access to stage and screen|date=2016-09-23|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-04-22|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> as the misunderstood Kath Maxwell during the final year of the series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.acmi.net.au/events/mainstreaming-disability/|title=Mainstreaming Disability and Appearance Diversity on Screen|website=ACMI|language=en|access-date=2020-04-22|archive-date=9 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309141531/https://www.acmi.net.au/events/mainstreaming-disability/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.auslanstageleft.com.au/events/diversity-casting-presentation-kate-hood-melbourne/|title=Diversity Casting – Presentation by Kate Hood [Melbourne]|website=Auslan Stage Left|language=en|access-date=2020-04-22}}</ref>

She also played Jill Fowley on three episodes of ''Blue Heelers'' during its sixth season, and is the voice behind many TAC commercials. She had a part in the Jodie Foster film ''Mesmerized''.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}

In 2003, Hood was diagnosed with HSP (hereditary spastic paraplegia). She is a wheelchair user.<ref name=":0" /> Hood said of the diagnosis that she underwent two years of unsuccessful treatment with a chiropractor before seeing a neurologist.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-14 |title='My legs would just give way': Aussie star's battle after diagnosis |url=https://honey.nine.com.au/latest/kate-hood-disabled-australian-actress-starred-on-prisoner-theatre-show/d6757135-489f-4ec5-b9c5-9a527d4659ed |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=honey.nine.com.au |language=en-AU}}</ref>

In 2023, Hood was added to an advisory board of the Melbourne Theatre Company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergman |first=Gabi |date=2023-02-28 |title=New voices join Melbourne Theatre Company to help realise new vision |url=https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/new-voices-join-melbourne-theatre-company-to-help-realise-new-vision |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=AussieTheatre.com |language=en-AU}}</ref>

== Other activities == Hood is the director of Raspberry Ripple Productions, a production company that focuses on helping disabled actors work with people like themselves on stage.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-06-07 |title=About Us |url=http://raspberryripple.co/about-us/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Raspberry Ripple |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Hood is an advocate for disability awareness in the arts sector.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Muscat |first=Kate Hood Olivia |last2=Collyer |first2=Emilie |date=2020-07-09 |title=An opening for change |url=https://witnessperformance.com/an-opening-for-change/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Witness Performance |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kate Hood – FCAC Artist-In-Residence |url=https://footscrayarts.com/profile/kate-hood/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Footscray Community Arts |language=en-AU}}</ref>

== Filmography ==

===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- | 1984 || ''Constance'' || Library Assistant || |- | 1986 || ''Mesmerized'' || Midwife || Feature film |- | 1988 || ''Takeover'' || Nurse || Television film |- | 1993 || ''The Flood: Who Will Save Our Children?'' || Mrs. Bowman || Television film |}

===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- | 1986 || ''Prisoner'' || Kath Maxwell || Season 8 (84 episodes) |- | 1999–2000 || ''Blue Heelers'' || Jill Fowler, Rita Hammond || Season 6 (3 episodes) |- | 2016–17 || ''Neighbours'' || Maxine Cowper || Season 32−33 (4 episodes) |- |2022 |Talking Prisoner |Self |Podcast series 1 episode |}

== Theatre == Hood has appeared in numerous theatre productions. In 2023, Hood appeared in the play ''Escape Alone.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Theatre |first=Aussie |date=2023-08-09 |title=MTC {{!}} Caryl Churchill's Masterpieces Unite in Exclusive Double Bill |url=https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/mtc-caryl-churchills-masterpieces-unite-in-exclusive-double-bill |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=AussieTheatre.com |language=en-AU}}</ref> In 2024, Hood appeared in ''Cost of Living'' during the Queensland season of the production.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cross |first=Chantel Le |title=★★★★☆: From Broadway to Sydney, this hit play treats disability with humour and dignity |url=https://www.timeout.com/sydney/theatre/cost-of-living |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240810003504/https://www.timeout.com/sydney/theatre/cost-of-living |archive-date=10 August 2024 |access-date=2025-02-25 |work=Time Out Sydney |language=en-AU |url-status=live }}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes !Ref |- | rowspan="2" |2024 |''Cost of Living'' |Ani |Queensland Theatre Co |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-24 |title=Theatre review: Cost of Living, Queensland Theatre |url=https://www.artshub.com.au/news/reviews/theatre-review-cost-of-living-queensland-theatre-2731700/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=artshub.com.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> |- |''Peacemongers'' | | |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-05 |title=Theatre review: Peacemongers, Darebin Arts Speakeasy |url=https://www.artshub.com.au/news/reviews/theatre-review-peacemongers-darebin-arts-speakeasy-2721585/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=artshub.com.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" |2023 |''Escape Alone'' |Lena |Southbank Theatre |<ref>{{Cite news |last=Byrne |first=Tim |date=2023-08-13 |title=Escaped Alone and What If If Only review – this Caryl Churchill double bill opens with a masterpiece |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2023/aug/14/escaped-alone-and-what-if-if-only-review-this-caryl-churchill-double-bill-opens-with-a-masterpiece |access-date=2025-02-25 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> |- |''Risky Business'' | |Director / Geelong Theatre Co |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geelong Arts Centre celebrates arts diversity with Risky Business – Geelong Arts Centre |url=https://geelongartscentre.org.au/about-us/media-centre/media-releases/geelong-arts-centre-celebrates-arts-diversity-with-risky-business/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=geelongartscentre.org.au |language=en}}</ref> |}

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=0393492|name=Kate Hood}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hood, Kate}} Category:1950s births Category:Australian film actresses Category:Australian soap opera actresses Category:Australian stage actresses Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:20th-century Australian actresses Category:21st-century Australian actresses