Kate Ritchie (born 14 August 1978 in Goulburn, New South Wales[1]) is a multiple Gold Logie Award winning Australian actress, best known for her long-running role as Sally Fletcher on the television soap opera Home and Away. She played the character for 20 years from 1988-2008. Prior to her retirement from the role, she shared the record (recognised by Guinness World Records) for the longest continuous role in an Australian drama series, with fellow original cast member Ray Meagher.[2]
Contents
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* 1 Family and schooling
* 2 Career
* 3 Personal life
* 4 Television roles (synopsis)
* 5 Awards
o 5.1 Logie awards
* 6 Footnotes
* 7 External links

[edit] Family and schooling

Ritchie's parents are Heather and Steve, and she has three younger siblings - Rebecca, Stuart and Susan.[3] Ritchie attended Campbelltown North Public School Ritchie also went to Hurlstone Agricultural High School - the latter a New South Wales agricultural and selective school.[4]

[edit] Career

In addition to 20 years on Home and Away, Ritchie has appeared in commercials, a mini-series and an Australian film. She has also been involved with the Campbelltown Musical Society.[5]

1986

She was cast as Molly, the child lead in the 1986 Nine Network-PBL mini-series, Cyclone Tracy, starring Chris Haywood and Tracy Mann.[6]

1987

Ritchie started working with Home and Away in 1987, at age 8. Production began in July 1987 (shortly before her 9th birthday) and it premiered on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988.[citation needed]

2006

Ritchie played "Nicole" in the ABC film Stepfather of the Bride.[7]

Whilst in the United Kingdom with Mark Furze and Jodi Gordon, Ritchie appeared on The Friday Night Project and Loose Women, and appeared on interviews for Five and Five life.[citation needed]

She was also a contestant on the celebrity singing competition It Takes Two, partnered with Troy Cassar-Daley. The pair placed fourth in the competition.[8]

2007

Ritchie joined Nova radio to co-host the drive show with comedian Akmal Saleh, replacing Matthew Newton.[9] She was replaced in May by New Zealand comedian Cal Wilson.[10]

Ritchie co-hosted, with Grant Denyer, the second series of It Takes Two.[11]

In September 2007, Ritchie announced that she would be leaving Home and Away in mid-December.[12] Her final scenes were filmed on 13 December 2007[13] and she last appeared on Australian screens as Sally Fletcher on 3 April 2008. Her UK demise with the same episode, was not long after the Australian with her departure being screened on UK terrestrial television on 12 May 2008.[14]

2008

On 14 January 2008, Ritchie began work on the Nova 96.9 breakfast show with Merrick and Rosso.[15]

On 16 October Ritchie appeared on pay-TV, on the Merrick & Rosso Show. It was her first television appearance since Home and Away.

In November, it was revealed that Ritchie will star in the second series of Underbelly, as Judi Kane, the wife of slain 1970s standover man Les Kane.[16] The new series will screen in 2009. This will be her first TV drama role since leaving Home and Away.

Ritchie has also signed on to do another 12 months with the Merrick and Rosso breakfast show.[citation needed]

[edit] Personal life

In 2000, an explicit sex tape widely reported as featuring Ritchie and an ex-boyfriend was published on the Internet. She has never publicly discussed the matter.[17]

For a time during 2007, Ritchie was dating pro-skateboarder Corbin Harris, who was 4 years her junior.[18] They met in February 2007 at castmate Ada Nicodemou's wedding to Chrys Xipolitas.[11] She previously was involved in a long-term relationship with rugby league footballer Chris Walker.[19]

[edit] Television roles (synopsis)
Year Title Notes
1986 Cyclone Tracy Mini-series
1988-2008 Home And Away Played the role of Sally Fletcher for 20 years
2006 Stepfather of the Bride TV Movie
2006; 2007 It Takes Two Contestant (2006); Host (2007)
2007; 2008 Carols in the Domain Co-Host with Grant Denyer
2009 Underbelly: A Tale Of Two Cities Judi Kane

[edit] Awards

[edit] Logie awards

Wins

* 2006: Silver Logie Most Popular Actress: Home and Away
* 2007: Silver Logie Most Popular Actress: Home and Away
* 2007: Gold Logie Most Popular Personality: Home and Away
* 2008: Silver Logie Most Popular Actress: Home and Away
* 2008: Gold Logie Most Popular Personality: Home and Away and It Takes Two

Nominations

* 2006: Gold Logie Most Popular Personality: Home and Away
* 2009: Silver Logie Most Popular Actress: Home and Away
* 2009: Gold Logie Most Popular Personality: Home and Away

Kate Ritchie arrives for the 51st TV Week Logie Awards (May, 3) x2