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Photo of Kate Duchêne

Kate Duchêne

Actor
Born January 5, 1959 (65 years)
Kate Duchêne (born Catherine Anne Purves Duchêne, 5 July 1959) is an English actress best known for her role as the teacher Miss Hardbroom in the adaptation of the children's books The Worst Witch.

Duchêne started to act at the age of 14. She studied French and Spanish at Trinity College, Cambridge in the 1980s, where she became a member of the Footlights theatre group, writing and performing her own material. She also acted with the Cambridge Mummers, appearing in such plays as Measure For Measure (as Isabella) in Cambridge and the Edinburgh Fringe. In the 1980s she joined the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, appearing in the premiere productions of Losing Venice and The White Rose. Since 2000 she has appeared frequently at the National Theatre in London, frequently working with director Katie Mitchell.

She briefly went to Spain, teaching English to children, and returned in 1986.

Duchêne is best known for her work as Miss Constance Hardbroom, the strict "deputy head and potions teacher" on the popular TV series The Worst Witch. She stayed with the programme for its three-year run, and appeared in the first episode of its 2001 spinoff Weirdsister College but did not return for the second spinoff, The New Worst Witch (2005–2006). Later projects included Afterlife, a paranormal drama series, and extensive theatre work.

Radio

From October 1987 to July 1991, Duchêne played Alex Parker in BBC Radio 4's drama series Citizens. In 2013 she guest-starred in the final Series 4 episode of Cabin Pressure, playing a captain in the service of a Zurich-based airline.

Duchêne spent her infancy in France, and was brought back to England permanently in 1962, residing in the seaside town of Brighton. Her partner is Robert Hickson. As of 2010, they have 2 children.

Source: Article "Kate Duchêne" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Movies & Shows on Plex
  • Midsomer Murders
  • Peak Practice
Known For
  • Afterlife
  • The Worst Witch
  • Roxane
  • National Theatre Live: Hedda Gabler
  • All Good Children
  • National Theatre Live: Henry V
  • Kiss Me Kate
  • National Theatre Live: Everyman
  • A Sense of Guilt

Filmography

2022
National Theatre Live: Henry V · as Exeter / Constable Of France
2020
Cursed (2020) (TV Series) · as Wulfryth
2020
Avenue 5 (TV Series) · as Curtis
2019
Roxane · as Wendy
2017
2016
New Blood (TV Series) · as Harriet Turner
2015
National Theatre Live: Everyman · as God / Good Deeds
2010
All Good Children · as Lynne
2009
An Education · as Latin Teacher
2005
Afterlife (TV Series) · as Barbara Sinyard
2003
Monsieur N. · as Madame Balcombe
2002
Foyle's War (TV Series) · as Helen Fraser
2001
Weirdsister College (TV Series) · as Miss Hardbroom
2000
Doctors (TV Series) · as Sarah Jones
1998
The Worst Witch (TV Series) · as Miss Constance Hardbroom
1998
Kiss Me Kate (TV Series) · as Lesley
1997
Wing and a Prayer (TV Series) · as Gillian Rhodes
1997
Family Affairs (TV Series) · as Carrie Lawson
1997
Midsomer Murders (TV Series) · as Jane Bennett
1993
Peak Practice (TV Series) · as Jenny Ryan
1990
A Sense of Guilt (TV Series) · as Marsha Hinde
1989
The Tall Guy · as Old Girlfriend
1987
Miss Marple: At Bertram's Hotel (TV Series) · as Rose
1986
Casualty (TV Series) · as Debbie Hansell
1986
Boon (TV Series) · as Pregnant Lady
1984
The Bill (TV Series) · as Helen Palmer

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