Kate Harcourt


Dame Catherine Winifred Harcourt , known professionally as Kate Harcourt, is a New Zealand actor. Listen with Mother, "a morning radio show for pre-schoolers" that aired nationally, "led her to television, as host of the Wellington version of children's show Junior Magazine." Over her long career she has worked in comedy as well as drama in theatre, film, and TV.

Personal life

Harcourt was born in Amberley, New Zealand, the daughter of Winifred Harriet and Gordon Fulton. She is the mother of actor Miranda Harcourt and former Fair Go television presenter Gordon Harcourt, and grandmother of actress Thomasin McKenzie. She played a part in the movie adaptation of The Changeover. Her husband, Peter Harcourt, was from the family that founded Harcourts International real estate. He died on 6 March 1995 of cancer, two years after being appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order in the 1993 New Year Honours for service to the community as an actor, broadcaster and presenter for 54 years since 1941.

Honours

In the 1996 Queen's Birthday Honours, Harcourt was appointed as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the theatre.