Kris McQuade (born 1952) is an Australian stage, television and film actress who has had many film, television and theatre roles. McQuade is best known for her roles in Deadloch, Rosehaven and Wentworth.
Early life McQuade studied a Bachelor of Performing Arts at Sydney's National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), graduating in 1971.
Career
Television From 1973, McQuade had early guest roles in Matlock Police, Division 4, Ryan and Homicide, before landing a regular ongoing role as Gail Bennet in ABC soap opera Bellbird in 1974. She went on to star as Christine Clayton in another soap opera, Certain Women from 1975 to 1976, before making further guest appearances in Alvin Purple, Bluey and Love Thy Neighbour in Australia.
McQuade's next television credit of note was Crawford Productions soap opera Skyways, in which she starred as Faye Peterson, partner of security chief, Peter Fanelli (played by Bill Stalker), from 1979 to 1980. Roles in several miniseries followed during the 1980s, including playing Kitty in ABC Depression-era period drama Palace of Dreams in 1985. The role won her a Penguin Award for Best Supporting Actress. She then played Mum / Elsie in the three installments of historical saga Fields of Fire from 1987 to 1989. She also appeared as Shirley in the 1991 biographical miniseries Rose Against the Odds, telling the story of Australian Indigenous boxer Lionel Rose.
From 1991 to 1992, McQuade's next significant credit was Boys from the Bush, in which she played the role of Delilah, before playing the first of two recurring roles, 'Loony Laura' Brennan, a retired professional runner, in long-running soap opera Home and Away in 1993. She played Gillian in sci-fi series Return to Jupiter in 1997. She had a second recurring role on Home and Away in 2005, this time as Noelene, mother of Dan and Peter Baker. She then went on to play the lead role of Professor Pip Cartwright in comedy series Supernova from 2005 to 2006.
McQuade joined the main cast for prison drama series Wentworth in late 2012, as crime matriarch and prison top dog Jacqueline 'Jacs' Holt. She featured in the entire first season of the show, before the character was killed during the finale. Her portrayal earned her a nomination for the AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama in 2013. The following year, as part of the ensemble cast, she was nominated for an Equity Ensemble Award.
McQuade portrayed underworld matriarch Kath Pettingill in the award-winning 2011 drama series Killing Time, based on the true story of disgraced lawyer Andrew Fraser. She played Dr Fiona McKenzie in 2016 miniseries The Kettering Incident and from 2016, she also featured in the cast of comedy series Rosehaven, alongside Celia Pacquola and Luke McGregor, playing the role of Barbara for the show's entire run.
In 2023, McQuade appeared in black comedy crime series Deadloch. That same year, she was announced as part of the cast for the second season of The Twelve, opposite Sam Neill and Brendan Cowell. On 20 November 2025, McQuade was announced to appear in upcoming ABC drama series Treasure & Dirt.
McQuade's other television credits include episodes of Punishment (1981), Scales of Justice (1983), A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors, The Last Resort (1988), Wildside, Grass Roots, Blue Heelers, and Stingers.
Film McQuade's early film roles include 1973 Ozploitation sex-comedy classic Alvin Purple, in which she played Samantha alongside Graeme Blundell and a young Jacki Weaver. The following year, she appeared in the film's sequel, Alvin Rides Again. She also appeared in 1977 short film The Love Letters from Teralba Road, playing estranged wife Barbara opposite Bryan Brown.
Appearances in two of her early films, as Mrs Goodwood in Fighting Back (1982) and as Stella in Buddies (1983), saw McQuade nominated for Australian Film Industry Awards for Best Supporting and Best Actress respectively, scoring a win for Fighting Back.
In 1985, McQuade appeared in romantic comedy feature The Coca-Cola Kid, playing the role of Juliana, opposite American actor Eric Roberts and Greta Scacchi. The following year, she acted in Jane Campion's directorial film debut Two Friends, earning an AFI Award nomination for Best Actress. She then had a role in Baz Luhrmann's first feature film, the romantic comedy Strictly Ballroom in 1992, playing Charm Leachman, opposite Paul Mercurio and Barry Otto.
McQuade was recognised with further AFI Award nominations for her roles in 1993 drama film Broken Highway starring Aden Young and 2000 romantic comedy Better Than Sex, in which she appeared opposite David Wenham and Susie Porter.
McQuade played Gwen Maloney in 2001 David Caesar film Mullet, appearing alongside Ben Mendelsohn. She then had a role as family matriarch, Ellen Kelly in Gregor Jordan's 2003 historic drama Ned Kelly, a retelling of the story of Australia's famed bushranger of the same name, with Heath Ledger and Orlando Bloom. She played Mrs McAnsh in 2007 Australian drama film December Boys, starring Daniel Radcliffe.
More recently, McQuade has appeared in the 2017 post-apocalyptic thriller Cargo, in which she appeared with British actor Martin Freeman as the character of Etta. She also had a supporting role in martial arts fantasy film Mortal Kombat (2021).
Further film credits throughout McQuade's career include Kostas (1978), Harvest of Hate (1979), Lonely Hearts (1982), Goodbye Paradise (1983), Billy's Holiday (1995), Subdivision (2009) and Holding the Man (2015).
Theatre McQuade has also appeared in numerous theatre productions, beginning with The Beggar's Opera with NIDA in 1971. The following year, she played Jan in a production of the musical Grease at Melbourne's Metro Theatre for Harry M. Miller. In 1977, playing the role of Natasha in an Old Tote Theatre Company production of The Lower Depths at the Sydney Opera House won McQuade a National Theatre Critics Award.
From 1998 to 2001, McQuade toured Australia and then London and New York with a stage adaptation of Tim Winton's Cloudstreet. Her role as Dolly Pickles earned her a 2002 Helpmann Awards nomination for Best Actress.
2010 saw McQuade nominated for a Sydney Theatre Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Gabrielle York in a STC touring production of When the Rain Stops Falling. Then in 2012, she was nominated for a Helpmann Award for Best Supporting Actress, for a MTC production of Neighbourhood Watch. The role also saw her nominated for a Sydney Theatre Critics Award.
In 2013, McQuade played the titular role in Maggie Stone, for State Theatre Company of South Australia. She returned to Adelaide in 2015, to lead the cast in the world premiere season of The Aspirations of Daise Morrow, adapted from a short story by Australian playwright, Patrick White.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotesRef.1973Come Out FightingSporting World Hostess Short film Alvin PurpleSamantha 1974Alvin Rides AgainMandy 1975The Firm ManAnne ThropomorphicThe True Story of Eskimo NellLil1977The Love Letters from Teralba RoadBarbara Short film 1978Harvest of HateRuth GrantTV film 1979KostasJenny 1982And/Or = OneSamanthaLonely HeartsRosemarie Fighting BackMrs. Goodwood 1983Now and ForeverMatilda SpencerBuddiesStella Goodbye Paradise Hooker 1985The Coca-Cola Kid Juliana Stock Squad Caroline Marshall TV filmRemember MeSue TV film1986Two FriendsJanet, Louise's mother TV film 1987The SurferTrish1992Strictly BallroomCharm Leachman ResistanceRuth 1993Broken HighwayWoman 1995Billy's HolidayKate Hammond 1996McLeod's DaughtersMeg TV film2000Better Than SexTaxi Driver 2001MulletGwen Maloney 2003Ned KellyEllen Kelly PreservationMrs. Harrison2005Hell Has Harbour ViewsPamTV film2007December BoysMrs. McAnsh 2008Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! Herself Documentary film2009SubdivisionBetty Kelly 2015Holding the ManAunt Mary 2017CargoEtta 2021Mortal KombatCargo Plane Pilot 2025Modern FolkloreGirl Scout Mom
Television YearTitleRoleNotesRef1973, 1974Matlock PoliceTerri Williams / Carol Green 2 episodes1973–1974Division 4Various roles 4 episodes1974RyanAbby Simpson Episode: "A Deep Dark Place"HomicideSonia / Mary Turner 2 episodesBellbirdGail Bennet 173 episodes1975Wollongong the BraveKaren Vaughn / Tracey Episode: "Gunston: The Golden Weeks"1975–1976Certain WomenChristine Clayton 11 episodes1976Alvin PurpleElsieEpisode: "The Postman"BlueyJudy BrowningEpisode 35: "Whole of Life"1979Love Thy Neighbour in AustraliaLizEpisode: "Who's a Naughty Boy?"1979–1980SkywaysFaye Peterson 74 episodes1980The SullivansLt. Phillipa Heath 2 episodes1982A Country PracticeTrudi 2 episodes1983Scales of JusticeKate Hardman Episode: "The Numbers" 1985Palace of Dreams Kitty Miniseries, 4 episodes1986The Fast LaneZola Episode: "Murder Most Fouled"1987Fields of FireMum Miniseries, 2 episodesRafferty's RulesPamela Gordon Episode: "Public Image"1988The Last Resort Dusty MiniseriesFields of Fire IIElsie Miniseries, 2 episodes1989Fields of Fire III1990The Flying DoctorsCaz Episode: "Dad's Little Bloke"1991Rose Against the OddsShirley Rennie Miniseries 1991–1992Boys from the BushDelilah 16 episodes1993–2005Home and AwayLaura Brennan / Noelene Baker 20 episodes1994G.P.Julia Priestley Episode: "That Old Black Magic"A Country PracticeHelen Ross Episode: "Running Wild"1995Blue Heelers Maureen Powers Episode: "Protected Species"1996Police Rescue Alison Johnson Episode: "Nobody's Place"House GangRaelene Episode: "Winners"1997Fallen AngelsJude Episode: "All Things Bright and Beautiful"Return to JupiterGillian 13 episodes1998MedivacCarmel Episode: "Denial"1999WildsideElizabeth Holland Episode #2.202000Grass RootsCheryl Da Costa Episode: "October to March"2001The FarmPat McCormick 3 episodes2002StingersDossie Logan Episode: "Old Scores"2003SnobsMrs. Lewis Episode #1.202005–2006SupernovaProfessor Pip Cartwright 12 episodes2007All SaintsDorothea Louden Episode: "Cutting Free"2009My PlaceGrandma / Bev's Friend 2 episodesThe CircuitTerri Oliver 2 episodes2011Killing TimeKath Pettingill 6 episodes2011–2012Packed to the RaftersBrenda Fraser 3 episodes2013A Place to Call HomeGrace Stevens 2 episodesWentworthJacs Holt 10 episodes 2016The Kettering Incident Dr. Fiona McKenzie 6 episodes 2016–2021Rosehaven Barbara McCallum 39 episodes 2018Mystery RoadLiz Rutherford 3 episodes2019GlitchDawn Episode: "Mum"2020The GloamingDetective Snr Carrie Bennett 3 episodes2021The TailingsLaurie 6 episodes 2023Deadloch Victoria O'Dwyer 8 episodes2024The Twelve Bernice Price 7 episodes2025Bay of FiresBarry Episode: "The Chosen"2026 Treasure & Dirt
Theatre