Fiona Corke

Fiona Corke (born 24 September 1961) is an Australian actress best known for her role as Gail Robinson on the Australian soap opera Neighbours.

Early life

Corke grew up in Chewton near Castlemaine, Victoria, in Australia. She lived in Melbourne from the age of 18.

At the age of 20, Corke began her acting career with New Theatre Day Time, a theatre-in-education group. She auditioned for her role as Gail in Neighbours a week before leaving on a holiday to New York. While away, she received the news from her manager that she had scored the role, and had to come back to Australia several weeks early.

Career

Corke began her career with a minor role in the 1985 TV film I Live with Me Dad. That same year, she appeared as a guest star in Zoo Family. In 1986, she then had a role in Prisoner: Cell Block H as Alison Mills, who dated derided prison officer Rodney Adams. The role was intended to be ongoing, however, it prematurely ended when Prisoner was cancelled. Corke then joined the cast of Grundy stable-mate Neighbours in 1987, playing regular character Gail Lewis/Robinson, staying with the show until 1989.

Corke has also made guest appearances on a variety of prime time shows and had a recurring role as Trudi Dawson on the ABC drama SeaChange.

After Corke returned for a cameo appearance as Gail in Neighbours in 2005, she returned three more times for guest appearances in 2006, 2007 and again in 2019 for an extended guest stint which saw the return of all of Paul Robinson’s ex-wives in a plot devised by Gail and Paul's daughter Elle, played by Pippa Black.

In 2007 and 2008, Corke appeared in Rush and several episodes of City Homicide.

Corke wrote, produced and directed her first short film Woundead, which was selected for the 2009 St Kilda Short Film Festival.

Personal life

Corke is married to actor and musician Nick Carrafa who also appeared in Neighbours as Tony Romeo.

Corke has lived in Victoria's Macedon Ranges since 2002. She is a well-known wildlife activist and campaigner. In 2007, she co-founded the Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network with other local wildlife carers and rescuers. She is also vice president of the Australian Society for Kangaroos, raising awareness of the cruelty involved in the culling/shooting of kangaroos under government permits.

Corke took several years hiatus from acting due to a bad skin cancer on her face.

Filmography

Film

As producer / director

Television

Theatre

As actor

As writer

External links

• at IMDb