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This article is written from a real world point of view and so is not considered part of The Worst Witch universe.

Kate Duchêne
Katduc216x271

Birth Name

Catherine Anne Duchene

Date of Birth

January 5, 1959

Place of Birth

London, England

Occupation

Actress

Years Active

1979 - Present

Role

Miss Hardbroom

Kate Duchêne born Catherine Anne Purves Duchêne (January 5, 1959) is a British actress. Duchéne 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. Having stayed with the programme for its three-year run, and appearing in the first episode of its 2001 spinoff Weirdsister College, "The All Seeing Eye", Duchêne disappointed many fans by failing to return for the second spinoff, The New Worst Witch (2005–2006).

Quote from Kate Duchene: "In answer to your question yes, I was asked to do Miss Hardbroom for the new series but I was doing a different job and I didn't really want to, I loved it don't get me wrong but I did it for three years which is quite a long time, you can't do the same part for too long or you forget who you are (not really it just gets a bit predictable) better to stop while you still enjoy it."

She was asked to audition for a similar role to Miss Hardbroom in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001). However, she refused as she felt she should stay loyal to The Worst Witch!

Biography[]

Kate Duchene was born in London but moved to France when she was only 3 weeks old. Parents Anne and Louis Duchene moved the family back to England in 1962 to the seaside town of Brighton. Kate started to act at the age of 14 and loved acting from that moment on.

Kate Duchêne worked with the Cambridge Footlights in 1981 - 1985 during her time at Cambridge university, with the MCC running a drama workshop, she later appeared in several performances of the RSC. She read French & Spanish at Trinity College at Cambridge University. Kate received no formal training in Drama but she wrote and performed her own material with Cambridge Footlights Company before joining Mikron in 1983. She then spent a year in Spain teaching English to children. She returned in 1986 for the lead in "Lucy's Play".

Kate is best known for her acting in the children's TV show The Worst Witch as Miss Constance Hardbroom. The show ran from 1998 to 2001. Since her appearance as Miss Hardbroom in “The Worst Witch” she has worked at the Dublin Theatre and in London with the OSC and RSC - and has been spotted in some commercials. In 2002/3 she played a movie part in “Monsieur N.” - a story about Napoleon, filmed in South Africa - and in 2003 she´s been playing “Titania” in Shakespeare´s “ A Midsummer Night´s dream”.

Her more recent projects include Afterlife, a paranormal drama series, and extensive theatre work. Kate has been married for at least 20 years this year. She now has 2 children: Anna Charlotte, born on April 15th 2006 & another daughter born in 2009.

Filmography[]

TV and MOVIE:

  • An Education (2009)- Latin Teacher
  • All Good Children (2009)-Lynne
  • Afterlife (13 episodes, 2005-2006)- Barbara Sinyard
  • Without A Trace (2005) TV episode
  • Family Affairs (2 episodes, 2005) - Carrie Lawson
  • Casualty (1 episode, 2004)- Debbie Hansell
  • Forget Me Not (2004 TV episode)- Debbie Hansell
  • Monsieur N. (2003) -Madame Balcombe
  • Weirdsister College (1 episode, 2001)- Miss Hardbroom
  • The Bill- Laura (1 episode, 2000) - On the Wagon
  • Peak Practice- Jenny Ryan (1 episode, 1999)
  • Calendar Girls (1999)
  • The Worst Witch (1998 - 2000) TV Series- Miss Hardbroom
  • Out of Hours (1998) - “Sue Craven”
  • Kiss Me Kate (1998, 2 episodes) -"Lesley"
  • Midsomer Murders- (1997) playing "Jane Bennett" in episode: "Garden of Death" (episode # 4.1) 9/10/2000 general infos bout MM;
  • “Wing and a Prayer” ( 1997)- “Gillian Rhodes”
  • "This Is David Harper" (1990) playing "Caroline Jones" in episode: "Dubious Achievement" (episode # 1.1) 11/2/1990 general info
  • A Sense of Guilt (1990, TV)- Marsha Hinde;
  • The Tall Guy (1989)- Old Girlfriend;
  • Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: At Bertram's Hotel (1987) - Rose;
  • "Boon" (1986) playing "Pregnant Lady" in episode: "Paper Mafia" (episode # 2.11) 11/17/1987

THEATRE:

  • Women of Troy (2007)- Hecete, National Theatre, London, England, UK;
  • Waves (2006)- various roles, National Theatre, Cottesloe, London TELEVISION;
  • Iphigenia at Aulis (2004)- Clytemnestra;
  • A Midsummer Night´s Dream (2003)- Titania;
  • The Inland Sea (2002): Wilton´s Music Hall, London;
  • Iphigenia at Aulis (2001) : Queen Clytemnestra;
  • A Midsummer Night´s Dream (1999) -“Titania/Hippolita” - City of London Sinfonia;
  • Small Craft Warnings (1999)- Violet;
  • The Herbal Bed (1997) - '“Susanna” - Duchess Theatre;
  • The Relapse (1996) - “Amanda” - RSC Stratford/Barbican Season;
  • Faust Part I & II (1995/6 )- “Earth Spirit/ Martha/ Helen of Troy- RSC Stratfortd / Barbican Season;
  • The Cherry Orchard (1995 - 1997): Varya- RSC Stratford/ Barbican Season;
  • Hated Nightfall (1994/5) - “Caroline” - RSC Stratford/ Barbican Sesason;
  • Murder in the Cathedral (1993/4)- Chorus - RSC Stratford/Barbican Sesason;
  • The Country Wife (1993/4) - “Mrs Alithea” - RSC Stratford /Barbican Season;
  • The Merchant of Venice (1993/4)- “Jessica” - RSC Stratfort/Barbican Season;
  • Richard III, (Royal Shakespeare Company, 1992/3): “Queen Elizabeth” - RSC Tour;
  • The Rivals (1992)- “Lydia” - West Yorkshire Playhouse;
  • The Resistable Rise of Arturo UI (1991)- Royal National Theatre;
  • The Miser (1991)- “Elise” - Royal National Theatre;
  • Kean (1990)- “Amy” - Old Vic Theatre & Tour to Toronto - Mirvish Productions;
  • The Cherry Orchard (1989/ 90) - “Charlotta” - Aldwych Theatre - Michael Codron Productions;
  • Cloud Nine (1989) - “Maud/Betty” - Chichester Festival;
  • The triumph of Love (1989) - Chichester Festival;
  • Summerfolk (1989)- “Kaleria” - Chichester Festival;
  • Love´s Labours Lost (1989) - “Princess of France” - Chichester Festival;
  • The Sea (1986)- “Rose” - Playhouse Theatre, Leeds;
  • Klimkov (1984/6) - “Rayissa/Olga” - Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh;
  • White Rose (1984/6) - “Lily Litvac” - Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Also transferred to Almeida;
  • Losing Venice (1984/6) - “Duchess/Priest” - Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, also toured to Australia, Sweden, HongKong & played at the Almeida;
  • Lucy´s Play – (1984/6) “Lucy” - Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh;
  • Kathy and the Hippopotamus (1984/6) - “Ana” - Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh;
  • Dead Men (1984) - “Anna” - Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Also Toured Australia;
  • The Real Inspector Hound (1984) - “Cynthia” - Octagon Theatre, Bolton;
  • Wuthering Heights (1984)- “Ellen Dean” - Ocagon Theatre, Bolton;
  • Spring & Port Wine – (1984) “Florence” - Octagon Theatre, Bolton;
  • Taking Steps (1984)- “Kitty” - Octagon Theatre, Bolton;
  • Work with Micron Theatre Company (1983);
  • Cambridge Footlights (1981 – 1985);
  • Measure for Measure (1981)- “Mariana” - Cambridge Mummers - Edinburgh Festival & Almeida;
  • A Respectable Wedding (1981)- “Mother” - Cambridge Mummers - Edinburgh Festival & Almeida;
  • Carry on up (1981)-Pandora´s Box - Cambridge Mummers - Edinburgh Festival & Almeida;
  • The Balcony (1979/80) - “Carmen”- ADC Theatre, Cambridge;
  • Three Sisters (1979/80) - “Olga” - ADC Theatre, Cambridge;
  • The Duchess of Malfi (1979/ 80) - “The Duchess” - ADC Theatre, Cambridge;

CD Recordings: Tales for today

Radio productions: BBC Radiosoap “Citizens”, “Ironhand - parts 1&2, “Lessons in Italian”, “Grosse Fugue”, “Ivy Who”, “Losing Venice”, “Blokada” and “The Wishhouse” - all being aired in BBC Radio 3 & 4 - or BBC Radio Scotland.

Gallery[]

External links[]

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