Supernova returns to 91Èȱ¬ TWO for second series
Professor Pip Cartwright (Kris McQuade)
Professor Pip Cartwright heads the Royal Australian Observatory (RAO) in the Outback town of Unagatta.
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She's extremely competent and has been the undisputed leader
of the observatory team for more than 15 years – but Pip also lives life
to the full, she likes a drink and a laugh and has an eye for the younger
men.
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Everyone is equal in Pip's eyes. She's loyal and open-minded as long as the work is getting done - but cross her at your peril.
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Both professionally and personally, without Pip the RAO staff would be lost.
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She's not as young as she used to be though and will start to question whether she's still got what it takes in series two.
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The professor who has always been there for her staff might
just need her 'work family' to return the favour and pull her through
when the going gets tough in the this series.
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Pip is involved in an open relationship with the local Aboriginal mechanic Bill, who is several years her junior.
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Kris McQuade plays Professor Pip Cartwright
In a career spanning almost 25 years, Kris McQuade has appeared in some of Australia's best-loved stage and screen productions.
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She was delighted that Supernova returned and enjoys playing
the strong, independent character of Pip, as she explains: "There
are not many Australian roles written for the older woman. It's nice
to finally play someone who is my age, who is an interesting character
and who is a real individual."
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She continues: "Pip is a career woman first and a surrogate mother second. She keeps the place running and the motley crew together."
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Supernova was a rare gift for the actress: Kris loves performing comedy but finds the opportunity does not come her way often.
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She feels she has really got under the skin of her character, and learned in this second series to "let loose" and "play the moment much more".
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She thoroughly enjoyed working with Rob: "Brydon sets the standard on set; he is the master of old form, classic comedy and his timing as a comedian is amazing."
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She also loved working with Sandy Johnson: "He approached the project from an actor's point of view; his background is in comedy, and his even temperament and no-stress approach really filtered through the cast on set."
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Kris's film work includes the seminal Australian comedy Alvin Stardust, Baz Luhrmann's colourful Strictly Ballroom, Gregor Jordan's Ned Kelly and Better Than Sex.
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She received the AFI Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1982 for Fighting Back, one of five nominations she has received for AFIs over the years (Buddies, Two Friends, Broken Highway, Better than Sex).
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This year Kris will star in the widely anticipated December Boys.
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Her numerous television credits include: two series of Boys from the Bush, Wildside, Stingers, A Country Practice, Grassroots, Farscape and Hell Has Harbour Views.
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Her theatre work includes: Threepenny Opera, Mourning Becomes Electra (directed by Barrie Kosky), The Orestrian Trilogy (directed by John Bell) and national and international tours of the award-winning Cloudstreet, directed by Neil Armfield.
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Her interpretation of the character Dolly Pickles in the latter earned her nominations for a MO Award and a Robert Helpmann Award, both for Best Actress.
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