Katherine's life is a testament to her resilience and determination. Born in the Transvaal, she hails from an Irish ancestry, with her family once owning the historic Renvyle House in Connemara. Her early education in Scotland laid the foundation for her future success, as she went on to win three awards for Canada's Best Actress.
Despite her tough childhood, where she was forced to write with her right hand due to her left hand being tied, Katherine's determination to overcome her stammer led her to develop into an actress. She received elocution lessons from nuns, which helped her overcome her stammer and paved the way for her successful acting career.
Katherine's early days in the theatre saw her perform in repertory at Perth, Amersham, and Windsor, before making her West End debut at the tender age of 17 alongside the renowned Edith Evans in Antony and Cleopatra. Her move to Canada in the early 1950s saw her work with notable personalities, including author/playwright Arthur Haley and producer Sydney Newman.
Her breakthrough came when she won the Best TV Actress of the Year Award in 1964 for her role in Armchair Theatre, which prevented her from returning to the theatre. Despite her love for acting, which allows her to work with others, Katherine admits that actual performances terrify her, causing her to lose around 5 pounds over two camera days. The first night in the theatre still has the same effect on her, leaving her thinking, "That's it, never again."
However, Katherine has found solace in writing, which brings her immense joy. Her most memorable experience was working on the TV series Haunted, where the ghost of a poet affected a young boy. She has a deep-seated fear of machines, which stems from a traumatic experience during the blitz, when she was knocked over and trampled, resulting in her left cheekbone being crushed.
Her marriage to Charles Jarrett has helped stabilize her life, and she has overcome many of her fears, including her fear of flying, which was exacerbated by a 22-hour journey to South Africa due to travel restrictions. Today, Katherine is a successful writer and actress, who has adapted several historical mysteries for television, including Brigid Brophy's The Snowball and Brecht's Galileo, the latter being directed by her husband, Charles Jarrett.
