Gretel Killeen
Gretel Killeen | |
|---|---|
| Height | 5'11' |
Gretel Killeen (born 3 February 1961)[1], is an Australian journalist, newspaper columnist, author and TV personality, who has hosted the Australian version of Big Brother since 2001.
In between Big Brother commitments, Killeen works as a freelance writer and author, and can also be heard on Sydney and Melbourne radio stations. She is also a national ambassador for UNICEF in Australia, receiving her appointment as such in 2001.[2] She had also hosted the New Years Eve Fireworks in 2006 on Channel Ten for the first time, along with Daniel MacPherson.
Killeen was born in Turramurra, a suburb of Sydney.[1] She tried her hand at performing stand up comedy, something she continued for a few years, and has worked as a voice-over artist. Killeen later moved into comedy writing, scripting and acting in the A Town Like Dallas recurring comedy skit satirizing soap operas on Midday with Ray Martin from 1989 to 1991. Her work quickly expanded to cover print and television, and she also appeared as a regular panellist on Beauty and the Beast, an Australian TV panel advice and discussion show.
In 2005 a portrait of Killeen painted by Paul Jackson was a finalist in the Archibald Prize. The prize is awarded for the "best portrait painting preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in Art, Letters, Science or Politics".[3]
Career
Big Brother Australia
In 2000, Killeen was asked to host the Australian edition of Big Brother, beginning in 2001. Since then she has hosted all of the series of Big Brother Australia.
In 2007 she was accused of being aggressive towards some housemates, in particular Jamie during his eviction interview after he suggested the video package shown of him crying and sitting alone was biased towards the negative. [4][5] Later she was criticised for being particularly aggressive towards Rebecca, Thomas and Jamie. Thomas, and an earlier evictee Nick, both described her attitude towards them as "passive aggressive" in post-show interviews. Killeen was also criticised for hypocrisy having aggressively questioned why Jamie did not intervene when Michelle argued with Aleisha, and yet she was receptive towards Michelle herself on her eviction, and even rationalised Michelle's behaviour during the argument. [6]
Movie Roles
Killeen has a cameo in the Australian film Gettin' Square as Rhonda Halliwell.[1]
Other Television Roles
Killeen, along with Daniel MacPherson, hosted the 2006 New Years Eve Countdown Live on the Ten Network. Killeen hosted the Australia Day-eve celebrations on 25 January 2006. She is also the host of Ten's coverage of the Australia Day ceremony, in 2007.
References
- ^ a b c "Gretel Killeen". IMDb. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
- ^ "UNICEF People - National ambassadors". UNICEF website. Retrieved 2006-05-31.
- ^ "Archibald Prize 07". Art Gallery NSW. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
- ^ Sydney Confidential (July 3, 2007). "Is Gretel too big for BB-boots?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Good bits missed, moans Jamie". Herald Sun. July 3, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Garth Montgomery (July 9, 2007). "Most hated Housemate". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
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