Kim Craig

Kim Craig
Vital statistics
Names	Kimberly Diane "Kim" Craig (née Day), Stupid Girl (by Kath)
Gender	Female
Race	Human
Occupation	House Wife, Unemployed, Fraudster
Origin	Fast Forward (1990s)
Alignment	Mixed
Age	42 as of Our Effluent Life
Created By	Gina Riley Jane Turner
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight	66 kg (145 lbs)

Kim Craig, portrayed by Gina Riley in Kath & Kim, is the immature, accident-prone daughter who often clashes with her mother, Kath Day-Knight. Created by Riley and Jane Turner (who plays Kath), Kim is known for her lazy and rude demeanor. She frequently spends her time lying around, shopping, or snacking.

Appearance

Kim’s physical appearance and fashion sense reflect her self-centered attitude; she often wears midriff-baring tops, switches between comfortable and trendy outfits, and is rarely seen without makeup.

Kim's character has a distinctive style that is both casual and at times impractical, reflecting her obsession with appearance despite little regard for true fashion sense. She has long brown hair with a fringe and a persistent habit of smoking. A regular scene sees Kim raiding the pantry at her mother’s Fountain Lakes home, often competing with her friend Sharon for snacks, highlighting her spoiled and selfish nature.

Personality

Kim Craig’s character is filled with humorous quirks and notable traits. A recurring gag involves Kim’s elusive “best friend” Tina, who is frequently referenced yet never appears on the show. Tina is depicted as perpetually absent from Kim’s major life events due to various “problems.”

Kim’s struggles with her weight are also a point of comedic tension. Although she occasionally acknowledges these issues, she insists on viewing herself as “foxy and trim.” Kath’s attempts to steer Kim towards healthier choices often backfire, making Kim more defensive and stubborn. Both Kim and Kath humorously refer to themselves as “hornbags,” adding to the show’s playful tone.

A significant part of Kim’s humor stems from her rude, cutting remarks directed at her friend Sharon, especially during Sharon’s vulnerable moments. For example, when Sharon tearfully admits to feeling unloved, Kim coldly retorts, “I knew you would never get married... but the good news is I’m getting back with Brett.” Additionally, Kim is a devoted Big Brother Australia fan, often prioritizing TV over her responsibilities, which amplifies her couch potato tendencies over her role as a mother.

Kim’s self-image is a mix of confidence and insecurity. While she frequently describes herself as a “Yummy Mummy” and a “horn-bag,” suggesting high self-regard, she also experiences moments of self-doubt, particularly about her weight. This fluctuating self-perception contrasts with her mother Kath’s steady confidence in her own appearance, which she describes as “high maintenance.”

Like Kath, Kim is unemployed and struggles with both finding and maintaining a job. Her frequent firings from a call center reflect her lack of career direction and commitment. In the episode "The Moon," it’s revealed that Kim’s astrological sign is Scorpio, hinting at her fiery and intense personality traits.

Kim’s relationship with her family, especially with her husband Brett, is characterized by dysfunction and self-interest. She frequently criticizes her family members and shows little appreciation for their efforts, often blaming them for various mishaps. Despite attempting to establish her own household, Kim repeatedly ends up moving back with her mother, Kath, and Kath's husband, Kel. This is partly due to poor decisions like lending money to her estranged father, Gary Poole, for failed ventures, which leads to the repossession of her and Brett's marital home.

Kim’s parenting style is notably self-centered. Although she enjoys the status of being a mother to Epponnee Rae, she often neglects her parental responsibilities, seeing her daughter more as an asset to bolster her own dreams. Kim hopes that Epponnee Rae will bring fame and fortune, pushing her into performances like Bubs Idol and trying to get her a role on Neighbours, which ultimately fails due to Epponnee’s uncontrollable behavior. In contrast, Brett and Kath show genuine affection and care for Epponnee, with Brett involving her in his work (partly for sales) and Kath creating a nursery for her.

In a dream sequence episode set in the future, Kim imagines that she and Brett are divorced, with Brett remarried to Sharon and raising triplets together. In this vision, Epponnee (played by Kylie Minogue) marries and appears closer to Sharon than to Kim, underscoring Kim’s insecurities and strained relationships with those closest to her.

Biography

Kath and Kim

In Season 1 of Kath & Kim, Kath's relationship with butcher Kel Knight grows, eventually leading to their wedding, while her daughter Kim, who moves back in after her marriage hits trouble, frequently interferes in her life.

1. Sex - Kim moves back home, suspecting her husband Brett is unfaithful and disapproving of Kath's relationship with Kel, who later proposes to Kath.
2. Gay - Kim takes up golf with Sharon, leading Kath to suspect she might be a lesbian. This causes Kath to question her relationship with Kel.
3. Sport - Kim joins Sharon’s netball team to confront her rivals, while Kel focuses on perfecting a gourmet sausage.
4. Fat - Kim quits smoking and struggles with her weight, affecting her bridesmaid dress fitting, while Kath and Kel clash over their wedding vows.
5. Old - Kath tries to look younger by adopting a “homeboy” style after Kim criticizes her age. Kel secretly learns to waltz for her.
6. Money - Kath holds a lingerie party to raise money for her wedding carriage, and Kim becomes obsessed with internet shopping and online dating.
7. Party - Kim organizes Kath's wild hen's night, leading to unexpected chaos, while Kel and Brett’s bachelor party goes wrong.
8. The Wedding - On Kath and Kel’s wedding day, numerous mishaps occur, from allergic reactions and slippery shoes to a runaway horse, ending with Kath, Kim, and Sharon in the hospital.

In Kath & Kim Season 2, Kath and Kel navigate married life, while Kim and Brett face ups and downs as they prepare for parenthood.

1. The Announcement - Kim and Brett reconcile and plan for a baby. Kath struggles with her lost libido, exploring nudism to reignite it. Kim later learns she was pregnant all along.
2. Inside Out - Kel, aiming for domestic perfection, leaves Kath feeling unneeded. Kim and Brett argue over renovations, eventually moving back in with Kath.
3. The Moon - Kim feels left out when Sharon reconnects with an old friend. Kath and Kel’s honeymoon plans are thwarted, leading them to vacation at the airport.
4. Obsession - Kath and Kel exhaust themselves with exercise. Sharon’s boyfriend dumps her for a riverdancer. Kim's attempts at corporate networking go awry.
5. My Boyfriend - Sharon’s boastful boyfriend joins her netball team, while Kim questions Brett's masculinity. Kath's attempt at a floral project falters due to phone issues.
6. Another Announcement - Kim and Brett argue over baby names. Kath and Kel adopt a dog, "Epponnee-Rae," upsetting Kim, who had chosen the name for her baby.
7. The Shower - Kim is disappointed when her friend Tina skips her baby shower. Sharon becomes interested in Kel's friend Sandy Freckle, but he shows more interest in Kath.
8. The Hideous Truth - Kim goes into labor, and Kath recalls her own childbirth experience with Kim’s absent father, Gary. At the hospital, a familiar face from the past appears.

In Kath & Kim Season 3, Kath and Kel face unexpected challenges in their marriage, Kim adjusts to motherhood, and the family navigates quirky new experiences.

1. Cactus Hour - Kath’s ex-husband Gary Poole reappears, claiming he never signed their divorce papers, putting her marriage to Kel in question. Meanwhile, Kim is thriving as a new mom.
2. The Mango Espadrille - Kath, Kim, and Sharon attend the races. Kath helps at Kel's butcher shop, and Epponnee auditions for a "Bubs Idol" contest.
3. Sitting on a Pile - Kel struggles to fit in at a conference. Kath feels stood up by her friend Barb due to a miscommunication, and Kim and Sharon go on a factory outlet shopping spree.
4. Kicking Up a Stink - Kim’s cabbage diet results in excessive flatulence. Kath and Kel star in a musical directed by the intense Robyn Robinson, who takes a particular interest in Kel.
5. Hello Nails! - Sharon gets a makeover from Kim for her date. Kath upgrades their home theater system, but it leads to an addiction to watching TV.
6. High and Dry - Kim starts working as a club bouncer to contribute financially. Kath's new venture as an underwear model leads to television stardom for her and Kel.
7. Foxy on the Run - Sharon is eager to become Epponnee-Rae's godmother. Kath plans Kel's 50th birthday party, but he begins to experience a mid-life crisis.
8. 99% Fat Free - Kath and Kel go on a fat-free diet after a health scare. Kim tries to get Epponnee cast in Neighbours, with flash-forward scenes showing Epponnee-Rae’s wedding, portrayed by Kylie Minogue.

Da Kath and Kim Code

In Kath & Kim: The Da Vinci Code Christmas Special, Kim discovers that her husband Brett is having another affair, this time with his boss, Kelly. Brett temporarily stays at "The Buckingham Motel," but despite Kim asking him back, he continues the affair. Meanwhile, her friend Sharon has a brief engagement to a man she met online, Marriat, but is devastated to find out he doesn't exist and was merely a blog.

Season 4

In Season 4 of Kath & Kim, which aired in 2007 after a break, the series follows the lives of Kath, Kim, and their friends as they navigate personal and family challenges, all while injecting humor and chaos into their suburban existence.

1. "Holiday" - Brett attempts to revitalize his marriage with Kim by planning a romantic getaway in Queensland, but their trip is disrupted by Kath, Kel, and Sharon's unexpected attendance, leading to conflicts and Sharon facing accusations of ball tampering.
2. "Fame" - Kim goes all out for Epponnee's first birthday party. Meanwhile, Kel's ego inflates after winning a retailer's award, culminating in a confrontation with Eric Bana at a celebrity event.
3. "Work" - Kath becomes a self-proclaimed health professional and offers yoga massages to Kel, who is sidelined with an injury. Kim, aspiring to be a cosmetic surgeon, uses Sharon as her test subject while Brett seeks to impress his bosses.
4. "Environment" - Kim aims for Epponnee to attend a private school, while Kath and Kel experiment with a grey water recycling system that proves to be troublesome.
5. "House" - With Kim and Brett moving in, the house dynamics change, leading to plumbing issues. Kath and Kel consider purchasing the neighboring house, and Sharon and Kim participate in Deal or No Deal.
6. "Roots" - Kath discovers more about her family's heritage, while Sharon reunites with her half-sister Karen, played by Matt Lucas. Kath explores her Aboriginal ancestry, causing tension with Kim, who is less enthusiastic about the revelations.
7. "Lust" - After a rough patch, Sharon, who has been celibate, finds herself in an awkward situation with Brett. Their mutual attraction leads to unexpected consequences for Kim.
8. "Wedding of the Century" - Sharon falls for Wayne (guest star Shane Warne), prompting wedding plans. Brett faces job loss but rebounds by purchasing an apartment for Kim and Epponnee and a car for Sharon. Kath and Kel turn their home into a bed and breakfast, but post-wedding, they face challenges as family members return home, complicating their lives further.

Kath and Kimderella

Kath Day-Knight, finds herself navigating a chaotic and humorous adventure alongside her daughter Kim and friend Sharon. The storyline kicks off with Kath living in Fountain Lakes, where her marriage to Kel has become mundane. Kim has returned home post-divorce from Brett, despite attempts at marriage counseling.

Kath enters a contest at the pharmacy for a holiday to the fictional "Kingdom of Papilloma" in Italy and, after Kel declines to join her due to his fear of flying and obsession with MasterChef, she decides to take Kim and Sharon instead. Their journey begins with a grueling flight and a series of mishaps upon their arrival, including the shocking news that their accommodation has closed down.

In Papilloma, they meet King Javier and his page Alain, who mistakenly believe the trio is wealthy due to their imitation fashion. Kath quickly becomes the target of Javier's affections, while Kim attracts the attention of Prince Julio, who thinks she's royalty. A series of comedic and chaotic events ensue, including an ill-fated royal ball, a fire set by the queen (who meets a dramatic end), and a revelation that Kim's status is not what it seems.

As the royal wedding approaches, tension builds when Kel and Brett fly to Italy, where misunderstandings lead to comedic confrontations. Kel, having undergone hypnosis to combat his fear of flying, hilariously ends up in an embarrassing situation. In the end, during the wedding ceremony, family secrets are revealed: Kath is a queen, and Kim a princess, stemming from their lineage.

The movie culminates in a celebration where the townspeople call for change, prompting Javier to relinquish some of his power, allowing Papilloma to become a democracy. Kath and Kim reflect on their wild adventures before considering their return to Australia. The storyline showcases the series' trademark humor and absurdity, highlighting the dynamics of family, friendship, and unexpected royal heritage.

Kath and Kimderella

In Kath & Kimderella, Kim returns to her mother’s home in Fountain Lakes after her divorce from Brett, despite undergoing marriage counseling. She ends up joining Kath and Sharon on a trip to the fictional Kingdom of Papilloma in Italy, after Kath wins a holiday and Kel declines due to his fear of flying. Upon arriving, the trio is initially disappointed by their closed accommodation but is welcomed to stay at a castle by King Javier, who mistakenly believes they are wealthy.

In the castle, Kim captures the interest of Prince Julio, who, mistaking her for royalty, eventually proposes to her. Initially skeptical, Kim accepts after Julio unmasks himself to reveal his handsome appearance. The royal wedding is disrupted by various comedic complications, including an unexpected fire, a “crazy” queen who sets the blaze, and Javier’s jealous advances on Kath.

Meanwhile, Kel overcomes his fear of flying with the help of hypnosis and, along with Brett and their spoiled daughter Epponnee-Rae, travels to Papilloma. Upon arrival, Kel heroically interrupts Javier’s flirtations with Kim and wins a sword duel for her affections. Further chaos ensues when Kim is nearly killed by a jealous maid, Isabella, before discovering a hidden disco-like chamber where the castle’s imprisoned townspeople and homosexuals are being held.

During the wedding, Kim’s true non-royal status is revealed, and it turns out that Julio is also not of royal blood. A surprise revelation shows that Kim's father, Gary Poole, is actually a royal descendant, making Kath and Kim legitimate royalty. In the aftermath, the townspeople pressure Javier into allowing a democracy. The movie ends with a grand celebration, a blossoming romance for Sharon, and the group reflecting on their fairy tale-like holiday before heading home.

Trivia

• Kim reads Australian magazines such as New Idea and Famous.

• Due to Kim's lack of commitment, she has never actually completed any of her education, most notably her high school education. Kim attended Fountain Lakes High, but left in year 10 (this was not an unheard of practice until fairly recently in Australia).
• She also started a cake decorating course, but didn't complete it. Kath finished her cake for her. She also started a nail design course, but didn't complete it.
• An American adaptation of the show was produced, with Selma Blair portraying Kim, though it was short-lived. Turner and Riley collaborated exclusively on Kath & Kim, ensuring the show's unique comedic style and cultural impact.