Virginia Gay
Encyclopedia
Virginia Gay is an Australian actress most known for her work on the Australian TV dramas Winners & Losers
(as Frances James), and All Saints
(as Gabrielle Jaeger).
, and spent a couple of years in England while her mother researched English Literature. She developed a taste for the arts from a young age when her parents were involved in amateur dramatics.
Gay attended Newtown High School of the Performing Arts
in Sydney. At Sydney University undertaking an English literature–performance studies degree, she became so involved with the student dramatic society she realised that she should probably try to act full time, and consequently dropped out and auditioned for Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Before All Saints, Gay was involved in local Perth theatre, theatresports
and singing.
In 2008, she appeared on the reality series It Takes Two. Her professional partner was Ian Moss
(of Cold Chisel
fame). They came third in the series. Gay and Moss made It Takes Two history, scoring a 10 in their first ever performance on the show.
In October 2008, Gay was a part of the cast in a concert performance of the musical Breast Wishes
in support of Breast Cancer.
In February/March 2009, Gay was asked to replace Courtney Act
in the production Gentlemen Prefer Blokes for the Mardi Gras
festival, as Shane Jenek (aka Courtney Act) injured his leg in a ski accident.
Since March 2011, Gay has portrayed Frances James in the TV series Winners & Losers
on the Seven Network.
in Sydney.
Winners & Losers
Winners & Losers is a Australian television drama series first broadcast on the Seven Network on 22 March 2011. It was created by the producers of Packed to the Rafters and is aired in the show's former time slot...
(as Frances James), and All Saints
All Saints (TV series)
All Saints is an Australian medical drama which first screened on the Seven Network. The series debuted on 24 February 1998 and concluded its run on 27 October 2009...
(as Gabrielle Jaeger).
Education
Gay grew up in Sydney's inner westInner West (Sydney)
The Inner West is a general term which is used to describe the metropolitan area directly to the west of the Sydney central business district, New South Wales, Australia...
, and spent a couple of years in England while her mother researched English Literature. She developed a taste for the arts from a young age when her parents were involved in amateur dramatics.
Gay attended Newtown High School of the Performing Arts
Newtown High School of the Performing Arts
Newtown High School of the Performing Arts is a state government school located in the suburb of Newtown in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of the leading Performing and Visual Arts schools in Australia...
in Sydney. At Sydney University undertaking an English literature–performance studies degree, she became so involved with the student dramatic society she realised that she should probably try to act full time, and consequently dropped out and auditioned for Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Career
Still at Drama School, Gay originally auditioned for the character of Ricky on All Saints but was unsuccessful. But she impressed the directors so much that after graduation she was called in to audition for the role Gabrielle which was specifically written for her and was given the role—much to her and the family's surprise.Before All Saints, Gay was involved in local Perth theatre, theatresports
Theatresports
Theatresports is a form of improvisational theatre, which uses the format of a competition for dramatic effect. Opposing teams can perform scenes based on audience suggestions, with ratings by the audience or by a panel of judges...
and singing.
In 2008, she appeared on the reality series It Takes Two. Her professional partner was Ian Moss
Ian Moss
Ian Moss is an Australian rock musician, best known as the guitarist and occasional singer of Cold Chisel. In that group's initial ten year career, Moss recorded eight albums, three of which were No. 1 national hits. His solo career began with a No. 1 album and single and five ARIA Awards...
(of Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel is a rock band that originated in Adelaide, Australia. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian rock bands of all time, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s and huge sales that continue to this day, although its success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to...
fame). They came third in the series. Gay and Moss made It Takes Two history, scoring a 10 in their first ever performance on the show.
In October 2008, Gay was a part of the cast in a concert performance of the musical Breast Wishes
Breast Wishes
Breast Wishes is an Australian musical comedy produced by Anne Looby, Simone Parrott and Neil Gooding with music and lyrics by Bruce Brown and a book by an ensemble of Australian writers: Merridy Eastman, Jonathan Gavin, Richard Glover, Wendy Harmer, Sheridan Jobbins, James Millar and Debra Oswald...
in support of Breast Cancer.
In February/March 2009, Gay was asked to replace Courtney Act
Courtney Act
Courtney Act is the stage name of Shane Jenek, an Australian drag celebrity, pop singer and entertainer. As Courtney Act, Jenek was a semi-finalist on Australian Idol in 2003 and was the third singer of the competition to release an official solo single, following Guy Sebastian and Shannon Noll...
in the production Gentlemen Prefer Blokes for the Mardi Gras
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
The Sydney Mardi Gras is an annual LGBTQI pride parade and festival in Sydney, Australia, and draws in thousands of visitors from around Australia and overseas...
festival, as Shane Jenek (aka Courtney Act) injured his leg in a ski accident.
Since March 2011, Gay has portrayed Frances James in the TV series Winners & Losers
Winners & Losers
Winners & Losers is a Australian television drama series first broadcast on the Seven Network on 22 March 2011. It was created by the producers of Packed to the Rafters and is aired in the show's former time slot...
on the Seven Network.
Miscellaneous
In June 2008, she was the victim of a violent assault by two men in the suburb of MarrickvilleMarrickville, New South Wales
Marrickville, a suburb of Sydney's Inner West is located 7 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the state of New South Wales, Australia and is the largest suburb in the Marrickville Council local government area...
in Sydney.