Kate was born in London, but her early life was marked by a move to France when she was just three weeks old. This was a significant turning point in her life, as she would later find herself drawn to the world of acting. Her parents, Anne and Louis Duchene, would go on to relocate the family to the seaside town of Brighton in England around 1962 or 1963.
Kate's passion for acting began to take shape when she started performing on stage at the tender age of 14. This marked the beginning of a lifelong love affair with the art of acting. She would later go on to read French and Spanish at Trinity College, Cambridge University.
After completing her studies, Kate spent a year teaching English in Spain, an experience that would undoubtedly have a lasting impact on her language skills and cultural understanding. Despite receiving no formal training in drama, Kate's natural talent and creativity led her to write and perform her own material with the Cambridge Footlights Company. This would ultimately pave the way for her to join the esteemed Mikron company in 1983.
Kate is perhaps best known for her iconic role as Miss Constance Hardbroom in the popular children's television show The Worst Witch, which aired from 1998 to 2001. This beloved character would cement her status as a beloved figure in children's entertainment.
On a personal note, Kate is a devoted mother to her two children. Her eldest child, Anna Charlotte Fitzgerald Duchene Hickson, was born on April 15th, 2006, while her younger daughter was born in late May or early June 2009.
