Interview with Jean Kittson

Over the last few decades Jean Kittson has set the world on fire with her iconic performances on stage, TV, film and commentary on radio. She has also been a shining light in the literary world and print media as a best selling author and columnist. With a string of smash hit comedy roles and appearances on TV shows such as Let the Blood Run Free, The Big Gig (who could forget her character Candida, the new age fitness instructor on the Big Gig) and Good News Week to name just a few, is there anything Jean can’t do?

Ben Sorensen speaks with the effervescent, multitalented Jean Kittson this month about following her bliss and discovers a more serious,
humanitarian side to the comic stalwart.

It’s obvious Jean has a passion for comedy but on a serious note, she is also keen to support a good cause and make a difference. Jean was recently appointed as the ambassador for ovarian cancer awareness month in February the aim of which was to raise awareness about the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Jean is keen to educate women about this disease and says the statistics are quite alarming.

“About 1500 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 870 of those women will die, that equates to one woman every eleven hours dying from this cancer. There is no test to detect ovarian cancer and many women think that their regular pap smear will detect the disease but it doesn’t. I know intelligent women who eat raw almonds and stuffed zucchini flowers, run major businesses, can explain how electricity works and blow dry their hair all at the one time and they still don’t know that pap smears don’t detect ovarian cancer” says Jean.
 
Although, Jean explains that the key is to be aware and educated about the symptoms of ovarian cancer to ensure early intervention. Sufferers of this disease can experience symptoms such as: abdominal swelling/bloating, persistent pelvic and abdominal pain, feeling full or uncomfortable after you eat, change in bowel habits and increased urination. (A full list can also be obtained from the ovarian cancer website: www.ovariancancer.net.au). Jean says, “If you have any of these symptoms go to a GP and say you’re experiencing these symptoms and by a process of elimination, you can find out if you have ovarian cancer but it’s more likely you have something else but the only way is to eliminate everything else. So go along and get tested for IBS or fibroids etc. If you catch ovarian cancer early it can be
cured.”

Jean explains that it’s also about getting to know your own body and it’s helpful to be aware of the reaction certain foods and lifestyle factors may have on your health. Interestingly, Jean is a supporter of natural medicine and has been impressed with a natural, herbal product called Reminfemin which she says has helped manage her symptoms of menopause. Jean says she is pleased that we can be more open about women’s health issues these days, “We can actually say the word ovarian now and we’ll talk about women’s bits, whereas for many years no-one ever talked about what was going on down there and it was a bit of a taboo. You’d never say ovarian or uterus on the radio or TV it
was sort of aww yuk. But now we can talk about it and the more we know about it and the more women talk about it together the better, because that’s where we get our information-from other women” says Jean.

“Mind you, every time I hop in a taxi, I tell the driver about all the symptoms because I figure he must know at least one woman” Jean laughs.

From one good cause to another, Jean is about to star in the Australian stage production of ‘Calendar Girls’ which has been a hit production in the UK.The stage play has been adapted from the British film staring Helen Mirren and Julie Waters and portrays a group of middle aged
Yorkshire women who band together for a good cause and raise money for charity by doing a calendar where they get their gear off. Jean will be part of the Australian stage version which has a stellar cast playing at QPAC, Brisbane in April. “We aren’t completely nude we are behind stuff…. I’m making jam so I’m behind a lot of oranges! It’s a hilarious and poignant play which has been a phenomenal success. And some of the proceeds from ‘Calendar Girls’ go to the Leukaemia Foundation and I think they’ve already raised three million pounds” says Jean.

It’s clear Jean has experienced bliss in her career but has also found time for a family life. Jean reflects on her true bliss in life, “Bliss changes over life because now bliss involves family. My ultimate blissfulness is for my children to be happy. And as a mother I would suggest to my daughters that they embrace bliss but not always expect it.”

Jean says after focussing on her family for so many years, she is also looking forward to getting back into stage work. “I haven’t done a lot of theatre over the last ten years. I gave up full-time TV to be a mum but now my two daughters who are 18 years old and I’ve got one starting secondary school are saying to me: get out of the house” Jean laughs. “Bliss is easily achieved by training your children and your husband to do the housework” Jean retorts.

Not only does Jean get a buzz from making others laugh, she enjoys having a good belly laugh herself and says there are many things in life she finds amusing, “My husband makes me laugh, I’m a fan of Monty Python and American columnist Dave Barry, and I laugh a lot at Top Gear on TV. I like a good car joke” says Jean.

In many ways Jean has a simple, down to earth philosophy on life and says, “I think laughing is so good for our health…… along with a nice chai latte- it’s good for the soul.”

‘Calendar Girls’ is playing at QPAC’s Lyric theatre in Brisbane, April 8-25th for more information visit: www.qpac.com.au or 136 246