Kim Krejus

Kim Krejus grew up in a Catholic household with an abusive alcoholic stepfather.^[1]

She studied her craft under international acting teachers at National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney, HB Studio (training under Uta Hagen^[2]) and the Atlantic Theatre School in New York City, and Drama Centre London^[3] (where Colin Firth was a fellow student).^[2]

In 1978, at the age of 19, Krejus was nominated for an AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in the film Mouth to Mouth.^[4] written and directed by John Duigan.^[5]

She also featured on the small screen, including in the lead role in TV miniseries Joe Wilson.^[6]

She has appeared on stage in productions such as The Heidi Chronicles at the Cremorne Theatre in South Brisbane^[7] and the Northside Theatre Company's production of A Small Family Business.^[8][9] She has also featured in Broadway productions in the United States, and in theatre across the UK.^[3]

Krejus has taught acting various Australian tertiary institutions, including Victorian College of the Arts, NIDA, Bond University, Central Queensland University. She has also been a private coach for many successful Australian actors including Kestie Morassi and Luke Mitchell.^[3]

Krejus is the founder and artistic director of 16th Street Actors Studio, a training school for actors, in Melbourne, Australia.^[3] As of 2024^[update], Iain Sinclair is head of acting at the school, and Deborra-Lee Furness is patron.^[2]

In 2012, actress Zoe Naylor, who had graduated from drama school ten years earlier, attended a four-day workshop at 16th Street by visiting American acting coach and former stand-up comic Ivana Chubbuck (who had coached Charlize Theron and Halle Berry), and praised the mentors at the school.^[10]

Krejus turned to Buddhism to helped her deal with losing her sister to cancer when she was in her fifties.^[1]