Sharon Strzelecki

Sharon Karen Strzelecki is a fictional character on the Australian comedy series Kath & Kim. She is portrayed by Australian actress Magda Szubanski. The character first appeared on Big Girl's Blouse in 1994 alongside Kath Day-Knight (Jane Turner) and Kim Craig (Gina Riley). Sharon is characterized as an accident and injury-prone, sports-obsessed individual who is frequently unlucky in love and referred to as "a bit desperately lonely".

In the American version of Kath & Kim, Sharon has no equivalent. The character in the American version was initially to have the name Debbie Cox and work with animals, but Szubanski, who had created Sharon, refused to permit adaptation for the show.

Sharon is portrayed as a sports enthusiast. She displays notable skill in sports such as netball and cricket. Sharon has distinctive orange-brown hair in a bob. In most episodes, she is shown wearing her netball cardigan with a white or pastel T-shirt.

Sharon is characterized by her lack of confidence, often appearing with her head down and showing signs of low self-esteem or depression. However, she also exhibits moments of happiness and cheerfulness, particularly when playing netball. She is portrayed as a kind and caring individual, consistently placing the needs of others above her own, despite often receiving little love or care in return.

In Kath & Kimderella, Sharon embarks on the "Orlando Bloom diet" and experiences significant weight loss. This storyline reflects real-life events, as actress Magda Szubanski had undergone weight loss with the Jenny Craig program during the show's hiatus. Sharon's love for KFC is highlighted in Da Kath & Kim Code.

"I've never thought that the gag of Sharon is the weight. I've always said the thing that defines Sharon is netball. What I based her on was those kind of people who, on a cold, wet Saturday morning, get up and they get the bibs and the balls and they teach junior netball and don't get paid for it but they have that sense of civic duty." – Magda Szubanski

Sharon is deeply passionate about sports. Sports uniforms make up almost the entirety of her wardrobe. She is particularly active in netball, where she serves as team captain of the Sapphires and, in one instance, the Unicorns (featured in Season 2, "My Boyfriend"). Sharon is also skilled in indoor cricket and has played the sport in four different Australian states. Additionally, she has golfed and competed in shot put at the national level, often referencing these achievements in the series.

Beyond participating in sports, Sharon enjoys watching football, cricket, and rugby. Her love of food is a recurring theme, often leading her to raid the snack supply at the Day household. This behavior frequently causes conflict with Kim, who scolds Sharon for "stealing" her snacks. In one episode, Sharon becomes distraught when the snacks Kim wins in a competition are eaten.