My Mother and My Best Friend

Source: TV Week

Date: May 13-19, 2000.

All Saints star Kirrily White celebrates Mother’s Day by introducing TV WEEK readers to her delightful mother Denise.

FOR  Actor Kirrily White who plays Stephanie Markham in the Seven Networks All Saints, Mothers day means more than showering her mum Denise with flowers and presents.

“Its a great day to aknowledge how  much you love your mum and thank her for everything she does for you,” says Kirrily.

It’s clears that she and her mum share a close bond that goes beyond that of mother and daughter.

“we’re very close”, Denise confirms. “We can talk about anything, and I think that's pretty wonderful.”

Despite the fact that 27- year old Kirrily move out of the family home several years ago, she claims that when it comes to being looked after, no1 does it better than her mum.

“I was sick a couple of weeks ago, and Mum called me and knew something was wrong,” she remembers “I was trying to be brave and just get on with things, but she said, ‘Hang on, I’ll be right there’. She dropped everything and came over and stroked my forehead, which was wonderful.

“There’s really no1 like her- she’s one of a kind. She’s completely accepting and loving of me. But, I mean, she has to be... she’s my mum!”

While the 2  have always been close, it was Kirrily’s decision to move from Sydney to Perth several years ago to study acting that took their friendship to another level.

“I think our relationship became a lot closer while I was in Perth,” she believes. “I did a lot of growing up there, and I finally got to understand where mum was coming from. When you’ve been away for a while, you appreciate each other more.”

“I agree- our friendship is much stronger because of that fact that Kirrily was on the other side of the country,” Denise says.

“When someone is with you all the time you don't stop to think about how wonderful it is- you just accept it. But when they’re not there, you have time to think about them. I missed Kirrily terribly. She went away as a young person and came back 3 years later as a grown woman.”

Like most daughters, Kirrily thinks that Denise has made a huge impact on her life, especially when it comes to her career.

“When I was at high school, Mum worked full time as an architect while most of my friends mothers were at home being housewives,” she says. “Because of that, I always felt that I could do anything I wanted in terms of work , too. I never felt any limitations because I was a woman.”

When Kirrily chose a career in acting Denise was behind her all the way.

“I don’t think there was any doubt that Kirrily was going to be a professional actor,” she says. “It was what she really wanted to do, and I’ve always wished for Kirrily to be happy with w  hat she does.

“as a mum you do worry about the practical side of things, like the employment opportunities in acting,- but it’s always been far more important that Kirrily did with her life and career what she desperately wanted to do. I’m very proud that she’s making such a great job of it.