Virginia Gay

Education

Born in Sydney, Gay attended Summer Hill Public School and Newtown High School of the Performing Arts in Sydney as a drama and music student. She studied English Literature and Performance Studies at Sydney University and was a member of the Sydney University Dramatic Society from 2001 to 2003. She left university and enrolled at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).

Career

Still at WAAPA, Gay originally auditioned for the character of Ricky on All Saints but was unsuccessful. But she impressed the directors so much that after graduation in 2006 she was called in to audition for the role of Gabrielle Jaeger.

In 2008, she appeared with Ian Moss (of Cold Chisel fame) as her professional partner on the reality series It Takes Two; they came third in the series. Gay and Moss made It Takes Two history, scoring a 10 from judge Ross Wilson in their first performance on the show.

In October 2008, Gay was a part of the cast in a concert performance of the musical Breast Wishes in support of Breast Cancer.

In February/March 2009, Gay was asked to replace Shane Jenek (Courtney Act) in the production Gentlemen Prefer Blokes for the Mardi Gras festival, as Jenek injured his leg in a ski accident.

Since March 2011, Gay has portrayed Frances James in the TV series Winners & Losers on the Seven Network.

During August 2012 Gay performed her Cabaret show Dirty Pretty Songs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in The Famous Spiegeltent.

Personal life

In June 2008, Gay was the victim of a violent assault by two men in the suburb of Marrickville in Sydney. The men then went on to murder chef Daniel Owen.

Charity work

In May 2009, Gay was the national ambassador for Cystic Fibrosis Australia's annual awareness and fundraising campaign 65 Roses Day. Gay also attends the Good Friday Appeal held in Melbourne every year to support the Royal Children's Hospital.