Krista Vendy is an Australian actress who played teacher Teresa "Tess" Bell on the Australian soap opera Neighbours from 1999 to 2001 and 2023.

Krista Vendy
Born1 Jan, 1973
Ballarat, Victoria
Occupation(s)Actress, Model, Philanthropist.
Years active1999–current
SpouseBrett Rogers since (October 20, 2018)
PartnerWilliam Hurt (2006–2010)
Children2
FamilyKristian Schmid (cousin)

Early life

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Vendy was born and raised in Ballarat, Victoria, to an Austrian mother, Crystal, and Australian father, David. She was a dancer from the age of 5, and played the clarinet at school.[1]

After finishing school, she moved to Melbourne and began a professional modelling career, going on to become a successful model in Australia, Asia and Europe. She also entered beauty pageants winning "Dream-girl of the Year" in Turkey, and placed in the Top 5 for Miss Globe and Miss Tourism International. Following this, she worked behind the scenes, choreographing pageants in India and Sri Lanka.[2]

Upon returning to Australia, Krista joined a modelling agency where she was scouted by Scott Michaelson from Neighbours, and cast as Tess Bell in Neighbours.

Career

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Vendy came to fame playing schoolteacher Tess Bell on Neighbours from 1999 to 2001. After Neighbours, she guest starred in further television roles including, Blue Heelers,[3] Shock Jock, Nightmares and Dreamscapes, Pizza and Underbelly Files: Chopper. She was also a regular guest on Good Morning Australia four years.

Krista then travelled to the USA, where she appeared in television commercials, was in several plays and had guest roles in television shows Mental and Leverage.

Her film credits include Matching Jack, The Writer, Fat Pizza, Horseplay and The Incredible Hulk.[4]

Krista also studied acting whilst in Los Angeles.

Personal life

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Vendy's brother, Simon, is a senior paramedic.[5] Vendy is the cousin of Kristian Schmid, and was managed by Scott Michaelson, both of whom are past Neighbours stars.

Vendy resides in Los Angeles and Melbourne. She dated actor William Hurt from 2006 to 2010.[6] Vendy married Australian entrepreneur Brett Rogers in 2018.[7]

Vendy studied Archaelogy at UCLA.[8]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Type
1999–2001; 2023 Neighbours Tess Bell TV series, 224 episodes
2000–04 Good Morning Australia Regular guest TV series, 5 episodes
2001 Pizza Secretary TV series, season 2, episode 5: "Melbourne Pizza"
2002 Blue Heelers Meg Regan TV series, season 9, episode 3: "If It Ain't Hurtin'"
2002 Shock Jock Yoni Shaktipat TV series, season 2, episode 3: "Heaven Must Be There"
2006 Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King Front Desk Clerk TV series, season 1, episode 1: "Battleground"
2009 Leverage Receptionist TV series, season 1, episode 10: "The 12-Step Job"
2009 Mental Celeste TV series, season 1, episode 5: "Roles of Engagement"
2018 Underbelly Files: Chopper Fanny TV miniseries, 1 episode
2020 AussieWood Anna Harrison TV series

Film

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Year Title Role Type
2003 Horseplay Tiffany Byrnes Feature film
2003 Fat Pizza Green Peace Secretary Feature film
2005 The Writer The Prostitute Short film
2008 The Incredible Hulk Female Bar Tender Feature film
2010 Matching Jack (aka Love and Mortar) Angela Feature film
2015 Run Waitress Short film
2016 Windows The Machine Short film
2019 Who Needs the Guy Kerry Short film
2019 Choir Girl Polly Feature film
2922 Victim Tanya Short film

References

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  1. ^ https://melbournemystyle.com/2019/07/08/australian-actress-krista-vendy-and-her-entrepreneur-husband-brett-rogers-talk-about-the-past-and-their-latest-emporium-outlets3/
  2. ^ https://melbournemystyle.com/2019/07/08/australian-actress-krista-vendy-and-her-entrepreneur-husband-brett-rogers-talk-about-the-past-and-their-latest-emporium-outlets3/
  3. ^ Adams, Cameron (27 February 2002). "Television". Herald Sun. Retrieved 10 March 2024 – via Gale.
  4. ^ Debnath, Neela (12 October 2016). "You'll never guess what teacher Teresa Bell from Neighbours looks like now". Express.co.uk.
  5. ^ "Defibrillators 'a lifesaver'". 20 January 2015.
  6. ^ Herald Sun [dead link]
  7. ^ "Australian actress Krista Vendy and her Entrepreneur husband Brett Rogers talk about the past and their latest project 'Emporium Outlets'". 8 July 2019.
  8. ^ https://melbournemystyle.com/2019/07/08/australian-actress-krista-vendy-and-her-entrepreneur-husband-brett-rogers-talk-about-the-past-and-their-latest-emporium-outlets3/
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