Catherine Downes graduated from the NZ Drama School in 1973 and until 1977 worked in television, radio and professional theatre in NZ. Between 1977 and 1980 she lived in Europe, where she created The Case of Katherine Mansfield. This won two awards at the 1979 Edinburgh Festival and toured Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Holland and the USA. Since 1980 she has worked as a free lance actress, writer and director in Australia and New Zealand. In 1981 she won a Sammy award for her role in the film Winter of Our Dreams. She currently lives in Wellington where she is the Artistic Director of Downstage Theatre.