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Marg Downey

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marg Downey
Born
Margaret Cecilia Louise Downey

(1961-05-05) 5 May 1961 (age 63)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation(s)Actress, comedian, writer
Years active1984−present

Marg Downey (born 5 May 1961) is an Australian comedian and actress best known for her roles in The D Generation, Fast Forward and Full Frontal

Early life and education

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Downey grew up in a middle-class Catholic family in the Melbourne suburb of East Malvern in an eight-child family. Her father worked as a chartered accountant. She attended Sacré Cœur School (with fellow comedian Jane Turner) in Glen Iris, and then studied Arts/Law at the University of Melbourne, where she resided at Newman College. At university, she began to perform in university revues, and auditioned for performing arts courses at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, the Victorian College of the Arts and the University of Melbourne, but was not successful in gaining entry to any of them.[1]

Career

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Downey first rose to prominence in the sketch comedy program The D-Generation on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in the late 1980s. She subsequently appeared in later sketch comedy series with other members of The D-Generation, including Fast Forward, Full Frontal and Something Stupid. In these, she was known for her portrayals of a news anchor, a stern SBS presenter and for her spot-on impression of current affairs host Jana Wendt. Her spoof of "The What's On SBS Presenter" satirised the eccentricity of SBS programming, displaying grim masochistic determination to "not miss a moment of this scintillating entertainment".

Downey starred in the 2001 Network 10 comedy series Sit Down, Shut Up, playing the role of Principal Sue which was played by American comedian Kenan Thompson in the 2009 American Fox television re-make of the original Australian series. The animated American version was produced and written by Mitch Hurwitz, of Arrested Development fame.[2]

In 2005, Downey was cast as a regular player in Seven's live comedy sketch show Let Loose Live, but the show was cancelled after just two episodes due to low ratings. The following year, she appeared in the sketch show Magda's Funny Bits alongside Magda Szubanski. In this show, she recreated her role as infomercial host Janelle, first developed on Fast Forward.

In 2018, she voiced Stanley "Stan" Stinkleton and the narrator in the kids TV series, Kitty Is Not a Cat.

In 2021 Downey joined the cast of ABC Drama The Newsreader in the role of Evelyn Walters,[3] Downey reprised the role for the second series of the show.[4]

Comedy style

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Downey's television roles are often authority figures or professional women with slightly eccentric personalities, such as Principal Sue in Sit Down, Shut Up and the "relationship-counselor" Marion seen in comedy series Kath & Kim. On Fast Forward, Marg Downey appeared in a lot of sketches with Steve Vizard, such as Eyeball News, The Midday Show, Candid Camera, The Cosby Show and Get Smart. Downey also played Clancy in the Skippy send-up, and appeared in send-ups of I Dream Of Jeannie, Mr Ed and Bewitched.

Filmography

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Film appearances

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2023 Jones Family Christmas Sandra [5]
2017 The Birth Midwife Short
2012 Kath & Kimderella Marion
Christmas Clay Kate Short
2010 Us Nell Short
Oranges and Sunshine Miss Hutchinson
Matching Jack Nurse Celia
2009 The Wake Ellen Short
2004 Under the Radar Maxine
2002 The Merchant of Fairness Mrs Rowe
The Real Thing Psychologist
Guru Wayne Mrs Marsh
2002 Queen of the Damned Talamascan
2000 The Magic Pudding Various (voice)
2000 Beware of Greeks....Bearing Guns Policewoman
1996 Zone 39 Computer (voice)

Television appearances

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2021-present The Newsreader Evelyn Walters 12 episodes [6]
2021-22 Fisk (TV series) Lindy 2 episodes [7]
2018-19 Kitty Is Not a Cat Narrator/ Stanley 82 episodes (voice) [8]
2018 Back In Very Small Business Yvonne Giradoux 5 episodes [9]
2017 Get Krack!n McCartney's Mum 1 episode
The Other Guy Wilma 1 episode
Top of the Lake Isadore 3 episodes
Newton's Law (TV series) Melinda Whitley 1 episode
2016 Dogstar: Christmas in Space Alice / Daina / Greta Clark (voice) TV Movie [10]
2015 Open Slather Various 20 episodes [11]
2014-15 The Doctor Blake Mysteries Evelyn Toohey 2 episodes
2014 The Flamin' Thongs Crystal Woman (voice) 1 episode
2012 Exchange Student Zero Happy Peach Flower / Peg (voice) TV Movie [12]
House Husbands Principal Moon 1 episode
2010-12 Wakkaville Various (voice) 25 episodes
2007-11 Dogstar (TV series) Great / Alice / Daina 52 episodes [13]
2010 City Homicide Jane Clegg 1 episode
2008 Very Small Business (TV series) Yvonne 1 episode
2007 The Starter Wife Proper Lady 1 episode
2006 Nightmares and Dreamscapes Judy Diment 1 episode
2005 Let Loose Live Various 2 episodes
2002-04 Kath & Kim Marion 6 episodes
1995-02 Blue Heelers Kaye / Kanga / Karen 3 episodes
2001 Horace and Tina Mrs Belevedere 1 episode
The Bob Downe Show Janelle 1 episode
2000 The New Adventures of Ocean Girl Elgar/ Various 10 episodes
Sit Down, Shut Up (2001 TV series) [14] Sue Dirkin 13 episodes
Gloria's House Various (voice) TV Series
1999 The Late Report Various TV Series
1998 The Silver Brumby Mrs Dingo/ Eee 1 episode
1997-98 Li'l Elvis and the Truckstoppers Janet Rig / Eileen 26 episodes
1998 Something Stupid Various 6 episodes
The Games Radio Newsreader 1 episode
Good Guys Bad Guys Glynnis Filch 1 episode
1997 Get a Life The Nanny TV Series
1994 Economy Class Sue Atherton TV Movie
1993-94 Full Frontal (Australian TV series) Guest 7 episodes
1993 The Making of Nothing Diane Feust TV Movie
A Royal Commission into the Australian Economy Dame Victoria Market TV Movie
1989-92 Fast Forward (Australian TV series) Various 90 episodes
1922 Bligh Yvette / Frances 2 episodes
1991 Turn it Up Aggie TV Movie
1988-89 The D-Generation Goes Commercial Various 4 episodes
1986-87 The D-Generation Various 16 episodes
1986 The Fast Lane Nadene 1 episode

Accolades

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Year Format Award Category Result
2021 Television AACTA Award Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Nominated [15]
2024 Nominated [16]

References

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  1. ^ Marshall, Konrad (8 May 2015). "Marg Downey on the Malthouse's 'Timeshare', the SBS woman and getting the D-Gen back together". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Strong debut for Sit Down, Shut Up spin-off". ABC. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2016. Murdoch's Fox TV network this week debuted Sit Down, Shut Up - a show based on the short-lived 2000 Marg Downey - Paul Gleeson Australian comedy of the same name...The original plan was to shoot the US Sit Down, Shut Up as a regular sitcom, but when Fox executives told producer and co-creator Mitchell Hurwitz the script was "too broad" and to revise it, he came up with the animated version
  3. ^ ""I do feel as though if I've met at least 20 Evelyns in my lifetime!" | TV Tonight". 17 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Filming underway on the Newsreader S2 | TV Tonight". 11 July 2022.
  5. ^ Knox, David (22 November 2023). "Jones Family Christmas | TV Tonight". TVTonight.com.au.
  6. ^ Knox, David (26 November 2020). "Filming underway on the Newsreader | TV Tonight". TVTonight.com.au.
  7. ^ "Fisk: Oct 26 | TV Tonight". 23 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Renewed: Kitty is Not a Cat | TV Tonight". 15 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Cameras roll on Back in Very Small Business | TV Tonight". 4 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Airdate: Dogstar: Christmas in Space | TV Tonight". 6 December 2016.
  11. ^ "Airdate: Open Slather | TV Tonight". 5 April 2015.
  12. ^ "Airdate: Exchange Student Zero | TV Tonight". 23 October 2012.
  13. ^ "Returning: Dogstar | TV Tonight". 6 July 2012.
  14. ^ "Australian Television: Sit Down, Shut up".
  15. ^ "AACTA Awards 2021: Winners | TV Tonight". 9 December 2021.
  16. ^ "AACTA Awards 2024: Nominees | TV Tonight". 9 December 2023.
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