Magda Szubanski
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| Magda Szubanski | |
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| Born | April 12, 1961 Liverpool, England, UK |
Magda Szubanski (born April 12, 1961) is an Australian actress, comedian and writer. Internationally, Szubanski is known for her performance as Esme Hoggett in the film Babe and its sequel Babe: Pig in the City, as well as her recurring character of Furlow on the television series Farscape. In Australia, she is well-known to audiences for her writing and performing skills in several of Australia's most successful television comedy programs; more recently, she starred as Sharon Strzelecki in the highly successful television comedy show Kath & Kim.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Szubanski was born in Liverpool, England; her father came from a well-off Polish family and her mother was Scottish, a native of Dunfermline.[1] She immigrated to Australia in 1966 with her brother, sister, and parents. Her high school was Siena College, Melbourne. In 1976, as a year 10 student, she captained a team on the television quiz It's Academic.
[edit] Career
In 1985, whilst performing in a University of Melbourne revue of Too Cool for Sandals, with Michael Veitch and Tom Gleisner, Szubanski was talent-spotted by producers from the ABC network, who convinced her to join up with some other university friends in creating the television sketch comedy show, The D-Generation.
It was in 1989 that Szubanski shot to national stardom. She was part of the team that created the television sketch comedy Fast Forward for the Seven Network, in which she played various characters, including Pixie-Anne Wheatley, Chenille, Sharon Strzelecki (Kath and Kim), Mary MacGregor, Joan Kirner and Lynne Postlethwaite, and other characters. In 1995, she wrote, produced, and starred in Big Girl's Blouse. In the same year, she starred in the film Babe, which was nominated for numerous Academy Awards. She reprised her role in 1998 in Babe: Pig in the City. In 2002, she appeared in Kath & Kim as Sharon. The show is currently in its fourth season. In 2006, she played Sharon in Da Kath and Kim Code.
From 21 February 2006, Szubanski hosted a five-part series on the Nine Network, called Magda's Funny Bits, which showed never-before-seen footage of some of her most famous characters from the comedy show Fast Forward. Branded as 'no frills', it attracted insufficient ratings, and thus did not continue. In 2007, Szubanski played the part of William Barfee in the musical called "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". She also voiced the character Miss Viola from the Academy Award-winning animated feature Happy Feet.
On 5 April 2008, she began her role of Big Jule in the major stage production Guys and Dolls, at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne.
[edit] Television roles
- Magda's Funny Bits (2006) - Mary McGregor, Chenille, Sharon Strzelecki, Lynne Postlethwaite (5 episodes made, but only 4 were shown).
- Kath & Kim (2002-2007) - Sharon Strzelecki (the character's name is a play on Magda's Polish descent).
- The Panel (2001) - herself.
- Dogwoman (2000) - Margaret O'Halloran.
- Farscape (1999-2001) - Furlow.
- Something Stupid (1998) - various characters.
- Big Girl's Blouse (1994) - herself, Sharon Strzelecki, Lynne Postlethwaite.
- The Making Of Nothing (1993) - Judith Gates/Kim Borrodale.
- A Royal Commission Into The Australian Economy (1993) - Mr. Cardigan, Mr. Trouser, Bill Kelty.
- Bligh (1992) - Betsy Bligh.
- Fast Forward (1989-1992) - Pixie-Anne Wheatley, Chenille, Joan Kirner, Maggie T + Satan's Brides.
- The D-Generation Goes Commercial (1988) - various characters.
- The D-Generation (1986-1987) - various characters.
[edit] Film roles
- Dr Plonk (2007) - Mrs Plonk
- The Golden Compass (2007) - Mrs Lonsdale.
- Happy Feet (2006) - Miss Viola.
- Son of the Mask (2005) - Neighbour Betty.
- The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (2002) - Brozzie Drewitt.
- Babe: Pig in the City (1998) - Esme Hoggett.
- Babe (1995) - Esme Hoggett.
[edit] Stage role
- Guys and Dolls - Big Jule
[edit] Awards
- Won the 'Most Popular Comedy Personality' award at the 1991, 1992 and 1996 at the Logie awards
- Won the Australian Film Institute's award 'Best Actress in a Supporting or Guest Role in a Television Drama' award in 2002[2]
- Nominated for the 'Most Popular Actress' award at the 2005 Logie Awards, for her role in Kath and Kim
- Nominated for 'Best Actress in a Supporting or Guest Role in a Television Drama or Comedy' award in 2003 at the AFI Awards
- Nominated for 'Best Actress in a Supporting or Guest Role in a Television Drama or Comedy' award in 2004 at the AFI Awards
[edit] Further reading
- Quinn, Karl: The Magda carta, The Age, 14 September 2003.
[edit] References
- ^ There's something about Magda - Arts - Entertainment - theage.com.au
- ^ Australian Film Institute, Past Winners, Television 1986-2006[1]
