Marg Downey

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

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.

Career

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.

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, Downey reprised the role for the second and third seasons of the show.

Comedy style

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

Film appearances

Television appearances

Accolades

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Downey, Marg
Australian Catholics
Australian women comedians
Australian television actresses
Living people
1961 births
Comedians from Melbourne
20th-century Australian actresses
20th-century Australian comedians
21st-century Australian actresses
21st-century Australian comedians
Actresses from Melbourne
University of Melbourne alumni
People educated at Sacré Cœur School