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

Downey grew up in amiddle-class Catholic family in theMelbourne suburb ofEast Malvern in an eight-child family. Her father worked as a chartered accountant. She attendedSacré Cœur School (with fellow comedianJane Turner) inGlen Iris, and then studied Arts/Law at theUniversity of Melbourne, where she resided atNewman College. At university, she began to perform in university revues, and auditioned for performing arts courses at theNational Institute of Dramatic Art, theVictorian College of the Arts and the University of Melbourne, but was not successful in gaining entry to any of them.^[1]

Downey first rose to prominence in thesketch comedy programThe D-Generation on theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation in the late 1980s. She subsequently appeared in later sketch comedy series with other members ofThe D-Generation, includingFast Forward,Full Frontal andSomething Stupid. In these, she was known for her portrayals of anews anchor, a sternSBS presenter and for her spot-on impression ofcurrent affairs hostJana 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 2001Network 10 comedy seriesSit Down, Shut Up, playing the role of Principal Sue which was played by American comedianKenan Thompson in the 2009 AmericanFox television re-make of the original Australian series. The animatedAmerican version was produced and written byMitch Hurwitz, ofArrested Development fame.^[2]

In 2005, Downey was cast as a regular player inSeven's live comedy sketch showLet Loose Live, but the show was cancelled after just two episodes due to low ratings. The following year, she appeared in the sketch showMagda's Funny Bits alongsideMagda Szubanski. In this show, she recreated her role as infomercial host Janelle, first developed onFast 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 DramaThe Newsreader in the role of Evelyn Walters,^[3] Downey reprised the role for the second and third seasons of the show.^[4]

Downey's television roles are often authority figures or professional women with slightly eccentric personalities, such as Principal Sue inSit Down, Shut Up and the "relationship-counselor" Marion seen in comedy seriesKath & Kim. OnFast Forward, Marg Downey appeared in a lot of sketches withSteve Vizard, such asEyeball News,The Midday Show,Candid Camera,The Cosby Show andGet Smart. Downey also played Clancy in theSkippy send-up, and appeared in send-ups ofI Dream Of Jeannie,Mr Ed andBewitched.

• Marg Downey atIMDb

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• 1961 births
• Comedians from Melbourne
• 20th-century Australian actresses
• 20th-century Australian comedians
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