Magda Szubanski
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- April 12, 1961 (age 65)
- Birthplace
- Liverpool, England, UK
Biography
Magda Szubanski AO (born Magdalene Mary Therese Szubanski 12 April 1961) is an Australian television and film actress, comedian, writer and LGBT rights activist. Szubanski's career started as a writer and performer of sketch comedy and has since progressed to production of TV, film acting, and musical theatre. In 1985, while performing in a University of Melbourne revue of Too Cool for Sandals, Szubanski, Michael Veitch, Tom Gleisner and others were talent-spotted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) producers, which led to The D-Generation television sketch comedy show. Szubanski was one of the creators and performers of the Fast Forward television sketch comedy for the Seven Network, in which she played various characters, including Pixie-Anne Wheatley, Chenille from the Institute de Beauté, Wee Mary MacGregor, Joan Kirner and Michelle Grogan. Szubanski famously played Sharon Strzelecki on Australian comedy show Kath & Kim which ran for four seasons. In 2015, Szubanski released her first book; a memoir titled Reckoning which had themes of familial trauma and accepting her sexual identity as a lesbian. It won the Douglas Stewart Prize for Non fiction, as well as "Book of the Year" and "Biography of the Year" at the Australian Book Industry Awards. Szubanski released a follow-up memoir, I Can't Tell You But I Will, in September 2026. The book chronicles her complicated relationship with—and the demise of—her mother, as well as her cancer diagnosis and recovery.
Known For
Filmography
Memoir of a Snail
Movie · as Ruth Appleby (voice)
Queerstralia
TV · as Self · 3 eps
Kath & Kim: Our Effluent Life
Movie · as Sharon Strzelecki
Kath & Kim: 20 Preposterous Years
Movie · as Sharon Strzelecki
After the Verdict
TV · as Margie · 6 eps
Frankly
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Magda's Big National Health Check
TV · as Self - Presenter · 3 eps
God's Favorite Idiot
TV · as God · 2 eps
100% Wolf
Movie · as Mrs. Mutton (voice)
Country Town Pride
Movie · as Narrator
Fly Me to the Moon
Movie · as Self
Ride Like a Girl
Movie · as Sister Dominique
My Life Is Murder
TV · as Miranda Lee · 1 ep
The BBQ
Movie · as The Butcher
Australia Says Yes
Movie
The Steve Irwin Story
Movie · as Self
Three Summers
Movie · as Queenie
Sisters
TV · as Diane · 7 eps
Open Slather
TV · 20 eps
Santa's Apprentice
Movie
Goddess
Movie · as Cassandra Wolfe
It's a Date
TV · as Mary-Angela · 1 ep
Julia Zemiro's Home Delivery
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Kath & Kim Kountdown
TV · as Sharon Strzelecki · 3 eps
Kath & Kimderella
Movie · as Sharon Strzelecki
Happy Feet Two
Movie · as Miss Viola (voice)
Bran Nue Dae
Movie · as Roadhouse Betty
The Man Inside Dame Edna
Movie · as Self
Who Do You Think You Are?
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Q&A
TV · as Self - Panellist · 3 eps
The Golden Compass
Movie · as Mrs. Lonsdale
Dr. Plonk
Movie · as Mrs. Plonk
Happy Feet
Movie · as Miss Viola (voice)
Magda's Funny Bits
TV · 4 eps
Thank God You're Here
TV · as Self - Guest Judge · 1 ep
Da Kath & Kim Code
Movie · as Sharon Strzelecki
Son of the Mask
Movie · as Neighbor Betty
The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course
Movie · as Brozzie Drewitt
Kath & Kim
TV · as Sharon Karen Strzelecki · 32 eps
Dogwoman: The Legend of Dogwoman
Movie · as Margaret O'Halloran
Dogwoman: Dead Dog Walking
Movie · as Margaret O'Halloran
Dogwoman: A Grrrl's Best Friend
Movie · as Margaret O'Halloran
Farscape
TV · as Furlow · 3 eps
Babe: Pig in the City
Movie · as Mrs. Esme Cordelia Hoggett
Good News Week
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Babe
Movie · as Esme Hoggett
Big Girl's Blouse
TV · 9 eps
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
TV · as Self - Host · 4 eps
A Royal Commission Into The Australian Economy
Movie · as Mr. Cardigan / Mr. Trouser / Bill Kelty
Full Frontal
TV · 107 eps
The Late Show
TV · 40 eps
Fast Forward
TV · 90 eps
The D-Generation
TV · 16 eps