Magda Szubanski AO (b. 1961), actor and writer, is a mainstay of Australian movie and television screens and a LGBTIQA+ advocate. While performing in a revue at the University of Melbourne, Szubanski and her co-stars Michael Veitch and Tom Gleisner were spotted by ABC producers. This led to the creation of the comedy show, The D-Generation, on which she performed from 1986–1987. Szubanski was one of the creators of Fast Forward (1989–1992) for the Seven Network, working alongside Jane Turner and Gina Riley. In 1995 Szubanski teamed up with Riley and Turner to create Big Girl's Blouse, the first all-female Australian sketch comedy television program, followed by her poignant performance as Sharon Strzelecki in Kath & Kim (2002–2007), and later the film Kath & Kimderella (2012). She worked with director George Miller for the films Babe (1995), Babe: Pig in the City (1998), Happy Feet (2006) and Happy Feet 2 (2011). Her 2015 memoir Reckoning won Book of the Year at the 2016 Australian Book Industry Awards.
Jacqueline Mitelman's portrait of Szubanski shows her looking confidently into the lens of the camera. Though Szubanski is known for her talent as a comedic and character actor, Mitelman's close framing draws attention to her own assured and relaxed demeanour.
Purchased with funds provided by Jillian Broadbent AC 2021
© Jacqueline Mitelman
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