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Doon Mackichan

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Doon Mackichan
Mackichan appearing in Bitter Wheat at the Garrick Theatre in 2019
Born1962 (age 61–62)[1]
London, England
Occupation(s)Actress, comedian, writer
Years active1985–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1997; div. 2005)​
Children3

Doon Mackichan (/məˈkiːxən, -ˈiːkən/;[2] born 1962) is a British actress, comedian and writer. She co-created, wrote and performed in the double-Emmy-award-winning Smack the Pony. She frequently collaborates with Armando Iannucci and Steve Coogan, having played multiple characters in The Day Today, Brass Eye and Alan Partridge, and has also appeared in Toast of London and Two Doors Down. Mackichan was nominated for Best Female Comedy Performance at the 2014 British Academy Television Awards for her performance in Plebs and won critical praise for her performance alongside John Malkovich in Bitter Wheat in 2019.

Early life

Mackichan was born in London and brought up in a small town in Fife. She studied drama at Manchester University.[1]

Career

Mackichan made her television debut in comedy series Five Alive, shown by Channel 4 between 1987 and 1988, along with Brian Conley (also making his television debut), Peter Piper, Joanna Brookes and Andrew Secombe. In series 2, shown in 1988, Andrew Secombe was replaced by Phil Nice.

Mackichan was one of the writers and stars of the Channel 4 comedy series Smack the Pony and has appeared in a number of Chris Morris radio and television comedy series such as On the Hour, The Day Today and Brass Eye. Mackichan's own BBC Radio show, Doon Your Way, was broadcast in 1996. She also appeared in the sitcoms Beast and Bedtime, and was a regular performer in Knowing Me, Knowing You... with Alan Partridge and The Mary Whitehouse Experience. She appeared in several of The Comic Strip Presents... films in the early 1990s, and appeared in the 1995 comedy The Glam Metal Detectives. In 2009, she appeared as Jane Thomason, the news producer for the BBC in Taking the Flak. She portrayed Cherie Blair in the Channel 4 satirical drama A Very Social Secretary, and appeared in the Channel 4 sitcom Nathan Barley. She portrayed a BBC news presenter, Louise Marlowe, in series 4 of The Sarah Jane Adventures in 2010.

In film, Mackichan played Victoria Lender in 1997's The Borrowers and teamed up with her former Smack the Pony co-stars for the 2004 film Gladiatress. Also in 1998 she appeared in the BBC TV mini-series of Dickens' novel Our Mutual Friend as Sophronia Lammle.

On stage, she appeared with Matt Di Angelo and David Haig in the Joe Orton black farce Loot. In July 2011, Mackichan performed alongside Julian Barratt in Nikolai Gogol's comedy The Government Inspector at the Young Vic Theatre, London. Later in 2011, she played the part of Frances in April de Angelis' play Jumpy at the Royal Court Theatre. Since 2013, Mackichan has starred in Toast of London as Steven Toast's (Matt Berry) quirky agent Jane Plough.

She has narrated several TV series including The Honey Trap and Bank of Mum and Dad. She has also voiced characters in several animated series including Bob and Margaret, Stressed Eric, Don't Eat the Neighbours and Bromwell High.

She fronted a TV ad campaign for Hallmark in the UK, and appeared alongside Darren Boyd as one half of a married couple for a series of Direct Line insurance TV ads in 2012.

She was a contestant in the 2003 BBC charity singing contest Comic Relief does Fame Academy, in which she came fourth.

She has appeared twice on the BBC panel show QI, in series C, episode 2, ("Cummingtonite", 2005) and series E episode 11, ("Endings", 2007).

From 2013 until 2018, Mackichan played Flavia, a recurring character, in the ITV comedy Plebs, for which she was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance in 2014. She played Cathy in the BBC comedy Two Doors Down from 2013 until 2022. When she decided to quit the show to concentrate on other acting roles. In June 2023 it was announced she would be returning to this role in the forthcoming series.

In 2017 she played Feste in the Royal National Theatre's production of Twelfth Night and television film Death on the Tyne in 2018. Mackichan appeared as the Archangel Michael in the Amazon Prime/BBC mini-series Good Omens and as Sarah in Channel 4 comedy-drama Pure in 2019.

In 2019 she appeared as Sondra in David Mamet's Bitter Wheat at the Garrick Theatre. Writing in The Guardian, Michael Billington praised her as having given the show's best performance.[3]

Personal life

In 1997, Mackichan married the actor Anthony Barclay.[1] In 1998, she swam the English Channel as part of a six-person relay team.[4][5]

Mackichan and Barclay were divorced in 2005, after having three children together. She then lived with her children in Clapham, South London.[1] In 2016, she was living in Hastings, East Sussex.[6]

In March 2016, Mackichan was part of a team of well-known people who attempted to sail around a section of Britain in just five days, as part of the BT Sport Relief Challenge: Hell on High Seas.[7]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1997 The Borrowers Victoria Lender
1999 With or Without You Deirdre
2000 Wild About Harry Tara Adair
2003 Indian Dream Penny TV film
2004 Gladiatress Dwyfuc
Churchill: The Hollywood Years Radio Host Deleted scenes
2005 A Very Social Secretary Cherie Blair TV film
2006 The Good Housekeeping Guide Lydia TV film
2011 Anuvahood Patricia
2012 Acts of Godfrey Jacqui
Never Had You Miss Bewson Short
2013 Homeboys Sue TV film
Two Doors Down Cathy TV film, pilot to TV series
2014 Breaking the Bank Caroline
2015 Draw on Sweet Night Lady Elizabeth Kytson
2016 Scarlet Female Shopper Short
2017 National Theatre Live: Twelfth Night Feste
2018 Death on the Tyne Emily TV film
Winterlong Barbara
Happy New Year, Colin Burstead Sandy
2022 The Sea Beast Queen Voice role

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1986 Five Alive Various roles 15 episodes
1986, 1989 Hale and Pace Various roles / Have a Nice Time Presenter 2 episodes
1990 Harry Enfield's Television Programme Dont's Daughter 2 episodes
Birds of a Feather Nurse Episode: "Parting"
Up Yer News Various roles
1991 The Mary Whitehouse Experience Various roles Episode: "Series 1, Episode 1"
London's Burning Female Journalist Episode: "Series 4, Episode 10"
1992 Sean's Show Scriptwriter Episode: "Blind Date"
1992–1993 The Comic Strip Presents... Various roles 5 episodes
1994 The Day Today Various roles Series regular, 7 episodes
Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge Shona McGough Episode: "Show 1"
Wanda Harvey Episode: "Show 6"
1995 The Glam Metal Detectives Various roles Series regular, 5 episodes
Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge Liz Heron Episode: "Knowing Me Knowing Yule with Alan Partridge"
Agony Again Debra 7 episodes
1997 I'm Alan Partridge Jenny Episode: "Watership Alan"
Brass Eye Various roles 4 episodes
1998 Our Mutual Friend Sophronia Lammle Mini-series, 4 episodes
Bob and Margaret Various roles / Moira 6 episodes, voice role
1998–2000 Stressed Eric Maria Gonzalez / Alison Scabie Series regular, voice role, 13 episodes
1999–2003, 2017 Smack the Pony Various roles Series regular, 24 episodes
2000 The Strangerers Galadriel 2 episodes: "Space Cadets" and "Angels"
The Canterbury Tales Alison Episode: "The Journey Back", voice role
2000–2001 Beast Kirsten Series regular, 12 episodes
2001 Brass Eye Swanchita Haze Episode: "Paedophilia"
Don't Eat the Neighbours Lucy
Bob and Margaret Various roles Episode: "A Very Fishy Christmas", voice role
2002 Bedtime Faith Series 2 regular, 6 episodes
Wire in the Blood Amanda Vane 2 episodes: "Shadows Rising, Parts 1 & 2"
2005 Nathan Barley Her Preposterous Voice Mini-series, 1 episode
Twisted Tales Sandra Barnes Episode: "Cursed House"
The Comic Strip Presents... Diana Episode: "Sex Actually"
Bromwell High Carol Jackson / Various roles Series regular, voice role, 13 episodes
2008 Modern Toss Various roles Series regular, voice role, 6 episodes
2009 Taking the Flak Jane Thomason Series regular, 7 episodes
2010 New Tricks Gillian Withall Episode: "Left Field"
The Sarah Jane Adventures Louise Marlowe Episode: "The Nightmare Man"
2012 Me and Mrs Jones Selina Episode: "Series 1, Episode 6"
Little Crackers Mum Episode: "Darren Boyd's Little Cracker: Le Concert de L'ecole"
2013 Quick Cuts Sue 3 episodes
2013–2015 Toast of London Jane Plough Series regular, 18 episodes
2013–2018 Plebs Flavia Series regular, 20 episodes
2014 Psychobitches Various roles Mini-series, 3 episodes
2015 Mountain Goats Norma Episode: "Homeless"
2016 Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge The Partridge Playhouse Players / Caller 3 episodes, voice roles
The Rebel Doctor McGill Episode: "Law"
2016–2022, 2023- Two Doors Down Cathy Series regular 1-5, 31 episodes
2019 Pure Sarah Recurring role, 4 episodes
2019–present Good Omens Archangel Michael Recurring role, 4 episodes
2020 Flack Victoria Episode: "Duncan"
The Duchess Cheryl 3 episodes
2022 Toast of Tinseltown[8] Jane Plough / Brooke Hooberman (credited as Cocoah Mankind) 6 episodes
2023 Funny Woman Miss Sykes 2 episodes

Theatre

Year Title Role Venue Notes
1987 To Kill a Mockingbird Mayella Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Birmingham
1988 'Tis Pity She's a Whore Annabella Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
1990 The Square Battersea Arts Centre, London
1991 Abigail's Party Beverly Moss Cambridge Theatre, London also, UK Tour
1992 Me and My Friend Julia Minerva Studio, Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester
Killers Veronica Royal Court Theatre, London
1994 Road Carol/Lane/Valerie Royal Court Theatre, London also, UK Tour
The Queen and I Diana, Princess of Wales Leicester Haymarket Theatre, Leicester
1995 Mother Courage and Her Children Yvette Pottier Royal National Theatre, London
1996 A Midsummer Night's Dream Helena Almeida Theatre, London also, International Tour
1999 Sacred Heart Kate Royal National Theatre, London
Emma Emma Woodhouse Watford Palace Theatre, Watford
2003 Excuses! Olivia Soho Theatre, London
2007 A Respectable Wedding The Wife Young Vic, London
Boeing-Boeing Gretchen Comedy Theatre, London
2008 Loot Faye Tricycle Theatre, London
2011 The Government Inspector Anna Andreyevna Young Vic, London
2012 Jumpy Frances Royal Court Theatre, London & Duke of York's Theatre, London
2017 Twelfth Night Feste Royal National Theatre, London
2019 Bitter Wheat Sondra Garrick Theatre, London

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2012 WhatsOnStage Awards Best Supporting Actress In A Play Jumpy Nominated
2014 BAFTA Television Awards Best Female Comedy Performance Plebs Nominated
British Comedy Awards Best Female Television Comic Toast of London Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Tears behind theatre's unsung funniest woman - Doon Mackichan". Evening Standard. London. 10 April 2012.
  2. ^ Jones, Daniel (3 June 2003). An English Pronouncing Dictionary. Psychology Press. ISBN 9780415233392 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Billington, Michael (19 June 2019). "Bitter Wheat review – Malkovich and Mamet's monstrous misfire". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  4. ^ "How doon survived the school of hard scots". The Scotsman. 19 January 2002. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  5. ^ Shoard, Catherine (4 December 2008). "My whole life has been a black comedy". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  6. ^ Williams, Zoe (20 November 2016). "Doon Mackichan: 'We were sexy, funny women – perhaps that was a bit much'". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  7. ^ "All aboard for celebrity sailing challenge". sportrelief.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Toast of Tinseltown". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
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