Maggie Kirkpatrick

Maggie Kirkpatrick
Born	Margaret Ann Downs (1941-01-29) 29 January 1941 Albury, New South Wales
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1960 - present (theatre) 1971 - present (film & television)
Notable work	Prisoner
Spouse(s)	Norman Kirkpatrick (deceased) (1963-1979) (divorced)
Children	Catlin Kirkpatrick
Website
http://www.maggiekirkpatrick.co.uk

Maggie Kirkpatrick (born Margaret Anne Downs on 29 January 1941) is an Australian actress, who is best known for her portrayal of the iconic character Joan Ferguson, a sinister and cold lesbian prison officer, nicknamed "The Freak" in the popular Australian television soap opera, Prisoner. She is currently performing as Madame Morrible in the Australian production of the musical Wicked. Maggie has appeared in such popular series such as Water Rats, Home and Away and G. P.

Early years

She was born in Albury, New South Wales, to James and Crissie Downs. When she was seven months old her father was killed while on active national service as a soldier in North Africa. Crissie thus brought up Margaret alone. She married John Anderson and had a son, Adrian.

The family moved to Newcastle, on the east coast of Australia, where Kirkpatrick grew up. She had had an interest in acting from an early age and appeared in several school plays. By November 1955 Kirkpatrick became fed up with school and left. Her mother sent her to drama lessons.

In 1960, at the age of 19, Kirkpatrick took her first professional acting job, with the theatre impresario John Alden with his John Alden Shakespeare Company. After this initial production she promptly gave up acting.

Kirkpatrick subsequently took various jobs, working in dress shop, as a medical receptionist, compere of fashion parades, and had jobs in bars, restaurants and hotels.

Personal life

She married Norman Kirkpatrick, a merchant seaman born in Northern Ireland, in September 1963.

Five years later they moved to Sydney where Maggie decided to resume her acting career. After appearing in two plays she put her acting career on hold once again, this time due to the arrival of her daughter Caitlin. Kirkpatrick resumed theatre work as Caitlin got older, and eventually moved on to television and cinema.

She appeared in the music video for Anthem for the Year 2000 by rock band Silverchair.

She is a strong supporter of gay rights, having made numerous appearances at "Fair Day", as part of the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival.

Filmography

Film

Television

External links

• Maggie Kirkpatrick at the Internet Movie Database
• Official website of Australian actress Maggie Kirkpatrick: http://www.maggiekirkpatrick.co.uk