Maggie Fitzgibbon

Maggie Fitzgibbon

Maggie Fitzgibbon (born 30 January 1929, in Melbourne) is an Australian actress and singer. Coming from a show-business family, she is the sister of the late Smacka Fitzgibbon. In 1945, Fitzgibbon was living in a Melbourne rooming house and working as a dental nurse when she was 'discovered' by future impresario Kenn Brodziak, who was also living in the same rooming house and heard her singing in the shower. Brodziak became her manager for a time, and she began her career as operatic soprano Margaret Fitzgibbon with the Tivoli Circuit in 1946 before graduating to radio 2GB with Jack Davey. Around 1950 she started developing as a solo cabaret performer in Sydney's main night clubs and during this period she changed her performing name to Maggie. She was spotted there by Sir Frank Tait of J.C. Williamsons, who offered her the featured role of Bianca in the 1952 Australian production of Kiss Me Kate, in which she appeared with Hayes Gordon. Maggie then left for the UK and was soon cast as Principal Boy in the Aladdin pantomime at Blackpool, opposite Hylda Baker who played Widow Twankey. Then came a twelve months tour with Flanagan and Allen in The Crazy Gang. Her own cabaret act followed at The Astor, The Stork Room, The Pigalle Club and, in 1956, Winston's Club with Danny La Rue. More cabarets, stage musicals and plays came along (including playing the role of Jane in a 1960 London revival of Rudolf Friml's Rose Marie, for which she recreated the role in a studio cast recording the following year) until, in 1961 she appeared opposite Max Bygraves in the musical Do Re Mi. Fitzgibbon appeared on various British television dramas such as Danger Man. The BBC cast her in the starring role of Vivienne Cooper in their TV series The Newcomers which ran from 1965 to 1969. This led to her own show for London Weekend Television Maggie's Place and guest appearances with such as Benny Hill and Morecambe and Wise. She also played a leading role as Adelaide in LWT's 1970 26-part wartime drama Manhunt, and appeared in the 1972 film Sunstruck opposite Harry Secombe. Maggie returned to Australia briefly in 1963 to star in Noël Coward's Australian production of his musical Sail Away, then returning to London to star with Bob Monkhouse and Ronnie Corbett in the Drury Lane production of The Boys from Syracuse (Luce). Her final West End appearance was in Side By Side By Sondheim after which she retired to farm in Australia, making only occasional guest appearances, mainly on the concert stage. In 2002 she was awarded an OAM for services to the community. Maggie Fitzgibbon was featured in the Victorian Jazz Archive exhibition entitled The Fitzgibbon Dynasty.

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