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Ginette McDonald

Curated by NZ On Screen team 67 items
A collection devoted to actor, comedian, director and producer Ginette McDonald.

Overview

Ginette McDonald — actor, director, certified Kiwi legend. This collection showcases all of those skills, from generous dollops of her beloved comic creation Lynn of Tawa, to interviews, award-winning dramatic roles (Pioneer Women), and examples of her work as a director (Gliding On) and producer (The Champion, Peppermint Twist). Our Ginette smorgasbord also finds room for bite-sized tributes by fans and colleagues, and two memorable backgrounders: a tribute to Ginette, Lynn and the Kiwi accent by writer and comedian Michèle A'Court, and a captivating personal account by Michael McDonald — Ginette's brother and fellow Lynn of Tawa conspirator.

Profiles

Profile picture of Ginette McDonald
Ginette McDonald
Actor, Producer, Director

Television

Collection Gallery

Shirley_from_Close_to_Home__Avalon_Studios_1978.jpg
Ginette McDonald in the make-up chair, before playing Shirley in Close to Home.
Photo courtesy of Michael McDonald
Ginette-First-Lynn.jpg
Lynn of Tawa on Good Day in 1979, in her first television appearance. 
Screen grab
royal-variety-1.jpg
Lynn of Tawa (Ginette McDonald) says hello to the Queen, during the 1981 Royal Command Performance.
Screen grab
Regan_in__King_Lear__Circa_Theatre_1983.jpg
Ginette McDonald as Regan, in a 1983 Circa Theatre production of King Lear.
Tom_Stoppard_s__Travesties___Downstage_1976__with_Susan_Wilson.jpg
Ginette McDonald and Susan Wilson in Tom Stoppard play Travesties; Downstage Theatre, Wellington 1975.
With_John_Clarke__Melbourne_c2005.jpg
Longtime friends Ginette McDonald and John Clarke.
Courtesy of Michael McDonald
Taking_the_piss_out_of_Boris.JPG
Ginette McDonald and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Photo courtesy of Ginette and Michael McDonald
Richard-Driver-Gallery-2.jpg
Richard Driver (then Dick Driver) with Lynn of Tawa (Ginette McDonald) in 1989.
Kindly supplied by The Dominion Post
Ginette-McDonald-gallery-3.jpg
Ginette McDonald playing her most famous character: Lynn of Tawa.
Kindly provided by Onfilm
Lyn_with_Elton_John_1980.jpg
Lynn of Tawa interviews Elton John, for Lynn's 1980 one-off TV special.
Group-Therapy-thumb.jpg
Jed Brophy and Ginette McDonald in 1998 short film Group Therapy.
Screen grab
Ginette_McDonald__The_Champion_.jpg
Producer Ginette McDonald on the set of 1989 series The Champion. McDonald and director Peter Sharp had previously worked together on award-winner The Fire-Raiser (1986).
Photo courtesy of TVNZ
The_Champion__Still_4_.jpg
The Pascoe family in 1989 series The Champion: from left to right, Gloria (played by Meredith Braun), Alf (Alistair Douglas), Rex (Milan Borich), and Bernice (Sarah Peirse).
Photo courtesy of TVNZ
Peppermint-Twist-Gallery-11.jpg
The Hi-Tones, the budding pop group which featured on Peppermint Twist. From left, Spiro (Stanley Findlay), Harvey (Stephen Judd), Joseph (Iain Rea) and Chris (Murray Keane).
Photo courtesy of TVNZ