Profile
Marney McQueen is one of Australia’s most diverse performers, starring on stage, film and television – both at home and abroad.
Soon after graduating from NIDA (Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art), Marney fell into the world of Cabaret and realised that she had a passion for creating characters and interacting with audiences. Marney’s work has been greatly influenced by Barry Humphries, whom she met at NIDA and consequently flew to New York to observe in his theatre. It was while in New York that she performed her first of many International Cabaret Shows, Bustin Out: Bondi to Broadway. Upon her return to Australia, Marney collaborated with classmates from NIDA to create the multi-award winning Cabaret hit Connie Chang’s Cabaret Roadshow. Marney was soon after offered the role of Patti in Tony MacNamara’s The Give and Take at Sydney Theatre Company, and in the Melbourne Theatre Company production the following year.
She has also enjoyed many film and television performances. For her role in the short film Turn by Michael Lucas, Marney was nominated for and awarded several best actress awards, including MethodFest in LA. In the TV comedy Last Man Standing she played Charlie the Postie. She was also seen in the US feature film Son of the Mask.
Marney was a series regular in the first series of Network 10′s sketch comedy show The Wedge, with characters such as Farmer Jill and Susie Spud. Later she teamed up with some Wedge castmates in Rebel Wilson’s Bogan Pride.
Marney was awarded the role of Marion in the smash hit, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Musical, directed by Simon Phillips. After performing in over 600 shows, she was presented with a Green Room award for being part of the Priscilla cast in both the original Sydney and Melbourne seasons. Next, she played Shelley in the David Williamson play Scarlett O’Hara at the Crimson Parrot at MTC alongside cabaret legend Caroline O’Connor.
Marney’s return season of Bustin Out Again was staged in New York, followed by sell out success in London with the world premiere of her new one woman Cabaret show, Rosa Waxes Lyrical. At the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2009 Marney was shortlisted for best newcomer. Rosa Waxes Lyrical toured to Sydney, Perth, Strath Creek, London and also received rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2009.
Marney appears regularly as an MC and singer at Corporate events and functions, both in character and as herself. With her quick wit, comic timing and a voice that can adapt to almost any style, she is a rare and exciting talent.
Her 2010 show Sunburnt Country was a sell out at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and in its subsequent Australian tour and her 2011 Melbourne Comedy Festival show Red Hot and Rosa, co-written with Tim Bain, sold out at the Forum Theatre. Marney has recently completed over 350 shows as the villainess Velma Von Tussle in the hit musical Hairspray at in Melbourne and Sydney.
Marney attributes her love of performing to her dad Don McQueen who has just been crowned Bush Balladeer of the Year for the fourth time. He also loves cricket, and built his own cricket ground in country Victoria. Check it out! www.humeandhovell.com.au
