Mary Coustas
Logie award winning comedy actress and writer
Topic
Profile
Mary Coustas is a Logie Award-winning actress and writer.
For the last 30 years Mary has entertained and moved us in a huge range of TV shows, film & theatre with her comic & dramatic work.
Previous experience
‘Wogs Out Of Work’ in the late 1980’s launched Mary and her co-stars Nick Giannopoulos and Simon Palomares into the Australian stratosphere. This ground-breaking theatre show addressed racism in a way the country had never seen before. It empowered the minorities and entertained the majority of Australians throughout it’s multiple national tours. The show ran for 3 years and was Australia’s highest grossing non-musical theatre show.
The Channel 7 sit-com Acropolis Now ran for 5 hit seasons and it gave birth to Mary’s most known and beloved character the bold and boofy Effie, who for the last 3 decades has affectionately seared herself into the minds and homes Australian public. Her comedic character of ‘Effie’ is the bauble for every corporate festivity. This Logie award winning Greek goddess puts the O in Occasion. Whether she is your MC, moderator, debating team member or your comedy spot entertainer she is the Megastar for youse.
Author:
It was Mary’s own deeply personal story, her odyssey, her excruciating decade long journey to become a mother that touched a nation in a way no-one could have anticipated. Her much-lauded memoir ‘All I Know’ exposed Mary’s enormous heartbreak and greatest challenge to the public.
‘The Good Weekend’ ran a 5-page extract from her book and ‘60 Minutes’ followed up with 2 separate stories.
Mary’s 23 IVF attempts and her willingness to share her greatest sorrow – the death of her still-born daughter Stevie, touched a national nerve about subjects previously considered secret and taboo.
Mary has succeeded against all odds both professionally and personally to realize her dreams of becoming a mother and an actress.
Her personal motto of, “Nothing good comes from giving up” carried Mary towards her greatest achievement, the birth of her healthy and beautiful daughter Jamie in November 2013.
Mary’s harrowing, courageous and ultimately uplifting personal story became inspirational to so many. Her vulnerability, resilience and eventual victory catapulted her into the nation’s hearts forever.
Both the corporate and community sector has benefited from Mary’s experienced, warm and humorous approach. This makes her the perfect: speaker, moderator and MC for any event and occasion.
Feedback
Mary tailored the performance to our company and guests brilliantly and humourously. She is very quick and made everyone laugh. We would be happy to have her attend a future event. She was the highlight of the night and was happy to take photos with our guests.
We should pay Effie double - she was quite simply FANTASTIC - particularly her line "It's not DOG eat DOG - it's WOG eat WOG!" Everyone I've spoken to also thinks it was the best ever! It was a great night.
People are RAVING about it being the best one ever. Seriously raving. It's great. Effie was a sensation and they're raving about her too. And everyone has a hangover.
What a great night! Feedback this morning has been outstanding... "the best Ball ever" is the common view. Effie slayed 'em. As John Howard said, the Ball has become THE Canberra event to attend.
Wow - what a night! The feedback from guests and staff has been absolutely incredible. Your comical anecdotes were a great hit and your banter with Larry was very entertaining. I can't begin to thank you for your contribution in making our Client Appreciation Party a night that will be remembered for many years to come.
Your presence and the comedy spot you delivered were instant hits with our clients and staff members alike. We are still in awe of the way in which you spiced up the information we gave you and delivered it with such aplomb.
I would like to thank you for your participation in the National Conference - Quest for Excellence - which contributed to the success of the event.
