Morgana Robinson

Last updated

Morgana Robinson
Born Shepparton, Victoria, Australia [1]
NationalityBritish
Years active2007–present
Relative(s) Brody Dalle (half-sister)

Morgana Robinson is an Australian-born British comedian, impressionist, writer and actress. She has appeared in her comedy sketch programme The Morgana Show , Morgana Robinson's The Agency , House of Fools and Very Important People .

Contents

Early life

Robinson was born in Shepparton, Victoria to parents working as a nurse and a paramedic. Her family moved to the United Kingdom when she was three. She was primarily raised by her mother and spent much of her childhood sofa surfing. [2] She attended Benenden School in Kent. Her father was adopted, and her schooling at Benenden was paid for by her father's biological parents after he reconnected with them during her childhood. [3] She studied sculpture at City and Guilds in London, earning a 2:2. [1]

On her father's side, Robinson has four elder half-siblings, one of whom is Brody Dalle (born Bree Joanna Alice Robinson) of the punk rock band the Distillers and alternative rock band Spinnerette. They first met as adults, backstage at one of Dalle's 2004 concerts at the Brixton Academy. [4] [5]

Television career

Robinson got her start in television at age 25, after showing a homemade showreel to comedy agent John Noel while working as a waitress. [6]

Robinson's television debut came in 2007, as she played an eastern European internet bride in BBC One's comedy The Green Green Grass . [7] She then starred in the TV pilot Eight Steps to Enlightenment and a Nervous Breakdown, an improvised mockumentary, playing Rachel, a self-obsessed glamour model, trying to rid herself of cellulite. In 2009, she appeared as Anna in the BBC One comedy My Family in the episode "It's Training Men".

In 2009, she appeared in a running sketch segment, Gilbert's Special Report, in The TNT Show as Gilbert, a teenage boy who interviews celebrities, alongside his disabled crew members.

In 2010, Channel 4 commissioned a five-part comedy sketch show, The Morgana Show . Channel 4's head of comedy, Shane Allen, said: "Discovering, supporting and nurturing new talent is at the heart of Channel 4 comedy’s remit, and in Morgana we really feel we’ve found a fresh performer with a huge amount of potential." [8] Her characters included giant-glasses wearing Gilbert, making TV shows from his bedroom, and her impressions of Fearne Cotton and mockumentary of Natalie Cassidy "Sonia off Eastenders".

In 2012, Robinson starred in the Channel 4 sketch show Very Important People also starring Terry Mynott. In the show, she impersonates a variety of performers, including Frankie Boyle, Danny Dyer, Amy Childs and Adele.

In 2014 to 2015, she appeared as sexy nymphomaniac cafe-owner Julie in Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer's two-series surreal BBC Two television comedy sitcom House of Fools in which her appearances include an obsessive attraction to Vic Reeves.

In 2016, she appeared as Pippa Middleton in The Windsors , a comedy parody of the British royal family in which she uses her sexiness to try to ensnare her sister's brother-in-law Prince Harry.

In 2018, she appeared with Richard Ayoade in Travel Man , visiting Milan.

In 2021, Robinson played Hilary Bowden in series 2, episode 4 of Intelligence . [9] The same year, she participated in the 12th series of Channel 4 comedy game show Taskmaster , which she won. She returned to the series in 2024 as part of the third "Champion of Champions" special episode.

In March 2022, Robinson appeared as Maxine in Gold comedy Newark, Newark . Also in 2022, she co-starred with Dylan Moran in the BBC Two sitcom Stuck . [10]

Personal life

She was previously engaged. [11]

Awards

At the 2012 British Comedy Awards, she won in the Best Comedy Breakthrough Artist category. [12]

In 2018, she won the BAFTA Award in the Best Short Form Programme category for Morgana Robinson's Summer. [13]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2008Eight Steps to Enlightenment and a Nervous BreakdownRachelShort film
2012The ActressPrincess AlopeciaShort film
2015 Set the Thames on Fire London Town Tannoy
2020 The Witches Mrs. Jenkins
2021 A Bird Flew In Lucy
2023The Martini ShotDr. Ehm
2024 Robin and the Hoods Cathy
Up the CatalogueJamima Hoare

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007 The Green Green Grass KatiaSeries 3, episode 7: "Lust in Translation"
2009 My Family AnnaSeries 9, episode 7: "It's Training Men"
The TNT ShowGilbertAppeared in a running sketch segment "Gilbert's Special Report". The character was later used in Robinson's own sketch show
2010 Comedy Lab UnknownSeries 11, episode 7: "MovieMash"
The Morgana Show VariousStar, writer and creator, 5 episodes
2011 The Hunt for Tony Blair Carole Caplin A one-off episode of The Comic Strip Presents...
2012 Very Important People VariousStar, writer and creator, 6 episodes
Them from That Thing [14] VariousTwo-part sketch show with Kayvan Novak, Sally Phillips and Blake Harrison produced for Channel 4's Comedy Fortnight
2013 Toast of London [15] Jemima GinaSitcom with Matt Berry. Series 1, episode 1: "Addictive Personality"
2014 Warren United Charlotte 'Charlie' KingsleyVoice role. Series 1, 6 episodes
Chanel MVarious BBC iPlayer content part of the Original Comedy Shorts series [16]
Big School Fenella ForbesSeries 2, episode 1
Drifters RebeccaSeries 2, episode 6: "Meg's New Job"
Psychobitches Anna Nicole Smith / Venus / Bo Peep /
Mary Magdalene / Daphne du Maurier
Series 2, 4 episodes
Toast of London [15] Lorna WyndeSeries 2, episode 6: "Fool in Love"
2014–2015 House of Fools Julie BBC Two comedy series written by Bob Mortimer and Vic Reeves. Two series, 13 episodes
2015 Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe [17] Zeb / Russell Brand Series 3, 4 episodes
SunTrap Janice / SusanSeries 1, episode 3: "The Big Sleep"
Toast of London [18] EmmaSeries 3, episode 2: "Beauty Calls"
Distinquished LadiesMinkyTelevision film
Crackanory Herself - StorytellerSeries 3, episode 5, Story 1: "The Truth About Suz"
2015–2016 Walliams & Friend [19] Various / CarlaSeries 1, 5 episodes
2016 Drunk History: UK Mary GodwinSeries 2, episode 4: "Richard III / Mary Shelley's Frankenstein"
Morgana Robinson's The Agency [20] VariousBBC Two mockumentary series, 7 episodes
2016–2017 Hey Duggee Buggee / Katerina the Flamingo / Peggee / NurseVoice roles. Series 2, 7 episodes
2016–2020, 2023 The Windsors Pippa Middleton Main role, 19 episodes
2017 Inside No. 9 CarrieSeries 3, episode 6: "Private View"
2018 Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators Sally BalthasarSeries 1, episode 6: "Exit, Pursued by a Bear"
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Natalie Cassidy - Dictionary Corner GuestSeries 16, episode 1
2019Series 18, episode 2
Island of DreamsAdeleTelevision film
2020Reasons to Be Cheerful with Matt LucasNatalie CassidySeries 1, episode 3
Comedians: Home AloneCherylSeries 1, episode 3
Truth Seekers Janey FeathersSeries 1, episode 3: "The Girl with All the Ghosts"
2020–2021 Intelligence Hilary BowdenSeries 1, episode 4 and Series 2, episode 4
2021 Taskmaster Herself - Contestant
How We Forgot to Save the Planet [21] VariousMockumentary, part of Channel 4's programming highlighting environmental concerns in the build-up to the COP26 conference on climate change
2022 Toast of Tinseltown Wildcat LilSeries 1, episode 5: "Death Valley"
Newark, Newark MaxineLead role, Gold original comedy. Series 1, 3 episodes
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Annabel - Dictionary Corner GuestSeries 23, episode 4
Stuck [22] CarlaLead role, BBC original comedy. Series 1, 5 episodes
The Larkins Pinkie JerebohmRecurring role. Series 2, 6 episodes
2023 The Serial Killer's Wife JulesEpisodes 1–4
2023–2024 Everyone Else Burns [23] MelissaSeries 1 & 2; 11 episodes

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References

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  3. Lytton, Charlotte (23 February 2016). "Morgana Robinson: 'If you're not a white man in this industry, it's going to be tough for you'". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  4. "Boots Electric (Jessie Hughes' Eagles of Death Metal) – Boots Electric Theme – Track of the Day – QTheMusic.com". 10 July 2011. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011.
  5. Rhik Samadder (4 May 2014). "Comedian Morgana Robinson and singer Brody Dalle on their close sister relationship". The Guardian.
  6. Lytton, Charlotte (23 February 2016). "Morgana Robinson: 'If you're not a white man in this industry, it's going to be tough for you'". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  7. "The Green Green Grass Series 3, Episode 7 – Lust in Translation". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  8. Solutions, Powder Blue Internet Business. "'Unknown' lands her own C4 comedy series : News 2010 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide" . Retrieved 10 March 2017.{{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
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  19. "Walliams & Friend". IMDb. 24 December 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
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  21. "How We Forgot to Save the Planet" . Retrieved 21 November 2021.
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  23. "Channel 4 Commissions New Apocalyptic Comedy 'Everyone Else Burns', Starring Simon Bird". channel4.com/press. Retrieved 12 May 2022.