Penny McNamee

Last updated

Penny McNamee
Born
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation(s)Actress, Model
Years active1993–present
Spouse
Matt Tooker
​
(m. 2009)​
Children2
Family Jessica McNamee (sister)
Teagan Croft (niece)

Penny McNamee (born 17 March 1983) is an Australian actress, screenwriter and author, best known for originating the role of Nessarose in the Australian premier of Wicked, playing Dr. Tori Morgan in Home and Away and writing the Stage Stars book series for Scholastic. [1]

Contents

It was recently announced that Mcnamee will be starring as MTV reporter Rachel in the Australian premiere production of MJ the Musical. [2]


Early and personal life

Penny McNamee was born in Sydney to Peter and Helen McNamee. She has three sisters, including actress Jessica McNamee, and a younger brother. [3] [4] Through her sister Rebecca, she is the aunt of actress Teagan Croft. Her cousin, Madelaine Collignon, is a news presenter for Prime7.

McNamee married Matt Tooker, director of a marketing agency, in 2009. They have a son. [3] [5] McNamee gave birth to their second child, a daughter, in March 2019. [6] [7]

Career

Theatre

In 2025, McNamee will star as MTV reporter Rachel in MJ the Musical. The show will open at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney in March 2025. [8]

McNamee starred opposite Lucy Durack, Todd McKenney and Shane Jacobson in the critcally acclaimed Neil Simon play, the Odd Couple at both the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne and the Theatre Royal in Sydney. [9]

McNamee is perhaps best known on stage for her portrayal of Nessarose in the original Australian cast of Wicked [10] for which she won the 2009 Green Room Award for Best Female in a Featured Role. [11] The show opened on 12 July 2008, in Melbourne, where it ran for 13 months, closing on 9 August 2009. It then transferred to Sydney from 12 September 2009. McNamee played her final performance at the Capitol Theatre on 12 March 2010.

McNamee originated the role of Jennifer Gabriel in Cameron Mackintosh's production of The Witches of Eastwick . [12] The show opened at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne and McNamee was nominated for a Mo Award for Best New Talent.

McNamee played the lead role of Jerusha Abbott in John Caird and Paul Gordon's musical Daddy Long Legs . Based on the book of the same name, Daddy Long Legs played at the Florida Studio Theater. [13]

McNamee portrayed Donna in the Australian premier of Hurlyburly for the Griffin Theatre Company, Sydney. McNamee starred alongside Alex Dimitriades. [14]

McNamee has performed in Carols in the Domain for Channel 7, [15] Carols by Candlelight for Channel 9 and on Good Morning Australia.

Film

McNamee completed filming on John Duigan's Australian feature film Careless Love , in which she played the role of Carol. The film was in postproduction in 2011 and was released in 2012. [16]

In 2006, McNamee starred as Melissa in the Lionsgate US feature film See No Evil . [17]

Television

Her guest roles on various US and Australian series including Blue Bloods (CBS), Elementary (CBS), Political Animals (USA), All Saints , White Collar Blue and Satisfaction . [18]

in 2010, McNamee played the role of Hope in Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg's HBO miniseries The Pacific . McNamee and Isabel Lucas play best friends who fell in love with American soldiers during World War II.

McNamee was cast in the supporting role of Ruth Crockett in the Warner Bros. miniseries Salem's Lot . She starred opposite Rob Lowe, and the series was aired on TNT in the USA.

In November 2015, McNamee was announced to have joined the cast of Seven Network soap opera Home and Away , as Tori Morgan, a doctor at the Northern Districts Hospital. [19] She was introduced on 5 May 2016 during the Caravan Park explosion storyline. [20] McNamee was nominated for the Best New Talent Logie Award for her role as Tori. She made her final appearance on 27 September 2021, after more than five years in the series. [21] McNamee reprised the role for a guest appearance in April 2024. [22]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleType
2003FuelHitchhikerShort film
2006 See No Evil Melissa BeudrouxFeature film
2007 Hammer Bay Alice BlakelyShort TV film
2008The TouristGirl from Back HomeShort film
2012 Careless Love CarolFeature film
2013MonkeywrenchVanessaShort film
2014 See No Evil 2 Melissa Beudroux (uncredited)Feature film

Television

YearTitleRoleType
2003 White Collar Blue Alicia Moore (guest role)TV series, season 2, 1 episode
All Saints Susie ChambersTV series
2004 Salem's Lot Ruth CrockettTV miniseries
2006 headLand Charlie Cooper (recurring role)TV series, 8 episodes
2010 Satisfaction Shop Assistant (guest role)TV series, season 3, 1 episode
The Pacific Hope (guest role)TV miniseries, 1 episode
2012 Political Animals TV miniseries
2013 Elementary Vivian Tully (guest role)TV series, season 1, 1 episode
Blue Bloods Marie Grasso (guest role)TV series, season 3, 1 episode
The HarringtonsTV series
2016–2021, 2024 Home and Away Tori Morgan Seasons 29–34 (main cast), Season 37 (guest)

Podcast

YearTitleRoleType
2022The Younger ManPodcast Series

Writer

YearTitleRoleType
2023– Home and Away WriterTV series, 4 episodes

Related Research Articles

<i>Wicked</i> (musical) 2003 musical by Stephen Schwartz

Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is a loose adaptation of the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which in turn is based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 film adaptation. The musical is told from the perspective of two witches, Elphaba and Galinda, before and after Dorothy's arrival in Oz. The story explores the complex friendship between Elphaba and Galinda. Their relationship is tested by their contrasting personalities, conflicting viewpoints, shared love interest, reactions to the corrupt rule of the Wonderful Wizard, and ultimately, Elphaba's tragic fall.

Fiona Spence is an English-born retired stage and television actress and drama teacher. She is known for her television roles in Australia including Prisoner (1979–81) as prison officer Vera "Vinegar Tits" Bennett and Home and Away as the unlucky-in-love spinster Celia Stewart (1988–90).

Amy Mathews is an Australian television, film and theatre actress. She is best known for her role as Rachel Armstrong in Australian soap opera Home and Away.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Tovey</span> Australian actress (born 1987)

Jessica Tovey is an Australian actress. Tovey graduated from the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and has made appearances for various drama companies. She is best known for her role of Belle Taylor on the long-running Australian soap opera Home and Away. Tovey joined the show in 2006 and was nominated for two Logie Awards during her time there. In 2009, she announced she had quit Home and Away and her character was killed off. Tovey became the face of American shoe company, Skechers. She appeared in Underbelly: The Golden Mile in 2010 and Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachael Beck</span> Australian actress

Rachael Elizabeth Beck is an Australian stage and television singer-actress. From 1991 to 1994 Beck had a major role on the popular sitcom, Hey Dad..!, as Samantha Kelly. From 2006 to 2008, Beck appeared on all three seasons of Seven Network's celebrity singing competition It Takes Two, as a singing coach successively for Mark Furze, Ernie Dingo and Mark Wilson. She has appeared in the Australian musical theatre productions of Cats (1985), Disney's Beauty and the Beast (1995–96), Les Misérables (1995–96), The Sound of Music, Cabaret, Singing in the Rain and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Beck released her first solo album This Girl on 7 March 2014.

Duncan Stewart (<i>Home and Away</i>) Soap opera character

Duncan Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away. He made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 14 June 1989. He was initially portrayed by Allana Ellis, with actor Lewis Devaney taking over the role from 1990 to 1998. Brendan McKensy assumed the role in 1998 until Duncan's departure in 2001. McKensy later reprised the role in 2004 and 2005 and made his last appearance on 13 July 2005. The character was reintroduced on 19 July 2016, with Benedict Wall cast in the role. Duncan is the son of Ailsa and Alf Stewart. His 2016 reappearance marked the first time in 27 years that he, Alf and his half-sister Roo Stewart had been on-screen together. During his time in Summer Bay, Duncan befriends Tori Morgan, becoming a love rival for Nate Cooper.

Kathryn Beck is an Australian television and theatre actress. In 2007, she played Lily Nelson in the soap opera Home and Away and the following year, she appeared in East of Everything. In 2013, Beck began appearing in Neighbours as Gemma Reeves. She joined the cast of Wentworth in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Harrison</span> Australian actress and singer

Amanda Harrison is an Australian actress and singer, known for her roles in Wicked (Elphaba), We Will Rock You, and for originating the role of Paula Pokrifki in the world premiere of An Officer and a Gentleman. She has performed in cabaret several times, including her current production Up Close and Reasonably Personal which she is expected to perform at Melbourne Cabaret Festival in June 2014 and recently David Harris, Michael Ball, Lea Salonga and Marie Zamora for Enda Markey Presents Do You Hear The People Sing at Shanghai Grand Theatre. She voiced characters for Get Ace an animation series released in January 2014. She appeared with Mig Ayesa, Michael Falzon and Carly Thomas-Smith for three performances of The Music of Queen - Rock and Symphonic Spectacular. The concert series began on 7 February 2014, at Sydney Opera House supported by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra before three performances in Perth, Western Australia between 13–15 February.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica McNamee</span> Australian actress

Jessica McNamee is an Australian actress and model. She rose to fame in Australia playing roles in the Seven Network television programs Home and Away and Packed to the Rafters. From 2014 to 2015, she starred as patrol officer Theresa Kelly in the USA Network series Sirens. Her film roles include The Vow (2012), Chips (2017), Battle of the Sexes (2017), The Meg (2018) and Mortal Kombat (2021).

<i>The Wizard of Oz</i> (2011 musical) 2011 musical based on the 1939 film

The Wizard of Oz is a 2011 musical based on the 1939 film of the same name in turn based on L. Frank Baum's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, with a book adapted by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams. The musical uses the Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg songs from the film and includes some new songs and additional music by Lloyd Webber and additional lyrics by Tim Rice. It is the third stage musical adaptation of the film following the 1942 version for the St. Louis Municipal Opera and the 1987 version for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Scalzo</span> Musical artist

Christopher Scalzo is an Australian-born actor, singer and musical theater performer. He has been part of many major National and International musicals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy Maunder</span> Australian cabaret and theatre performer

Lucy Maunder is an Australian cabaret and theatre performer. She originated the role of Lara in the Australian premiere of Doctor Zhivago in 2011 opposite Anthony Warlow, and toured with her own cabaret Songs in the Key of Black in 2013, releasing an album with the same name. Also in 2013, Maunder toured with the national touring company of Grease playing the role of Rizzo. In 2021-22, she starred as the adult Alison Bechdel in the Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company's co-production of Fun Home.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gretel Scarlett</span> Australian actress and performer (born 1987)

Gretel Scarlett Jahnke, known as Gretel Scarlett is an Australian actress and performer. Having appeared in theatre productions including Wicked and Mamma Mia!, she is best known for starring as Sandy in the 2013–2015 Australian production of Grease and Kathy Selden in the 2016/2017 Australian production of Singin' in the Rain which opened at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne. She most recently appeared in Disney's Frozen as the Elsa understudy.

Suzie Mathers Musical artist

Suzie Mathers is a Scottish-Australian actress and theatre performer best known for her role as Glinda the Good Witch in the Australian, Asian tour, and London productions of Wicked as well Sophie in the 10th Anniversary Australian tour of Mamma Mia! the Musical.

<i>Daddy Long Legs</i> (musical) 2007 musical by Paul Gordon and John Caird

Daddy Long Legs is a stage musical with a book by John Caird, and music and lyrics by Paul Gordon. It is based on the 1912 novel of the same name by Jean Webster. Set in turn-of-the-century New England, the musical tells the story of orphan Jerusha Abbott of the John Grier Home and her mysterious benefactor who agrees to send her to college, who she dubs "Daddy Long Legs" after seeing his elongated shadow. Under the conditions of her benefactor, Jerusha sends him a letter once a month, describing her new-found experiences with life outside the orphanage.

Jackson Heywood is an Australian actor. He played Brody Morgan on the Seven Network soap opera Home and Away from 2016 to 2019.

Teagan Croft is an Australian actress. She appeared as Rachel Azarath / Rachel Roth / White Raven on the DC Universe / HBO Max superhero series Titans (2018–2023) and portrayed the title character in the 2016 science fiction film The Osiris Child.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elise McCann</span> Australian actress and singer

Elise McCann is an Australian actress and musical theatre performer most well known for originating the role of Miss Honey in the Australian production of Matilda the Musical and as Lucille Ball in Everybody Loves Lucy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tori Morgan</span> Fictional character from Home and Away

Tori Morgan is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away, played by Penny McNamee. The actress had wanted to appear in the serial since the start of her acting career and described the part as her "dream job". During the audition process, McNamee was paired with various male actors to find the right combination for the Morgan siblings. A month later, she learned that she had won the role of Tori and began filming in November 2015. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 5 May 2016.

References

  1. ↑ https://scholastic.com.au/booksellers/authors-and-illustrators/authors-and-illustrators-m-p/penny-mcnamee/
  2. ↑ https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/australian-cast-of-broadway-sensation-mj-revealed-ahead-of-february-premiere
  3. 1 2 "McNamee Sisters: Packed with Talent". New Idea . 17 July 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. ↑ "Jess McNamee". Yahoo!7 . Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  5. ↑ "Penny McNamee reveals Home And Away is her dream job". TV Week . 5 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  6. ↑ Houghton, Rianne (21 September 2018). "Home and Away star Penny McNamee is expecting her second child". Digital Spy . Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  7. ↑ Burke, Tina (6 March 2019). "Home and Away's Penny McNamee just welcomed a beautiful baby girl". TV Week . Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  8. ↑ https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/australian-cast-of-broadway-sensation-mj-revealed-ahead-of-february-premiere
  9. ↑ https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/overnights/penny-mcnamee/104095212
  10. ↑ Blake, Jason. , "Sydney Morning Herald", 14 September 2009, Accessed 29 August 2011.
  11. ↑ , "Green Room Awards", Accessed 29 August 2011.
  12. ↑ Thomson, Helen. "McDermott Leads a Devilish Dance", "The Age", 26 August 2002, Accessed 29 August 2011.
  13. ↑ "Intimate musical 'Daddy Long Legs' brings classic story to FST | February 1, 2014 | Jay Handelman | Arts Sarasota". Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  14. ↑ Higgins. Jo. "Hurlyburly" [ permanent dead link ], "State of the Arts", 16 May 2005, Accessed 3 September 2011.
  15. ↑ "Carols in the Domain". 19 December 2009, Accessed 2 September 2011.
  16. ↑ Archived 17 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine "Screen Hub", Accessed 15 September 2011
  17. ↑ "New York Times" Accessed 2 September 2011.
  18. ↑ "Penny McNamee". IMDb .
  19. ↑ "Penny McNamee joins the cast of Home and Away". Herald Sun . 22 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  20. ↑ Dunk, Tiffany (30 April 2016). "Home and Away: Penny McNamee holds the fate of Summer Bay favourites in her hands". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  21. ↑ Walters, Kylie (23 September 2021). "Exclusive: Why Penny McNamee is ready to say goodbye to Home & Away". Who . Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  22. ↑ Rigden, Clare (31 March 2024). "Justin and Leah finally walk down the aisle in a Home and Away wedding for the ages". The Sunday Times . Retrieved 3 April 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.