Doon Mackichan

2024-12-11T14:54:23Z

82.37.3.129: added regular Day Today character

{{short description|British actress, comedian and writer (born 1962)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use British English |date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Doon Mackichan
| image = File:Doon Mackichan in Bitter Wheat.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Mackichan appearing in ''Bitter Wheat'' at the Garrick Theatre in 2019
| birth_name =
| birth_date ={{Birth date and age|1962|08|07|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[London]], England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|comedian|writer}}
| years_active = 1985–present
| homepage =
| known_for =
| children = 3
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Anthony Barclay]]|1997|2005|end=divorced}}
}}
'''Sarah Doon Mackichan''' ({{IPAc-en|m|ə|ˈ|k|iː|x|ən|,_|-|ˈ|iː|k|ən}};<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=drly_x_HzfIC&dq=Mackichan+pronounce&pg=PA236|title=An English Pronouncing Dictionary|first=Daniel|last=Jones|date=3 June 2003|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=9780415233392 |via=Google Books}}</ref> born 7 August 1962) is a British actress, comedian and writer. She co-created, wrote and performed in the double-[[Emmy awards|Emmy]]-award-winning ''[[Smack the Pony]]''. She frequently collaborates with [[Armando Iannucci]] and [[Steve Coogan]], having played multiple characters in ''[[The Day Today]]'', ''[[Brass Eye]]'' and [[Alan Partridge]], and has also appeared in ''[[Toast of London]]'' and ''[[Two Doors Down (TV series)|Two Doors Down]]''. Mackichan was nominated for [[British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance|Best Female Comedy Performance]] at the [[2014 British Academy Television Awards]] for her performance in ''Plebs'' and won critical praise for her performance alongside [[John Malkovich]] in ''Bitter Wheat'' in 2019.

==Early life==
Mackichan was born on 7 August 1962 in [[London]] and later moved with her family to the Scottish village of [[Upper Largo]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Alice |title=Doon Mackichan on starring in David Mamet's #MeToo play Bitter Wheat |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/bitter-wheat-play-doon-mackichan-smack-the-pony-day-today-303741 |access-date=22 January 2024 |work=inews.co.uk |date=19 June 2019 |language=en}}</ref> She studied drama at [[Manchester University]].<ref name="standard">{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/arts/theatre/tears-behind-theatres-unsung-funniest-woman--doon-mackichan-6367098.html|title=Tears behind theatre's unsung funniest woman - Doon Mackichan|work=Evening Standard|date=10 April 2012 |location=London}}</ref>

==Career==
Mackichan had her television debut in comedy series ''Five Alive'', shown by [[Channel 4]] between 1987 and 1988, along with [[Brian Conley]] (also making his television debut), Peter Piper, Joanna Brookes and [[Andy Secombe|Andrew Secombe]]. In series 2, shown in 1988, Andrew Secombe was replaced by [[Phil Nice]].

Mackichan, one of the writers and stars of the [[Channel 4]] comedy series ''[[Smack the Pony]]'', has appeared in a number of [[Chris Morris (satirist)|Chris Morris]] radio and television comedy series such as ''[[On the Hour]]'', ''[[The Day Today]]'' and ''[[Brass Eye]]''. Mackichan's own BBC Radio show, ''Doon Your Way'', was broadcast in 1996. She also appeared in the sitcoms ''[[Beast (TV series)|Beast]]'' and ''[[Bedtime (TV series)|Bedtime]]'', and was a regular performer in ''[[Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge (TV series)|Knowing Me, Knowing You... with Alan Partridge]]'' and ''[[The Mary Whitehouse Experience]]''. She appeared in several of ''[[The Comic Strip|The Comic Strip Presents...]]'' films in the early 1990s, and appeared in the 1995 comedy ''[[The Glam Metal Detectives]]''. In 2009, she appeared as Jane Thomason, the news producer for the BBC in ''[[Taking the Flak]]''. She portrayed [[Cherie Blair]] in the Channel 4 satirical drama ''A Very Social Secretary'', and appeared in the Channel 4 sitcom ''[[Nathan Barley]]''. She portrayed a BBC news presenter, Louise Marlowe, in series 4 of ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' in 2010.

In film, Mackichan played Victoria Lender in 1997's ''[[The Borrowers (1997 film)|The Borrowers]]'' and teamed up with her former ''Smack the Pony'' co-stars for the 2004 film ''[[Gladiatress]]''. Also in 1998 she appeared in the BBC TV mini-series of Dickens' novel ''[[Our Mutual Friend (1998 TV serial)|Our Mutual Friend]]'' as Sophronia Lammle.

On stage, she appeared with [[Matt Di Angelo]] and [[David Haig]] in the [[Joe Orton]] black farce ''[[Loot (play)|Loot]]''. In July 2011, Mackichan performed alongside [[Julian Barratt]] in [[Nikolai Gogol]]'s comedy ''[[The Government Inspector]]'' at the [[Young Vic Theatre]], London. Later in 2011, she played the part of Frances in April de Angelis' play ''Jumpy'' at the [[Royal Court Theatre]]. Since 2013, Mackichan has starred in ''[[Toast of London]]'' as Steven Toast's ([[Matt Berry]]) quirky agent Jane Plough.

She has narrated several TV series including ''The Honey Trap'' and ''Bank of Mum and Dad''. She has also voiced characters in several animated series including ''[[Bob and Margaret]]'', ''[[Stressed Eric]]'', ''[[Don't Eat the Neighbours]]'' and ''[[Bromwell High]]''.

She fronted a TV ad campaign for [[Hallmark]] in the UK, and appeared alongside [[Darren Boyd]] as one half of a married couple for a series of [[Direct Line]] insurance TV ads in 2012.

She was a contestant in the 2003 [[BBC]] charity singing contest ''[[Comic Relief does Fame Academy]]'', in which she came fourth.

She has appeared twice on the BBC panel show ''[[QI]]'', in series C, episode 2, ("Cummingtonite", 2005) and series E episode 11, ("Endings", 2007).

From 2013 until 2018, Mackichan played Flavia, a recurring character, in the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] comedy ''[[Plebs (TV series)|Plebs]]'', for which she was nominated for the [[British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance]] in 2014. She played Cathy in the BBC comedy ''[[Two Doors Down (TV series)|Two Doors Down]]'' from 2013 until 2022, when she decided to quit the show to concentrate on other acting roles. In June 2023 it was announced she would be returning to this role in the forthcoming series.

In 2017 she played [[Feste]] in the [[Royal National Theatre]]'s production of ''[[Twelfth Night]]'' and television film ''[[Death on the Tyne]]'' in 2018. Mackichan appeared as the Archangel Michael in the [[Amazon Prime]]/[[BBC]] mini-series ''[[Good Omens (TV series)|Good Omens]]'' and as Sarah in [[Channel 4]] comedy-drama ''[[Pure (British TV series)|Pure]]'' in 2019.

In 2019 she appeared as Sondra in [[David Mamet]]'s ''Bitter Wheat'' at the [[Garrick Theatre]]. Writing in ''[[The Guardian]]'', [[Michael Billington (critic)|Michael Billington]] praised her as having given the show's best performance.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Billington |first1=Michael |title=Bitter Wheat review – Malkovich and Mamet's monstrous misfire |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/jun/19/bitter-wheat-review-malkovich-and-mamets-monstrous-misfire |access-date=12 November 2020 |work=The Guardian|date=19 June 2019}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In 1997, Mackichan married the actor [[Anthony Barclay]].<ref name="standard"/> In 1998, she swam the [[English Channel]] as part of a six-person relay team.<ref>{{cite news|title=How doon survived the school of hard scots|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/how-doon-survived-the-school-of-hard-scots-1-940376|access-date=13 July 2015|work=The Scotsman|date=19 January 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Shoard|first1=Catherine|title=My whole life has been a black comedy|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2008/dec/04/theatre-orton|access-date=13 July 2015|work=The Guardian.|date=4 December 2008}}</ref>

Mackichan and Barclay were divorced in 2005, after having three children together. She then lived with her children in [[Clapham]], [[South London]].<ref name="standard"/> In 2016, she was living in [[Hastings]], [[East Sussex]].<ref name="Williams">{{cite news|last1=Williams|first1=Zoe|title=Doon Mackichan: 'We were sexy, funny women – perhaps that was a bit much'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/nov/20/doon-mackichan-sexy-funny-women-interview-two-doors-down-smack-the-pony|access-date=24 February 2017|work=The Guardian|date=20 November 2016}}</ref>

In March 2016, Mackichan was part of a team of well-known people who attempted to sail around a section of Britain in just five days, as part of the ''[[British Telecom|BT]] [[Sport Relief]] Challenge: Hell on High Seas''.<ref>{{cite web|title=All aboard for celebrity sailing challenge|url=https://www.sportrelief.com/whats-going-on/all-aboard-celebrity-sailing-challenge|website=sportrelief.com|access-date=7 March 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306033309/http://www.sportrelief.com/whats-going-on/all-aboard-celebrity-sailing-challenge|archive-date=6 March 2016}}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1997
| ''[[The Borrowers (1997 film)|The Borrowers]]''
| Victoria Lender
|
|-
| 1999
| ''[[With or Without You (1999 film)|With or Without You]]''
| Deirdre
|
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Wild About Harry (2000 film)|Wild About Harry]]''
| Tara Adair
|
|-
| 2003
| ''Indian Dream''
| Penny
| TV film
|-
| rowspan="2"|2004
| ''[[Gladiatress]]''
| Dwyfuc
|
|-
| ''[[Churchill: The Hollywood Years]]''
| Radio Host
| Deleted scenes
|-
| 2005
| ''A Very Social Secretary''
| [[Cherie Blair]]
| TV film
|-
| 2006
| ''The Good Housekeeping Guide''
| Lydia
| TV film
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Anuvahood]]''
| Patricia
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|2012
| ''Acts of Godfrey''
| Jacqui
|
|-
| ''Never Had You''
| Miss Bewson
| Short
|-
| rowspan="2"|2013
| ''Homeboys''
| Sue
| TV film
|-
| ''[[Two Doors Down (TV series)|Two Doors Down]]''
| Cathy
| TV film, pilot to TV series
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Breaking the Bank]]''
| Caroline
|
|-
| 2015
| ''Draw on Sweet Night''
| Lady Elizabeth Kytson
|
|-
| 2016
| ''Scarlet''
| Female Shopper
| Short
|-
| 2017
| ''[[National Theatre Live]]: [[Twelfth Night]]''
| [[Feste]]
|
|-
| rowspan="3"|2018
| ''[[Death on the Tyne]]''
| Emily
| TV film
|-
| ''Winterlong''
| Barbara
|
|-
| ''[[Happy New Year, Colin Burstead]]''
| Sandy
|
|-
| 2022
| ''[[The Sea Beast (2022 film)|The Sea Beast]]''
| Queen
| Voice role
|-
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1986
| ''Five Alive''
| Various roles
| 15 episodes
|-
| 1986, 1989
| ''[[Hale and Pace]]''
| Various roles / Have a Nice Time Presenter
| 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3"|1990
| ''[[Harry Enfield's Television Programme]]''
| Dont's Daughter
| 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Birds of a Feather (TV series)|Birds of a Feather]]''
| Nurse
| Episode: "Parting"
|-
| ''[[Up Yer News]]''
| Various roles
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|1991
| ''[[The Mary Whitehouse Experience]]''
| Various roles
| Episode: "Series 1, Episode 1"
|-
| ''[[London's Burning (TV series)|London's Burning]]''
| Female Journalist
| Episode: "Series 4, Episode 10"
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Sean's Show]]''
| Scriptwriter
| Episode: "Blind Date"
|-
| 1992–1993
| ''[[The Comic Strip|The Comic Strip Presents...]]''
| Various roles
| 5 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3"|1994
| ''[[The Day Today]]''
| Various roles / Collaterlie Sisters
| Series regular, 7 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|''[[Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge (TV series)|Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge]]''
| Shona McGough
| Episode: "Show 1"
|-
| Wanda Harvey
| Episode: "Show 6"
|-
| rowspan="3"|1995
| ''[[The Glam Metal Detectives]]''
| Various roles
| Series regular, 5 episodes
|-
| ''[[Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge (TV series)|Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge]]''
| Liz Heron
| Episode: "Knowing Me Knowing Yule with Alan Partridge"
|-
| ''[[Agony Again]]''
| Debra
| 7 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|1997
| ''[[I'm Alan Partridge]]''
| Jenny
| Episode: "Watership Alan"
|-
| ''[[Brass Eye]]''
| Various roles
| 4 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|1998
| ''[[Our Mutual Friend (1998 TV serial)|Our Mutual Friend]]''
| Sophronia Lammle
| Mini-series, 4 episodes
|-
| ''[[Bob and Margaret]]''
| Various roles / Moira
| 6 episodes, voice role
|-
| 1998–2000
| ''[[Stressed Eric]]''
| Maria Gonzalez / Alison Scabie
| Series regular, voice role, 13 episodes
|-
| 1999–2003, 2017
| ''[[Smack the Pony]]''
| Various roles
| Series regular, 24 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|2000
| ''[[The Strangerers]]''
| Galadriel
| 2 episodes: "Space Cadets" and "Angels"
|-
| ''[[The Canterbury Tales]]''
| Alison
| Episode: "The Journey Back", voice role
|-
| 2000–2001
| ''[[Beast (TV series)|Beast]]''
| Kirsten
| Series regular, 12 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3"|2001
| ''[[Brass Eye]]''
| Swanchita Haze
| Episode: "Paedophilia"
|-
| ''[[Don't Eat the Neighbours]]''
| Lucy
|
|-
| ''[[Bob and Margaret]]''
| Various roles
| Episode: "A Very Fishy Christmas", voice role
|-
| rowspan="2"|2002
| ''[[Bedtime (TV series)|Bedtime]]''
| Faith
| Series 2 regular, 6 episodes
|-
| ''[[Wire in the Blood]]''
| Amanda Vane
| 2 episodes: "Shadows Rising, Parts 1 & 2"
|-
| rowspan="4"|2005
| ''[[Nathan Barley]]''
| Her Preposterous Voice
| Mini-series, 1 episode
|-
| ''[[Twisted Tales (British TV series)|Twisted Tales]]''
| Sandra Barnes
| Episode: "Cursed House"
|-
| ''[[The Comic Strip|The Comic Strip Presents...]]''
| Diana
| Episode: "Sex Actually"
|-
| ''[[Bromwell High]]''
| Carol Jackson / Various roles
| Series regular, voice role, 13 episodes
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Modern Toss (TV series)|Modern Toss]]''
| Various roles
| Series regular, voice role, 6 episodes
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Taking the Flak]]''
| Jane Thomason
| Series regular, 7 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|2010
| ''[[New Tricks]]''
| Gillian Withall
| Episode: "Left Field"
|-
| ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''
| Louise Marlowe
| Episode: "[[The Nightmare Man (The Sarah Jane Adventures)|The Nightmare Man]]"
|-
| rowspan="2"|2012
| ''[[Me and Mrs Jones (TV series)|Me and Mrs Jones]]''
| Selina
| Episode: "Series 1, Episode 6"
|-
| ''[[Little Crackers]]''
| Mum
| Episode: "Darren Boyd's Little Cracker: Le Concert de L'ecole"
|-
| 2013
| ''Quick Cuts''
| Sue
| 3 episodes
|-
| 2013–2015
| ''[[Toast of London]]''
| Jane Plough
| Series regular, 18 episodes
|-
| 2013–2018
| ''[[Plebs (TV series)|Plebs]]''
| Flavia
| Series regular, 20 episodes
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Psychobitches]]''
| Various roles
| Mini-series, 3 episodes
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Mountain Goats (TV series)|Mountain Goats]]''
| Norma
| Episode: "Homeless"
|-
| rowspan="2"|2016
| ''[[Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge]]''
| The Partridge Playhouse Players / Caller
| 3 episodes, voice roles
|-
| ''[[The Rebel (British TV series)|The Rebel]]''
| Doctor McGill
| Episode: "Law"
|-
| 2016–2022, 2023
| ''[[Two Doors Down (TV series)|Two Doors Down]]''
| Cathy
| Series regular 1–5 and 7, 36 episodes
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Pure (British TV series)|Pure]]''
| Sarah
| Recurring role, 4 episodes
|-
| 2019–present
| ''[[Good Omens (TV series)|Good Omens]]''
| Archangel Michael
| Recurring role, 8 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|2020
| ''[[Flack (TV series)|Flack]]''
| Victoria
| Episode: "Duncan"
|-
| ''[[The Duchess (TV series)|The Duchess]]''
| Cheryl
| 3 episodes
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Toast of London|Toast of Tinseltown]]'' <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0b8qkdk|website=bbc.co.uk|access-date=5 January 2022|title=Toast of Tinseltown}}</ref>
| Jane Plough / Brooke Hooberman (credited as Cocoah Mankind)
| 6 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2023
| ''[[Funny Woman]]''
| Miss Sykes
| 2 episodes: "Series 1, Episodes 1 and 3"
|-
| ''[[Death in Paradise (TV series)|Death in Paradise]]''
| Melanie Parker
| 1 episode: "Christmas Special"
|}

===Theatre===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Venue
! Notes
|-
| 1987
| ''[[To Kill a Mockingbird]]''
| Mayella
| [[Birmingham Repertory Theatre]], [[Birmingham]]
|
|-
| 1988
| ''[['Tis Pity She's a Whore]]''
| Annabella
| [[Stephen Joseph Theatre]], [[Scarborough, North Yorkshire|Scarborough]]
|
|-
| 1990
| ''[[Marguerite Duras|The Square]]''
|
| [[Battersea Arts Centre]], [[London]]
|
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Abigail's Party]]''
| Beverly Moss
| [[Cambridge Theatre]], [[London]]
| also, UK Tour
|-
| rowspan="2"|1992
| ''[[Gillian Plowman|Me and My Friend]]''
| Julia
| [[Chichester Festival Theatre|Minerva Studio, Chichester Festival Theatre]], [[Chichester]]
|
|-
| ''Killers''
| Veronica
| [[Royal Court Theatre]], [[London]]
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|1994
| ''[[Road (play)|Road]]''
| Carol/Lane/Valerie
| [[Royal Court Theatre]], [[London]]
| also, UK Tour
|-
| ''[[The Queen and I (novel)|The Queen and I]]''
| [[Diana, Princess of Wales]]
| [[Leicester Haymarket Theatre]], [[Leicester]]
|
|-
| 1995
| ''[[Mother Courage and Her Children]]''
| Yvette Pottier
| [[Royal National Theatre]], [[London]]
|
|-
| 1996
| ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]''
| [[Helena (A Midsummer Night's Dream)|Helena]]
| [[Almeida Theatre]], [[London]]
| also, International Tour
|-
| rowspan="2"|1999
| ''Sacred Heart''
| Kate
| [[Royal National Theatre]], [[London]]
|
|-
| ''[[Emma (novel)|Emma]]''
| [[Emma Woodhouse]]
| [[Watford Palace Theatre]], [[Watford]]
|
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Jordi Sánchez (actor)|Excuses!]]''
| Olivia
| [[Soho Theatre]], [[London]]
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|2007
| ''[[A Respectable Wedding]]''
| The Wife
| [[Young Vic]], [[London]]
|
|-
| ''[[Boeing-Boeing (play)|Boeing-Boeing]]''
| Gretchen
| [[Harold Pinter Theatre|Comedy Theatre]], [[London]]
|
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Loot (play)|Loot]]''
| Faye
| [[Kiln Theatre|Tricycle Theatre]], [[London]]
|
|-
| 2011
| ''[[The Government Inspector]]''
| Anna Andreyevna
| [[Young Vic]], [[London]]
|
|-
| 2012
| ''[[April De Angelis|Jumpy]]''
| Frances
| [[Royal Court Theatre]], [[London]] & [[Duke of York's Theatre]], [[London]]
|
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Twelfth Night]]''
| [[Feste]]
| [[Royal National Theatre]], [[London]]
|
|-
| 2019
| ''[[David Mamet|Bitter Wheat]]''
| Sondra
| [[Garrick Theatre]], [[London]]
|
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Work
! Result
|-
| 2012
| [[WhatsOnStage Awards]]
| Best Supporting Actress In A Play
| ''[[April De Angelis|Jumpy]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|2014
| [[British Academy Television Awards|BAFTA Television Awards]]
| [[British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance|Best Female Comedy Performance]]
| ''[[Plebs (TV series)|Plebs]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[British Comedy Awards]]
| Best Female Television Comic
| ''[[Toast of London]]''
| {{nom}}
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0533489}}
* {{British Comedy Guide|people|doon_mackichan}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mackichan, Doon}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century English actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century English actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses from London]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester]]
[[Category:British women screenwriters]]
[[Category:Comedians from London]]
[[Category:English Channel swimmers]]
[[Category:English film actresses]]
[[Category:English screenwriters]]
[[Category:English stage actresses]]
[[Category:English television actresses]]
[[Category:English voice actresses]]
[[Category:English women comedians]]
[[Category:People from Upper Largo]]
[[Category:Actresses from Fife]]

wiki143 - User contributions [en]

Doon Mackichan