Fiona O'Loughlin (comedian)

Fiona Taheny (born 16 July 1963), commonly known as Fiona O'Loughlin, is an Australian comedian living in Melbourne. O'Loughlin has made television performances on ABC TV's Spicks and Specks, and Network Ten's Rove Live, Good News Week, All Star Family Feud, The Project, Studio 10, Show Me the Movie! and Hughesy, We Have a Problem and a series of advertisements for Heinz soups.[1] She has performed as a headline act in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe festival. In 2011 a book of her short stories, Me of the Never Never: The (Chaotic) Life and Times of Fiona O'Loughlin was published by Hachette Australia.[2]

Fiona O'Loughlin
Birth nameFiona Taheny
Born (1963-07-16) 16 July 1963
Warooka, South Australia, Australia
MediumStand-up comedy, television
NationalityAustralian
Years active2000–present
Subject(s)Family, marriage, storytelling
Spouse
Chris O'Loughlin
​
​
(m. 1985⁠–⁠2012)​
Children5
Relative(s)Emily Taheny (sister)

Career

In the early 1990s O'Loughlin was writing a column for the Centralian Advocate, and emceeing cabaret shows at the Araluen Arts Centre. By 1994 she was doing a weekly radio segment on the ABC. In 2000 she appeared at the Adelaide Fringe Festival.[3]

In 2001, O'Loughlin won the award for Best Newcomer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with her show Fiona and her sister (and some weird guy).[4]

In 2007, O'Loughlin was the "funny woman" in the Seven Network's Sunrise.[5]

In 2009, O'Loughlin was a contestant on the Australian version of Dancing with the Stars.[6]

In 2012, O'Loughlin was a candidate on the second series of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia; she was the first to be fired from the series.

In 2014 she appeared on the ABC TV’s Australian Story discussing her career and her alcoholism.[7]

In 2018, O'Loughlin was a contestant on fourth season of the Australian version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. She won the series and donated the prize of $100,000 to her chosen charity, Angel Flight.[8] In 2018, O'Loughlin appeared as herself in the comedy film That's Not My Dog!. O'Loughlin appeared as a guest quiz master on Have You Been Paying Attention?.

Personal life

O'Loughlin was born into an Irish-Australian family at Warooka, South Australia, and is herself a single mother of five children. She lived in Alice Springs for 27 years but relocated to Melbourne in 2012. O'Loughlin was married to Chris O'Loughlin from 1985-2012. Her family, and attitude towards children, make up a large component of her act. She is represented by Mark David Management, Australia.[9]

In 2009, O'Loughlin collapsed during a performance in Brisbane. She subsequently announced that she suffers from alcoholism.[10][11]

O'Loughlin is the older sister of Emily Taheny, also a comedian and formerly a regular cast member of Comedy Inc. O'Loughlin's daughter Biddy O'Loughlin is also a comedian, and toured Ireland in 2011-2012.[12]

References
  1. "Look who the Alice has sprung on us" by Lenny Ann Low, The Sydney Morning Herald (11 December 2003)
  2. Me of the Never Never. Sydney: Hachette Australia. 2011. p. 341. ISBN 9780733623875. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  3. "Funny lady's battle with the bottle". www.adelaidenow.com.au. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  4. Taylor, Andrew (12 December 2007). "Fiona O'Loughlin". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  5. "Sunrise funnywoman dumped". www.heraldsun.com.au. 19 July 2007. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  6. "Fiona O'Loughlin speaks out about suicide attempt". NewsComAu. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  7. Transcript included on website http://www.abc.net.au/austory/the-pursuit-of-happiness/5775016
  8. "Fiona O'Loughlin crowned queen of the jungle on I'm A Celebrity: Get Me Out Of Here!". news.com.au. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  9. "Live Nation".
  10. "Fiona O'Loughlin battles through booze hell" by Geoff Shearer, The Courier-Mail (8 August 2009)
  11. Brigid Donovan (29 September 2014). "Comedian Fiona O'Loughlin speaks out about alcohol abuse and attempted suicide". Australian Story. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  12. Spooner, Rania (16 October 2013). "Fiona O'Loughlin's daughter Biddy found". The Age. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
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