Fiona O'Loughlin
Encyclopedia
Fiona O'Loughlin is an Australian comedian
, known primarily for her stand-up comedy
; for her television performances, on ABC TV
's Spicks and Specks, and Channel Ten
's Rove Live and GNW
; and a series of advertisements for Heinz
soups. She has performed as a headline act in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
and the Edinburgh Fringe festival.
In 2009, O'Loughlin collapsed during a performance in Brisbane. She subsequently announced that she suffers from alcoholism
.
O'Loughlin is the elder sister of Emily Taheny
, also a comedian and formerly a regular cast member of Comedy Inc.
, the daughter of the late Steve Irwin
. She performed an exaggerated impersonation of 11-year old Bindi, referred to her as "creepy" and mimed slapping her in the face. When the video of her comments appeared on the Internet, it garnered a negative response internationally. She did not apologise for her actions, stating, 'It was part of some banter on a comedy panel show. I'm a comedian and comedians make fun of people we know. I've said worse about myself.'
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, known primarily for her stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
; for her television performances, on ABC TV
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
's Spicks and Specks, and Channel Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
's Rove Live and GNW
Good News Week
Good News Week is an Australian satirical panel game show hosted by Paul McDermott that initially aired from 19 April 1996 to 27 May 2000, and resumed on 11 February 2008 to 9 May 2011. The show aired first on ABC TV before it was bought by Network Ten in 1999...
; and a series of advertisements for Heinz
H. J. Heinz Company
The H. J. Heinz Company , commonly known as Heinz and famous for its "57 Varieties" slogan and its ketchup, is an American food company with world headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Perhaps best known for its ketchup, the H.J...
soups. She has performed as a headline act in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the third-largest international comedy festival in the world and the largest cultural event in Australia. Established in 1987, it takes place annually in Melbourne over four weeks in April typically opening on or around April Fool's Day...
and the Edinburgh Fringe festival.
Personal life
O'Loughlin is a mother of five children, and lives in Alice Springs. Her family, and attitude towards children, make up a large component of her act. She is represented by Andrew Taylor Management.In 2009, O'Loughlin collapsed during a performance in Brisbane. She subsequently announced that she suffers from alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
.
O'Loughlin is the elder sister of Emily Taheny
Emily Taheny
Emily Taheny is an Australian television actress, comedienne, and singer known for her multiple appearances on the sketch comedy television series Comedy Inc. from 2003 through 2007, and for her role as "Kat" on the 2009 series The Jesters. She was born at Warooka, Yorke Peninsula, South...
, also a comedian and formerly a regular cast member of Comedy Inc.
Comedy Inc.
Comedy Inc. was an Australian sketch comedy television series, which ran on the Nine Network from 1 February 2003 to 26 December 2007. The series was produced by Crackerjack Productions. It first premiered in February 2003 in the new wave of Australian sketch comedy shows being launched across the...
Controversy
In March 2010, O'Loughlin appeared on Spicks and Specks and made disparaging remarks about Bindi IrwinBindi Irwin
Bindi Sue Irwin is the daughter of The Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin. Bindi is a child celebrity who has tried her hand at acting, singing, songwriting, dancing, and rapping...
, the daughter of the late Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin
Stephen Robert "Steve" Irwin , nicknamed "The Crocodile Hunter", was an Australian television personality, wildlife expert, and conservationist. Irwin achieved worldwide fame from the television series The Crocodile Hunter, an internationally broadcast wildlife documentary series which he co-hosted...
. She performed an exaggerated impersonation of 11-year old Bindi, referred to her as "creepy" and mimed slapping her in the face. When the video of her comments appeared on the Internet, it garnered a negative response internationally. She did not apologise for her actions, stating, 'It was part of some banter on a comedy panel show. I'm a comedian and comedians make fun of people we know. I've said worse about myself.'