Denise Margaret Scott AM (born 24 April 1955)[1] is an Australian stand-up comedian, actor, television and radio presenter.

Denise Scott
Born (1955-04-24) 24 April 1955 (age 69)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Other namesScotty
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • actor
  • television presenter
  • radio presenter
PartnerJohn Lane
Children2

Career

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Scott has appeared frequently on Australian television since her regular slot on ABC TV's The Big Gig in 1990, and a weekly segment on Tonight Live with Steve Vizard.[2] Scott was one of the most frequent guests on musical quiz show Spicks and Specks, and appeared several times on The Glass House and Good News Week.

In 1993 she performed the live show, Women Stand Up! with Sue Ingleton and Lynda Gibson.[3] She also co-starred with Judith Lucy and Lynda Gibson in stage spectaculars Comedy Is Not Pretty (1999)[4] and Comedy Is Still Not Pretty (2003).[5][6]

She was a member of the Vega 91.5 FM breakfast radio show; Dave and Denise with Shaun Micallef (formerly called Shaun, Beverley and Denise), until she finished up with Vega on 23 November 2007.

Scott has made appearances on Network 10 shows Can of Worms, The Circle, The Project, All Star Family Feud, Would I Lie to You?, Have You Been Paying Attention? and Hughesy, We Have a Problem.

Scott starred as Trish Gross in the Australian drama series Winners & Losers on the Seven Network.[7] She appeared as a guest on the talk show Can of Worms on Network Ten on Monday 29 August. Scott also appeared on Channel 31's To Hell in a Handbasket, with Dolly Diamond on Tuesday 17 December 2013.

Scott stars as Gwen in the Australian ABC comedy series It's a Date.[8]

In 2017, Scott started narrating the Australian travel series Travel Guides on the Nine Network, and again teamed up with Judith Lucy for a new live show, Disappointments which commenced touring and was performed in Melbourne in April 2017 as part of the International Comedy Festival.[9]

In April 2018, Network Ten announced Scott would join Studio 10 as a panelist.[10]

In 2019, Scott competed in the sixteenth season of Dancing with the Stars, where she was paired up with Jeremy Garner.[11] She was second to be eliminated from the competition.[12]

In July 2019, Scott announced her resignation as a panelist on Studio 10.

In 2023, she stars in the reboot of the popular sitcom Mother and Son, written by Geoffrey Atherden. Scott portrays the ageing and frail Maggie, alongside Matt Okine who plays her son Arthur, the current series re-imagining also introduces a multicultural aspect, with the current Arthur being from a migrant background[13]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Type
1985 Malcolm Willy's Wife Feature film
1988 An Ordinary Woman Short film
1992 Vaudeville Natural Normans TV movie
1995 Gorgeous Additional characters (voices) Short film
1995 Maidenhead Hat Shop Woman Short film
2007 The Sounds of Aus Self TV movie
2013 Mother's Boy Mother Short film
2014 Timothy Melinda Garrett TV movie

Television

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Year Title Role Type
1989–90 Tuesday Night Live: The Big Gig Carmen / Babs Blewitt / Jude / Escort Agent / Doris / Wife / Magazine Reader TV series, 9 episodes
1992 Six Pack Katherine TV series, 1 episode
1992 Let the Blood Run Free Mrs Rottweiler TV series, 1 episode
1993–95 Full Frontal Various characters TV series, 26 episodes
1996 Neighbours Coral Reeves TV series, 2 episodes
1997 Good Guys, Bad Guys Waitress TV series, 1 episode
1997 Get a Life Daphne Stork TV series
1998 Halifax f.p. Shiri TV series, 1 episode
1998 The Genie from Down Under 2 Denise TV series, 1 episode
1999 Blue Heelers Pam Kelly TV series, 1 episode
1999 SeaChange Wilhelmina Seagull TV series, 1 episode
2000 Introducing Gary Perry Woman at Zoo TV series, 1 episode
2000 One Size Fits All Various characters TV series, 13 episodes
2001 Shock Jock Miss Wanda TV series, 1 episode
2002 Short Cuts Mrs Coxon TV series, 4 episodes
2009 The Librarians Nurse TV series, 1 episode
2010 Bed of Roses Patti Rankin TV series, 1 episode
2010 Sleuth 101 Enid TV series, 1 episode
2011 Judith Lucy's Spiritual Journey Sister Aileen (flashback) TV series, 1 episode
2011–16 Winners & Losers Trish Gross TV series, seasons 1–5, 75 episodes
2013 To Hell in a Handbasket, with Dolly Diamond TV series
2013 Being Brendo Brenda Abbott TV series, 2 episodes
2013–14 It's a Date Gwen TV series, 2 episodes
2014 Bleak: The Web Series Noni Web series, 3 episodes
2015 Please Like Me Doctor TV series, 1 episode
2015–17 House Husbands Nurse Toni TV series, season 4-5, 14 episodes
2016 Jack Irish Sybill McLeod TV series, 2 episodes
2017 Travel Guides Narrator TV series
2018 True Story with Hamish & Andy Bernadette TV series, 1 episode
2019 Get Krackin Margaret TV series, 1 episode
2021–22 Fisk Leslie TV series, 2 episodes
2023-present Mother and Son Maggie TV series, 8 episodes

Television (as self)

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Year Title Role Type
1990 Tonight Live with Steve Vizard Regular guest TV series
1996 In Melbourne Tonight Self TV series, 1 episode
1998 Smallest Room in the House Self TV series, 1 episode
2000 The Big Schmooze Self TV series, 1 episode
2001–04 Rove Live Guest TV series, 3 episodes
2004 Stand Up! Self TV series, 1 episode
2004 Australian Idol Self TV series, 1 episode
2005 Good Morning Australia Self TV series, 1 episode
2006 Bert's Family Feud Team Captain TV series, 3 episodes
2007 The Sideshow Self TV series, 1 episode
2005–22 Spicks and Specks Regular panellist TV series, 47 episodes
2009–10 Good News Week Guest TV series, 2 episodes
2009–10 Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation Self TV series, 3 episodes
2009–11 The Project Guest TV series, 46 episodes
2010 The Breast Darn Show in Town Self TV special
2011 Warehouse Comedy Festival Self TV series
2011–12 Can of Worms Guest TV series, 2 episodes
2012 The Circle Self TV series, 1 episode
2012 Total Agony Self TV series, 6 episodes
2012 Pictures of You Self TV series
2013 Adam Hills Tonight Self TV series, 1 episode
2013 This Week Live Self TV series
2013 Tractor Monkeys Self TV series, 3 episodes
2015 Judith Lucy Is All Woman Self TV series, 6 episodes
2015–17 Stop Laughing...This Is Serious Self TV series, 3 episodes
2016 Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery Self TV series, 1 episode
2016 The Big Music Quiz Contestant TV series, 2 episodes
The Glass House Guest TV series
2017 All Star Family Feud Contestant TV series
2017 The Justine Clark Show Self TV series
2017–18 The Weekly with Charlie Pickering Self TV series, 2 episodes
2017–19 Travel Guides Narrator TV series, 16 episodes
2018 Midsumma VAC Hypothetical 2018 Panellist TV special
2018 Studio 10 Co-host TV series, 3 episodes
2018 Tomorrow Tonight Panellist TV series, 1 episode
2018–22 Have You Been Paying Attention? Panellist TV series, 19 episodes
2018–21 Hughesy, We Have a Problem Guest TV series, 8 episodes
2019 Dancing with the Stars Contestant TV series, season 16, 5 episodes – second to be eliminated
2019 Behave Yourself Self TV series, 1 episode
2020 Lady O'Loughlin Self TV series
2020 Who Do You Think You Are? Self TV series, 1 episode
2020 Play School Self TV series, 1 episode
2022 Would I Lie to You? Guest TV series, 1 episode
2022 The Cheap Seats Self TV series
2022 The Dog House Australia Self TV series, 1 episode
2022 The Hundred with Andy Lee Panellist TV series, 1 episode

Radio

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Year Title Role Station
2004 The Judith Lucy Show Weekly segment 2Day FM
2005 774 ABC Evenings with Derek Guille

Host - 3 weeks || ABC Radio

2005 The Arvo with Judith Lucy and Peter Helliar Weekly segment 2Day FM
2006–07 Dave and Denise with Shaun Micallef (formerly Shaun, Beverley and Denise) Co-host Vega 91.5 FM
2013-15 Breakfast with Meshel and Tommy Regular guest appearances Nova 100
2019 Hughesy & Kate Fill in co-host Hit Network
2019 Kennedy Molloy – National Drive Regular guest appearances Triple M

[14]

Stage

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Year Title Role Venue / Company
1990 The Second Royal Commission – Ensemble Show Comedian Melbourne International Comedy Festival
1990 A Natural Normans Christmas Comedy act with Lynda Gibson, Lynne McGranger & Sally-Anne Upton Last Laugh - Melbourne
1990 This Is Denise Scott Solo comedy act Hilton Hotel, Melbourne
1992 Extraordinary Encounters of a Mundane Kind Solo comedy act Melbourne Fringe Festival
1993 Women Stand Up! Comedian
1993 Sing & Swing Comedy act with Bob Downe & Gina Riley Last Laugh – Melbourne
1993–94 Canberra Comedy Summit Comedy act with Lynda Gibson & Sue Ingleton Canberra Theatre Centre
1996 Life of the Party Solo comedy act Melbourne International Comedy Festival
1998 Mum’s the Word Comedy act with Jane Clifton, Sally Cooper, Carmelina Di Guglielmo, Tracy Harvey & Meg Nantsou Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide
1999-2000; 2003 Comedy is Not Pretty Comedy act with Judith Lucy & Lynda Gibson Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Adelaide Fringe, Sydney Opera House
2000 Suburban Riot Solo comedy act Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Adelaide Fringe
2003 Comedy is Still Not Pretty Comedy act with Judith Lucy & Lynda Gibson Melbourne International Comedy Festival
2004 Scotty & Son Comedy duo with Jordie Lane Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Albury-Wodonga Comedy Festival
2005 Denise Scott Gives Good Council Solo comedy act Melbourne International Comedy Festival
2007 Up Front Solo comedy act Melbourne International Comedy Festival
2007 OVCA Lynda Gibson Memorial Comedy Event Solo comedy act Melbourne Athenaeum
Regrets Solo comedy act Melbourne International Comedy Festival
2008–09 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow Solo comedy act Australian national tour
2009 Byron Writers Festival Comedy act Byron Bay, New South Wales
2009-10 Number 26 Solo comedy act Melbourne International Comedy Festival (premiere & return seasons), Campbelltown Arts Centre, Devonport Entertainment Centre, Kingston Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane Cabaret Festival, Sydney Opera House
2011-2012 Solo Show Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival, Brisbane Comedy Festival
2012 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow Solo comedy act Singapore, Hong Kong
2013 The Spiral Comedy duo with Judith Lucy Melbourne International Comedy Festival at Princess Theatre, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse, Canberra Theatre, The Concourse, Chatswood, Enmore Theatre, Perth Concert Hall, Hobart, Darwin Festival
2013 Bendigo Writer’s Festival Solo comedy act Bendigo, Victoria
2013 Laugh Your Tits Off - Love Your Sister Fundraiser Solo comedy act
2013 Woodford Folk Festival Solo comedy act Woodford, Queensland
2014–15 Mother Bare Solo comedy act Adelaide Fringe Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sydney Opera House, Brisbane Powerhouse
2016 Not Just For Laughs Comedy act with Tommy Little Regional Queensland tour
2016 Lorne Performing Arts Festival Solo comedy act Lorne, Victoria
2016 Queenscliff Music Festival Solo comedy act Queenscliff, Victoria
2016–18 Disappointments Comedy duo with Judith Lucy Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Australian national tour, London Soho Theatre
2019 Byron Bay Comedy Festival Solo comedy act Byron Bay, New South Wales
2022 Still Here Comedy duo with Judith Lucy Australian national tour

[15]

Writer

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Year Title Role Type
2009 All That Happened At Number 26 Author Autobiographical novel
2012 The Tour Author Autobiographical novel
The Australian Women’s Weekly Columnist Monthly column

[15]

Awards & honours

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Year Nominated work Award Category Result
1999 Comedy Is Not Pretty Melbourne International Comedy Festival Stella Award for Best Show Nominated
1999 Extraordinary Encounters of a Mundane Kind Radio National Award Best Solo Performer in the Melbourne Fringe Festival Won
2000 Suburban Riot Melbourne International Comedy Festival Barry Award for Most Outstanding Show Nominated
2003 Comedy is Still Not Pretty Melbourne International Comedy Festival Age Critics Award Won
2004 Comedy is Still Not Pretty Green Room Award Most Innovative Use of Form and Most Outstanding Cabaret Show Won
2004 Scotty and Son Melbourne International Comedy Festival Barry Award for Most Outstanding Show Nominated
2005 Denise Scott Gives Good Council Melbourne International Comedy Festival Barry Award for Most Outstanding Show Nominated
2009 Number 26 Groggy Squirrel Critics’ Award Won
2011 Regrets Helpmann Award Best Comedy Performer Won
2011 Regrets Melbourne International Comedy Festival Director’s Choice Award Won
2014 Winners & Losers Equity Ensemble Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated
2014 Mother Bare Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award Barry Award for Most Outstanding Show Won
2017 Disappointments with Denise Scott and Judith Lucy Melbourne International Comedy Festival People's Choice Award Won
2023 King’s Birthday Honours List Order of Australia Significant service to the arts as a comedian and actress Honoured[16]

[17]

Personal life

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Scott grew up in Greensborough, Victoria.[18] She lives with her partner John, whom she met whilst in a clowning ensemble in Albury-Wodonga.[7] She has two children, musician Jordie Lane and multidisciplinary artist Bonnie Lane.[7]

Scott was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer (HER2-positive) just before embarking on the Mother and Son reboot, and underwent chemotherapy while shooting.[19]

References

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  1. ^ All that happened at number 26 / Denise Scott, ACT Public Library.
  2. ^ Lallo, Mike: All jokes aside …, The Age, 3 November 2008.
  3. ^ Nugent, Ann (23 April 1993). "Feminist or not, you will enjoy this show". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). p. 12. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  4. ^ Bennet, Sally (14 March 2016). "30 years of laughs and counting". Heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Comedy Is Not Pretty". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 February 2003. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Hilarious, humorous? Ha, ha, ha!". The Age. 26 March 2003. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  7. ^ a b c O'Brien, Kerrie (28 March 2017). "Denise Scott on the C word, the lie-down that lasted a year, and Disappointments". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  8. ^ It's A Date: Trailer (ABC1) on YouTube (16 July 2013). Retrieved on 16 April 2014.
  9. ^ Dolan, Joe (16 April 2017). "Judith Lucy & Denise Scott: Disappointments (MICF)". The Music. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  10. ^ "Angela Bishop and Denise Scott to join Studio 10 as panellists". Mumbrella. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  11. ^ Pobjie, Ben (12 February 2019). "Denise Scott hopes her dance moves won't turn into a comedy act". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  12. ^ "Dancing With The Stars 2019: Denise Scott Leaves But Not Before A Few More Iconic Clapbacks". 10 daily. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  13. ^ "2023 Upfronts: ABC".
  14. ^ https://token.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/DEN-Biography-1.pdf
  15. ^ a b "Denise Scott - Token Artist Management | Hire or Book Denise Scott Here". Token. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  16. ^ Geraets, Nell (9 August 2023). "Denise Scott, star of Mother and Son reboot, diagnosed with cancer". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  17. ^ https://token.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/DEN-Biography-1.pdf
  18. ^ "All about my mother". The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  19. ^ Geraets, Nell (9 August 2023). "Denise Scott, star of Mother and Son reboot, diagnosed with cancer". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
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