CELEBRITY TRAVEL CORNER

Mary Walsh shares her experiences and dreams.

MARY WALSH has been a fixture on Canadian television for decades as a writer, producer and actor. Most Canadians fondly remember her as the entertaining reporter Marg Delahunty in CBC’S This Hour Has 22 Minutes. No Canadian politician was safe from Marg’s probing questions.

Newfoundland has produced many of Canada’s best comedic talent, including Mary Walsh. It’s part of being a Newfoundlander. “Everyone in Newfoundland is kind of funny. If you aren’t, you might as well hang yourself, because they’re not going to feed you,” jokes Walsh.

Monty Python was the first to tickle her funny bone. “I think Monty Python, specifically the ‘Dead Parrot’ sketch, was the first time I laughed out loud.” The SCTV cast, Richard Pryor and Andy Jones were all part of Walsh’s comedic admiration club. Today she is a big fan of Ricky Gervais.

Walsh is a tour de force. Whether she’s taking on a lead or minor role, Walsh doesn’t shy away from reaching into her acting arsenal and playing tough female roles. She currently plays Sean Tucker, an androgynous slumlord who operates a boxing gym in the CBC series Little Dog.

She has earned numerous Gemini awards over the years with an extensive collection of TV and film credits, including Sensitive Skin, Rookie Blue and Republic of Doyle.

Passion for acting extends to her tireless advocacy for many charities and causes, especially in the areas of mental health and addiction awareness. Her social activism combined with a successful career has been recognized with the Order of Canada and the Governor General’s Lifetime Achievement Award in the Performing Arts.

Walsh’s love for Canada is unwavering but she isn’t afraid to give it a Marg Delahunty dressing down now and then.