30 years on ...
We found Kylie Mole!
It was almost 30 years ago when Kylie Mole, the brash, chewinggum-chomping, scowling schoolgirl first burst on to our TV screens.
Kiwis immediately fell in love with the freckle-faced Aussie teen, who instantly transformed writer and actress Mary-Anne Fahey into a celebrated comedy queen. Then she disappeared from television, almost without a trace. And it is only now that Mary-Anne is willing to reveal why she walked away from it all.
“I have many fond memories of working on
The Comedy Company, and made some great friends, but the fame and hoopla that came with playing such a larger-than-life character overwhelmed me.
“Sometimes the lines were blurred and fans really thought I was Kylie Mole! I’ve been naturally shy most of my life. Growing up one of six girls, I was an overweight kid with glasses and I lacked natural confidence.
“I found the whole fame game intimidating, which is why I’ve happily chosen to fade from the limelight.”
Mary-Anne, 61, is now blissfully in love and dividing her time between her Melbourne home and a secluded retreat on Victoria’s southern coast, which she shares with her partner, acclaimed children’s book author Paul Jennings.
“I’m loving life right now,” she beams proudly. “I cherish the wisdom that comes with being older. I’ve always been a great people-watcher – and that’s tricky to do when people are watching you. It’s wonderful being invisible.
“Living an uncomplicated, simple life is so liberating. After my father passed away two years ago, I even decided to let my hair go grey.”
Mary-Anne has two failed marriages behind her – first to Keith Fahey, father of her eldest son Thomas, 33, who now works in comedy, and secondly to TheComedy
Company creator and co-star Ian McFadyen, father of James, 26, who’s studying neuroscience – so she never imagined she’d be taking a third trip down the aisle!