The TV WEEK Logie Awards will honour Magda Szubanski AO with one of Australian television’s most significant recognitions this year, naming her the 2025 Hall of Fame inductee.
The announcement was made ahead of the annual awards ceremony, set to take place Sunday 3 August at The Star Sydney. The event will be broadcast live on Channel 7 and 7plus.
Szubanski becomes only the fifth woman to receive the Hall of Fame honour since the award’s inception in 1984. The accolade acknowledges individuals, collectives or programs that have made a sustained and meaningful contribution to the Australian television landscape.
A defining figure in Australian comedy
With a career spanning close to 40 years, Szubanski is widely regarded as one of the country’s most influential comedic performers. She first gained national attention in the late 1980s through sketch comedy shows such as The D-Generation, Fast Forward, Full Frontal, and Big Girl’s Blouse.
Her portrayal of Sharon Strzelecki in Kath & Kim, a character she created, cemented her as a fixture of Australian pop culture.
The show, known for its satirical lens on suburban life, became one of the nation’s most enduring and quoted comedies. Sharon’s sincere awkwardness and love of netball became iconic, helping shape the tone and rhythm of Australian comedy in the early 2000s.
Szubanski’s acting credits also extend to family film and animation. She played memorable roles in international hits including Babe, Happy Feet, and The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course.
Recognition beyond performance
Szubanski’s influence extends into publishing and public advocacy. Her 2015 memoir Reckoning was met with critical acclaim and became a bestseller, delving into her personal history and identity with unflinching honesty.
In recent years, she’s become an important voice in Australian social and political discourse, particularly as a campaigner for LGBTQIA+ rights. Her visibility during the Marriage Equality debate helped galvanise public support. In 2018, she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her service to the performing arts and social justice.
“Magda Szubanski AO is a singular talent. Over four decades, her work has made millions laugh, while her advocacy has brought attention to important causes,” said a spokesperson from TV WEEK. “Her contribution to Australia’s cultural fabric has been broad, brave and enduring.”
Szubanski recently uploaded a video to her Instagram detailing her diagnosis
Szubanski recently announced she is undergoing treatment for stage 4 mantle cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer.
The diagnosis was confirmed after doctors noticed her lymph nodes were enlarged. She is now receiving the Nordic protocol, a chemotherapy regimen specifically used to treat this kind of lymphoma.
A place among television’s most revered
The Hall of Fame honour places Szubanski alongside some of the most respected names in the industry. In recognising her, TV WEEK is acknowledging both her professional legacy and her broader cultural impact, on the screen, in literature, and in public life.
The award will be formally presented during the TV WEEK Logie Awards ceremony on Sunday 3 August.