Ginette McDonald

Ginette Denise McDonald ONZM (born 18 April 1952) is a New Zealand actor, and television producer and director, best known for her comedic alter ego, "Lyn of Tawa".

McDonald was born on 18 April 1952, and educated at Erskine College in Wellington.

Beginning her professional acting career on stage and radio as a teenager, first appearing at Wellington's Downstage Theatre in 1967. McDonald made her New Zealand television debut in 1971 in an episode of the drama series Pukemanu. She then spent five years in London, where her television appearances included small parts in programmes including Harriet's Back in Town, Angels and The Nine Tailors, and the lead in the television play Sweeping Plains. She also appeared in the production of Don's Party at the Royal Court Theatre in 1975.

Following her return to New Zealand in 1976, McDonald played the role of Shirley Paget in the television soap opera Close to Home. She also played Beryl in the original television adaptation of Roger Hall's play Glide Time.

From the late 1970s McDonald's best-known character, "Lyn of Tawa", was seen on New Zealand television in her own series, as well as in a monologue during the 1981 Royal Variety Performance at the St James Theatre, Auckland. Lyn reappeared in the 1990s in In Search of the Great New Zealand Male and Visual Symphonies.

In 1979, McDonald portrayed cheerful mother-to-be Sandra Allenby opposite Stephen Tozer in the tele-movie It's Your Child. She played the title character in the 1983 television drama Pioneer Women – Hera Ngoungou. In 1989 she appeared as Lady Guinevere Galaxy in the children's sci-fi television series Space Knights.

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