Magda Szubanksi has returned to the widely-popular sitcom character that helped make her a household name.
The beloved Australian comedian, actress and author, 64, who recently revealed her cancer diagnosis, has starred as Sharon Strzelecki from Kath & Kim for a nationwide mental health initiative led by Medibank.
Reprising her famous role, complete with Strzelecki’s signature bowl cut and netball bib, Szubanski featured in a 60-second television ad for the launch of Medibank’s ‘Family Roast’ initiative.
Watch the video above.
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The ad also features who Medibank refers to as Strzelecki’s “never-before-seen children, Tim and Pam”.
The initiative is based around a card game “designed to help Australians have more meaningful conversations”.
Szubanksi’s involvement with the project came long before she revealed her blood cancer diagnosis, with Medibank saying she has been working on the initiative “over the last three months”.
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It’s an initiative Szubanksi feels passionate about.
“Supporting the mental wellbeing of Australians has always been close to my heart –whether through making people laugh, or through raising awareness and funds for trauma,” the actor said.
“This is a fantastic initiative and we hope it gives everyday Aussies some practical tools to better understand mental health and connect more meaningfully with one another.”
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Medibank Chief Medical Officer and treating pyschiatrist Dr Andrew Wilson said the comedian had been “an incredible partner to work with as we created something we hope can facilitate more meaningful conversations among Australian families, whether biological, chosen or adopted”.
The news comes weeks after Szubanski revealed she has been diagnosed with a “rare and fast-moving” blood cancer.
She shared the news via Instagram, saying she has stage 4 mantle Cell Lymphoma – “one of the nasty ones”, in her own words.
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“Lovelies. Well. Some not great news,” the Kath and Kim star captioned her video, in which she appeared with a shaved head “in anticipation of it all falling out”.
“It’s serious, but I’ve started one of the best treatments available… and I’m lucky to be getting absolutely world-class care here in Melbourne,” she continued.
“I won’t sugar-coat it: it’s rough. But I’m hopeful.”
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Dr Wilson addressed Szubanski’s diagnosis, sharing that she remains committed to the initiative.
”In the face of Magda’s cancer diagnosis, she is determined this important work continues,” he said.
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