mary coustas

For over 35 years Mary Coustas has been a household name and one of Australia’s most loved actors, writers, comedians and keynote speakers.

In 1987, she joined the groundbreaking stage show Wogs out of Work and in 1989, made her small screen debut as her iconic character Effie in the TV hit Australian sitcom Acropolis Now.

Mary has written, starred in, and nationally toured many critically acclaimed one-woman shows including Waiting for Effie, A Date with Effie, Love Me Tinder, Better Out Than In, UpYourselfness and the hugely successful Effie the Virgin Bride. She also found time to write two books: Effie’s Guide to Being Up Yourself and her deeply personal memoir, All I Know, detailing her decade-long, heartbreaking journey to motherhood.

Over the years, Mary has appeared in a wide array of screen and stage roles, including Hercules Returns, Wildside, The Secret Life of Us, Strife and Sunny Nights. She even played a dog in the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Sylvia.

In 2022, right in the depths of menopause, Mary starred in her critically acclaimed first ever Mary one-woman show, This Is Personal, at the Sydney Opera House. In 2023 she reached the grand finale of ‘Dancing With the Stars’, thanks a little to Effie... and a lot to M.H.T.

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A woman sitting on a black stool against a plain grey textured background, wearing a black blazer, black pants, and black loafers. She has shoulder-length light brown hair and is smiling softly at the camera.

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing a dark blazer, sitting at a wooden table against a plain background.

Woman with shoulder-length hair wearing a white shirt and red lipstick, expressing frustration or anger, touching her face with her hands.

A woman smiling and sitting on an office chair on a stage with a red curtain backdrop. Behind her is a small white desk with a clock and two hard hats on it. There is a quote on the left side of the image that reads, 'A mixture of physical theatre an

Woman in a white shirt and black pants dancing on stage with red curtains in the background.

A man dressed as Freddie Mercury in a tuxedo with a white shirt, black bow tie, and a boutonnière, standing on a white circular platform against a plain white background, looking upward and pointing with his right hand.

Woman with long dark curly hair wearing a red dress with her hand on her waist, standing against a plain white background.

Smiling woman with short brown hair styled in braids, wearing a dark blue robe, holding her face with both hands.

A woman with dark, curly hair and red lipstick lying on a dark leather sofa, wearing a red dress with gold accessories, against a dark background.

A woman and a young girl sitting together at a garden party, smiling at the camera, with a decorated table and greenery in the background.

Woman with long dark hair wearing a large pink and black feathered headpiece, a pink and white patterned top, a fluffy white jacket, a pink tulle skirt, and pink high-heeled boots, posed sitting on a white block against a plain background.

A woman with long curly dark hair, wearing a red dress, gold chain necklace, and gold accessories, standing against a gray background.

A movie poster featuring a man and woman dancing closely, dressed in elegant attire. The background is dark red. Text on the poster reads 'Norman & Effie,' 'Amigos Para Siempre (Friends For Life),' and 'Φλοι Για Παντα' in Greek. There is also a circu

Black and white photo of a smiling woman with curly hair, wearing a lace dress, and a man with dark, styled hair in a suit with a bow tie, both posing indoors.

Woman with voluminous curly black hair, wearing a lace top and dangling earrings, with a surprised or expressive facial expression against a pink textured background.

Bridal portrait of a woman in a wedding gown with lace and beading, holding a bouquet of white flowers, wearing a veil and smiling against a dark background.