Susie Youssef
Susan Kathryn Youssef (born 1984) is a writer and actor who works in television, on radio and stage in Australia and the United Kingdom. Youssef performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and Homebake.[1]
Susie Youssef | |
---|---|
Birth name | Susan Kathryn Youssef |
Born | 1984 (age 35–36) Sydney, New South Wales |
Medium | Stand-up comedian, writer, actor, improviser |
Nationality | Australian |
Years active | 2006–present |
Genres | Sketch comedy, autobiographical comedy, improvisational comedy |
Notable works and roles | Whose Line Is It Anyway? Australia How Not to Behave No Activity Rosehaven |
Website | http://www.susieyoussef.com/ |
Youssef is best known for her appearances in the television series The Project, Whose Line Is It Anyway? Australia, How Not to Behave, No Activity and Rosehaven. She has twice used her family name in the title of her stand-up comedy shows.
Career
Youssef began comedy writing in high school where she wrote her own plays. She began studying education, to become a teacher. A friend took her to an improvisational comedy show at Newtown's Enmore Theatre, which sparked a more serious interest in comedy.[2] She quit college and Youssef attended iO Chicago where she studied improvisational performance and comedy.[3][4]
Youssef began her comedy career as a writer for The Ronnie Johns Half Hour in 2006, and made her acting debut in the short film Clicked in the role of Lina in 2011. In 2014, she played Jane in the short film Kevin Needs to Make New Friends: Because Everyone Hates Him for Some Reason and then turned to television where she appeared in The Chaser's Media Circus. In 2014, Youssef played the lead role of Sarah in the Hayloft Project’s stage play The Boat People which won the Best On Stage award at the FBi SMAC Awards in 2014.[5][6]
Youssef started performing improvisational comedy live.[7] She made her solo debut in her sketch comedy show Sketchual Chocolate at the Melbourne and Sydney Comedy Festivals. In 2015, she returned to the comedy festival circuit with her comedy show Owl Eyes On You and in 2016 made her debut in London and at the Edinburgh Fringe with her stand-up show Check Youssef Before You Wreck Youssef.[8] She is part of the Improv Theatre Sydney ensemble. [9]
In 2015, Youssef appeared in other television series including Community Kitchen, About Tonight, The Checkout and Game Night. Yousseff had recurring roles in the television comedy series How Not to Behave, Whose Line Is It Anyway? Australia, No Activity and Rosehaven, and a guest role in Here Come the Habibs in 2016. In 2017, Youssef toured with her comedy show Behave Youssef.[10] She has also been a guest on The Project, All Star Family Feud, Celebrity Name Game, Have You Been Paying Attention? and Hughesy, We Have a Problem.
In 2020, Youssef was confirmed as one of ten Australian comedians to compete for $100,000 on the experimental reality television series Last One Laughing Australia hosted by Rebel Wilson and screening on Amazon Prime in June.[11][12]
Live Stand-up Comedy Tours
Year | Title | Notes | Role |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Sketchual Chocolate | Debut solo stand-up show at the Melbourne and Sydney Comedy Festivals and Sydney Fringe Festival | Writer/performer |
2015 | Owl Eyes on You | Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Sydney Comedy Festival | Writer/performer |
2016 | Check Youssef Before You Wreck Youssef | Edinburgh Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival and Brisbane Comedy Festival | Writer/performer |
2017 | Behave Youssef | Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival | Writer/performer |
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | Clicked | Lina | Actor |
2014 | Kevin Needs to Make New Friends: Because Everyone Hates Him for Some Reason | Jane | Actor |
2016 | Scare BNB | Ksenia | Actor |
2018 | The Call Back | Sam | Actor |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | The Ronnie Johns Half Hour | Writer | 4 episodes |
2015 | The Chaser's Media Circus | Herself | 1 episode |
2015 | Community Kitchen | Herself | 2 episodes |
2015 | About Tonight | Herself | 2 episodes |
2015 | The Checkout | Herself | 1 episode |
2015 | Game Night | Player Number 3 | 1 episode |
2015 | How Not to Behave | Herself | 15 episodes |
2015 | We Live to Science Another Day | Susie | 1 episode |
2016-2017 | Whose Line Is It Anyway? Australia | Herself | 5 episodes |
2016-2017 | Comedy Up Late | Herself | 11 episodes |
2016 | Here Come the Habibs | Marie | 1 episode |
2016 | Miles Holbeck: The Member | Sophie | 1 episode |
2016 | No Activity | Anousha | 3 episodes |
2016-2017 | Rosehaven | Gez | 3 episodes |
2017-2019 | Have You Been Paying Attention? | Herself | 11 episodes |
2017 | Get Krack!n | Egg Woman | 1 episode |
2017 | Screen Time | Herself | 1 episode |
2017 | All Star Family Feud | Herself | 1 episode |
2018 | Squinters | Simoni | 6 episodes |
2018-2019 | Hughesy, We Have a Problem | Herself | 5 episodes |
2019 | Celebrity Name Game | Herself | 5 episodes |
2019-Now | The Project | Herself | |
2020 | Last One Laughing | Herself | 6 episodes |
Stage
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | The Boat People | Sarah | Won the Best On Stage award at the FBi SMAC Awards in 2014[13] |
2020 | Home, I'm Darling | Fran | Currently playing at the Southbank Theatre, Melbourne |
Hosting
In 2017, Youssef hosted season two of the comedy TV series Stand and Deliver on digital TV channel ABC ME, which featured comedic acts from Australia and overseas.[14]
Personal life
Youssef is a descendant of Lebanese immigrants.[15] She grew up with five sisters and she often uses her family for comedy inspiration.[16][17][18] She lives in Sydney.
References
- Staff writer, Instinct Music. "Susie Youssef, comedian". Instinct Music. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- Russell, Stephen A (28 March 2017). "Why Susie Youssef's Mum Told Her To Behave Herself". The Music. Street Press Australia Pty Ltd. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- Knowles, Til (8 March 2016). ""There's some funny stuff too" - Susie Youssef on loneliness, anxiety and of course, comedy". Pop Culture-y. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- Staff writer, Colour Elements (15 August 2016). "CE in Conversation with Susie Youssef". Colour Elements. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- Peterson, Arabella (21 March 2016). "Susie Youssef". The Ladies Network. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- Staff writer, Squirrel Comedy (9 March 2015). "5 Good Reasons To See Susie Youssef's Owl Eyes On You". Squirrel Comedy. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- Staff writer, British Comedy Guide (15 September 2016). "Susie Youssef". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- Staff writer, Chortle (27 August 2016). "'I've been singing Kristen Schaal is a horse for 8 years - Susie Youssef picks her comedy faves.'". Chortle. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- https://improvtheatresydney.com.au/about/#ensemble Improv Theatre Sydney Website
- Low, Lenny Ann (10 March 2017). "Inside joke: Sydney Comedy Festival stand-up stars pick their favourite act". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- Knox, David (20 May 2020). "Airdate- LOL: Last One Laughing Australia". TV Tonight. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- Story, Hannah (20 May 2020). "The First Trailer for New Comedy Series LOL: Last One Laughing Promises Complete Chaos". Popsugar. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- Staff writer, FBi Radio. "SMAC Awards 2014". FBi Radio. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- Knox, David (23 May 2017). "Returning: Stand and Deliver". TV Tonight. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- Bennett, Steve (2 April 2015). "Susie Youssef: Owl Eyes On You". Chortle. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- Neal, Fergus (16 March 2017). "Susie Youssef". Farrago. Farrago Magazine. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- Staff writer, Female First (31 August 2016). "Susie Youssef discusses her show 'Check Youssef Before You Wreck Youssef'". Female First. FemaleFirst Ltd. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- Staff writer, Short Com (14 July 2016). "Susie Youssef Q&A - Edinburgh Fringe 2016". Short Com. Retrieved 11 July 2017.