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Magda's mum, the tragic secret, and the moment of grace
Magda Szubanski had a loving and complicated connection with her mum Margaret. When her mum died, Magda discovered a devastating part of her story that had been kept secret for decades.
Magda released her first memoir a few years ago, to widespread acclaim.
It was the story of how Magda unearthed the life story of her Polish-born father and his role as an assassin during WWII.
Magda's now written her second memoir which hinges on the life story of her charming and funny Scottish-born mother, Margaret.
Magda had a complicated and deeply loving relationship with her mum, who sometimes lashed out at her daughter in devastating ways.
Two years after Margaret died, Magda found out a tragic secret about her life.
The revelation explained so much, and Magda later realised she had also suffered a similar trauma in her own childhood.
Content warning: this episode of Conversations contains discussion of childhood sexual abuse.
I Can't Tell You But I Will is published by Text Publishing.
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Call 13 11 14Text 0477 13 11 14This episode of Conversations was produced by Elizabeth Kulas. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.
It explores Australian actors, Australian comedians, Australian television, Australian cinema, Kath and Kim, mothers and daughters, childhood abuse, child on child abuse, sexuality, queerness, queer actors, gay marriage referendum, intergenerational trauma, coming out, famous lesbians, Sharon Strzelecki, Gina Riley, Jane Turner, Babe, Babe: Pig in the City, Happy Feet, Heath Ledger, youngest children, cancer diagnosis, Mantle Cell Lymphoma, Maggie Smith, memoir, writing, books, Australian literature, family origin stories, nervous system, fight, flight, freeze, fawn, Catholic school, George Orwell, mental health, university, shame, pray the gay away, suicidal thoughts, LGBT rights, same-sex marriage, George Miller, domestic violence, violence against women, group think, free bleeding, activism, Madrid, Spain, grief, Catholicism.
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