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 The Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) is the largest stand-alone comedy festival and the second-largest international comedy festival in the world. Established in 1987, it takes place annually in Melbourne over four weeks, typicall ...

Sydney Comedy Festival The Sydney Comedy Festival is an annual comedy festival held in Sydney. Launched in 2005 as The Cracker Sydney Comedy Festival at a number of inner city venues, the Festival has grown quickly and now attracts 111,000 patrons every year at venue ...

Edinburgh Festival Fringe The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as The Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, or Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest arts and media festival, which in 2019 spanned 25 days and featured more than 59,600 performances of 3,841 dif ...

, and Homebake. Youssef is best known for her appearances in the television series '' The Project'', ''

Whose Line Is It Anyway? Australia ''Whose Line is it Anyway? Australia'' (also known as ''Whose Line?'' and ''Whose Line? Oz'') is a 10-part Australian improvisational comedy show, based on the British show of the same name, hosted by Tommy Little on Foxtel network's The Come ...

'', '' How Not to Behave'', ''

No Activity ''No Activity'' is an Australian comedy television series which streams on Stan. The series is about two detectives on a stakeout. The Australian series was the first commission produced for the Australian streaming service. It comes from the ...

'' and ''

Rosehaven ''Rosehaven'' is an Australian television comedy series created and written by Celia Pacquola and Luke McGregor, who also star in the lead roles. Its name derives from the fictional small town in rural Tasmania in which it is set. Premierin ...

''. 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. She quit college and Youssef attended

iO Chicago iO, or iO Chicago, (formerly known as "ImprovOlympic") is an improv theater and training center in central Chicago, with a former branch in Los Angeles, called iO West and in Raleigh, North Carolina called iO South. The theater taught and hosted ...

where she studied improvisational performance and comedy. Youssef began her comedy career as a writer for ''

The Ronnie Johns Half Hour ''The Ronnie Johns Half Hour'' (full name ''The Ronnie Johns Good Times Campfire Jamboree Half Hour Show (Now on Television)'') was an Australian sketch comedy show produced by Jigsaw Entertainment and the Ten Network, which premiered in Octobe ...

'' 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 FBi (call sign: 2FBI) station is an independent, not-for-profit community radio in Sydney, Australia. FBi places a heavy emphasis on local emerging music: it has a policy that at least 50 per cent of its music content is to be Australian, of wh ...

in 2014. Youssef started performing improvisational comedy live. 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''. She is part of the Improv Theatre Sydney ensemble. In 2015, Youssef appeared in other television series including ''Community Kitchen'', ''About Tonight'', ''

The Checkout ''The Checkout'' was an Australian consumer affairs television series. The show's first series of 10 episodes premiered on 21 March 2013 on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television station ABC TV. A second series consisting of ...

'' and ''Game Night''. Yousseff had recurring roles in the television comedy series '' How Not to Behave'', ''

'', ''

'' and ''

'', and a guest role in ''

Here Come the Habibs ''Here Come the Habibs'' is an Australian television comedy series produced by Jungle Entertainment. A sitcom featuring a Lebanese Australian family who win the lottery and move to the posh eastern suburbs of Sydney, the show premiered on th ...

'' in 2016. In 2017, Youssef toured with her comedy show ''Behave Youssef''. She has also been a guest on '' The Project'', ''

All Star Family Feud ''All Star Family Feud'' was an Australian game show which aired on Network Ten from 14 March 2016 until 6 May 2018. The series, which is a spin off of ''Family Feud'', sees celebrities compete in teams to raise money for their chosen charity. '' ...

'', '' Celebrity Name Game'', ''

Have You Been Paying Attention? ''Have You Been Paying Attention?'' (abbreviated on social media as HYBPA? and stylised on-screen as Have you been paying attention? in sentence case) is an Australian panel game television quiz show on Network 10. The series, which is produce ...

'' and ''

Hughesy, We Have a Problem ''Hughesy, We Have a Problem'' was an Australian comedy panel television series which premiered on Network 10 on 30 January 2018. The program was hosted by Dave Hughes, who along with a panel of comedians, attempted to solve problems of viewers ...

''. 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 Rebel Melanie Elizabeth Wilson (born Melanie Elizabeth Bownds; 2 March 1980) is an Australian actress, comedian, writer, singer, and producer. After graduating from the Australian Theatre for Young People in 2003, Wilson began appearing as Tou ...

and screening on

Amazon Prime Amazon Prime is a paid subscription service from Amazon which is available in various countries and gives users access to additional services otherwise unavailable or available at a premium to other Amazon customers. Services include same, one- ...

in June.

Live Stand-up Comedy Tours

Filmography

Stage

Hosting

In 2017, Youssef hosted season two of the comedy TV series ''Stand and Deliver'' on digital TV channel

ABC ME ABC Me (stylised as ABC ME) is an Australian English language children's free-to-air television channel owned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It was officially launched by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on 4 December 2009 as ABC3. Hist ...

, which featured comedic acts from Australia and overseas.

Personal life

Youssef is a descendant of Lebanese immigrants. She grew up with five sisters and she often uses her family for comedy inspiration.

References

External links

Susie Youssef’s Bio
*
Susie Youssef’s biography at Creative Representation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Youssef, Susie Australian women comedians Comedians from Sydney Australian stand-up comedians Living people 1984 births Australian people of Lebanese descent