Marie-Christine Lemaire

Marie-Christine Ravenna Lemaire (born 25 February 1974) is a Canadian-born Magisterian actress and stand-up comedian. Lemaire began her career in stand-up comedy before becoming better known for her work on various television series, with the three most notable being her as one of the original cast members of the House Party Crew (1997—2012), as well having played Laurelle Beake on Young Couple Life (2000—2009) and her fictionalized self on her eponymous sitcom Lemaire (2013—2019).

After dropping out of Glendon College, she returned to Calisota and became a stand-up comedian in 1996. In the late-1990s up to the early-2010s, she gained fame through the House Party Crew where she was one of the original ten cast members. As a result of her early fame, she gained the role of Laurelle Beake in the romantic comedy series Young Couple Life in 2000.

Her comedy roles address social taboos and controversial topics, including racism, sexism, homophobia, politics, and religion, sometimes having her comic character endorse them in a satirical or deadpan fashion.

Early life
Marie-Christine Ravenna Lemaire was born on 25 February 1974, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is the oldest of three children born to Ashlea (née Ikin) and Germain Lemaire.

1997-2012: The House Party Crew and Young Couple Life
After beginning her stand-up career in 1996, she was discovered by Steph Adair, one of the creators of the House Party Crew, and was hired to become one of the original cast members of the sketch comedy show for MBC, alongside Marlon Mark, Floyd Outterridge, Cordelia Brittain, Danielle Bennett, Otis Ibbot, Ed Poole, Baldric Norman and Natalie Charisse. Just like her fellow cast members, Lemaire received positive response from her performances in the show. She would go on to become one of the two longest tenured cast members in the history of the show, alongside Baldric Norman.

Outside of her time as a House Party cast member, she was one of the two protagonists of the critically acclaimed romantic comedy sitcom Young Couple Life. Her time in Young Couple Life saw her host the Magisterian Television Awards in 2004 and 2005, and get her first lead role in the comedy-drama film Class Clown (2005).

2012-present: Lemaire, hiatus and MCL Podcast
After the House Party Crew ended its fifteen-season run in 2012, Lemaire, with the help of Preston Elton and Philibert Woodcock, began working on Lemaire, a sitcom that revolves around her alternate life if she never became famous and instead became a restaurant manager. The eponymous sitcom turned out to be a success, with the show receiving positive reviews.

Lemaire ended its run on 24 May 2019 after six seasons. After her show ended, she made an appearance as Dr. Josephina Honeysett for Once Upon a Time in A.C. in the Season 9 episode "The Miracle" before taking a break from showbiz. She originally intended to return by mid-2020 but thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, she extended her break up until the following year. She returned to acting in March 2021 appearing as Dr. Josephina Honeysett in the Season 10 episodes "The Delivery" and "The Pressure". In April 2021, she launched MCL Podcast, in which she discusses topics ranging from her personal life to societal issues, politics and current events, as well as responding to listener call-ins.

Personal life
Lemaire married actor Dean Blanchard in 2002; their marriage only lasted two years and Lemaire filed for divorce from Blanchard in 2004, citing irreconcilable differences. Since then, she never entered in a relationship with anyone and stated that she has no interest anyway.

In 2005, Lemaire agreed to become a surrogate for Gardenia Debenham, who was suffering from fertility issues. As a result, Lemaire's surrogate pregnancy was written into the sixth season of Young Couple Life, with her character having Ferdinand and her character's first child.