Reckoning Characters

Meg McCarthy is Magda’s grandmother and Margaret’s mother. Before the Szubanskis moved to Australia, they would visit Meg in Dunfermline every summer, where Meg and Magda developed a close relationship. Meg passes away while the Szubanskis are in Australia.

Mary Jane is Magda’s great-grandmother on Margaret’s side. Ten of Mary Jane’s thirteen children died due to the family’s extreme poverty and poor living conditions in Ireland. Luke is one of the three of Mary Jane’s children who survived into adulthood.

Izabella is the daughter of Polish immigrants who are neighbors to the Szubanskis. Close from an early age, Izabella and Magda attend Siena Convent together and go on to be lifelong friends.

Father Słowick is the Polish priest whom Magda hires to talk to Peter in the weeks before Peter’s death. Although reluctant at first, Peter comes to enjoy talking to Father Słowick in his native language.

Maureen Vincent is Harry Vincent’s wife.

Gerald is an elderly veteran whom the Szubanskis befriend. From Gerald, the Szubanskis learn about and adopt many herbal medicine and wellness habits.

Sasha is the cigarette-smoking son of Polish immigrant friends of Margaret and Peter. He becomes Magda’s first boyfriend, though Magda doesn’t like him and only dates him to conceal her feelings for Kerry. Shortly after Kerry and Magda are in a car crash, Sasha breaks up with Magda.

Bob Bartnik and his wife are family friends of the Szubanskis. During her first year at Melbourne University, Magda rooms with the Bartniks in Melbourne.

Helen is an artistic girl whom Magda befriends at Siena Convent. Later, when they attend Melbourne University together, Helen and Magda come out about their sexuality to each other. When Helen travels abroad, she and Magda keep in touch through letters.

Mai is a resident of the refugee shelter where Magda volunteers. When Magda and Sue go to Mai’s old house to retrieve her possessions, they are ambushed by Mai’s abusive husband and barely manage to escape.

Sue is a coworker of Magda’s at the refugee shelter.

Janne is a coworker of Magda’s at the refugee shelter. When Magda travels to Europe, she stays in Janne’s London flat, and then the two travel to Berlin.

Marg is a fellow actor and former tennis partner of Magda’s. With Magda, Marg stars in the comedy shows D-Generation and Fast Forward.

Helen-Mary, or H-M, is the mother of a fellow Feminist Club member of Magda’s. When Magda moves into H-M’s sprawling house during college, Magda and H-M become very close. H-M has progressive views and is very accepting of Magda and her friends.

Jane Turner is an actor whom Magda meets along with Gina on the set of Fast Forward. With Magda and Gina, Jane creates the comedy show Big Girl’s Blouse. Later, Jane and Gina create the comedy show Kath and Kim, and they star in it along with Magda.

Agnieszka is a friend of Cousin Magda’s from acting school. She takes Magda to a party during one of Magda’s visits to Warsaw.

Hilary is Magda’s casting agent. On a trip to Hollywood with Magda, Hilary deftly deflects two casting directors who attempt to poach her prominent clients.

At the debut party of her show, Dogwoman, Magda meets Kristen. Magda and Kristen date for eight years—Magda’s longest relationship to date.

Elizabeth Cuddy is the genealogist for the reality show Who Do You Think You Are on which Magda appears.

Yvonne McEwan is a researcher of war trauma for the reality show Who Do You Think You Are on which Magda appears.

Wacek is a Jewish friend of Peter’s from childhood. Given Wacek’s distinctive Jewish features, Peter assumes that Wacek was killed during the war.