After a twenty year career in journalism, Margot turned to fictional writing in the mid-1990’s. Her first play Finding Murdoch, was premiered by Downstage Theatre in June 2007. Her second play Bloodlines had its first reading at the Auckland Theatre Company in September 2007.

For three years she researched and wrote a film script about the exploits of World War 2 hero Haane Manahi. Called Takrouna, it was taken up by Don Selwyn of He Taonga Films. She has written for television, including episodes of Street Legal and Mercy Peak.

Margot grew up in Christchurch and graduated from Canterbury University with a BA and a Diploma in Journalism. Her love of theatre began at high school and she appeared in the Court Theatre’s first production. She studied drama with Mervyn Thompson and took part in university theatre.

Her career in journalism has spanned radio, newspapers and television in New Zealand and Australia. In 1990 Margot was asked to track down the infamous All Black Keith Murdoch for a television programme.
Although one of hundreds of stories Margot has worked on over the years, it was the Murdoch story that inspired her to begin writing full-time.