MARY COUSTAS 'THE LAUGHS DON'T STOP!'

Comedic inspiration is never far away, thanks to Mary's mum and daughter

Gathered around a table at the family-owned cafe Rowena Corner Store in Melbourne's Richmond sit three generations of Greek Australian women - Mary Coustas, award-winning comedian, actress, and writer, her mother Fani, and her adorable daughter Jamie.

It's evident through just one round of cards that comedy runs in their blood. “In a musical family people know how to play instruments, but in our family we're very big on the jokes." Mary, 57, tells Woman's Day.

“My mum is so hilarious and such a funny contradiction of influences. My husband calls her Ron, as in Ron Barassi (AFL icon). Others call her Al Pacino.

"And Jamie does an impression of an old Greek woman and if you can imagine the Marx Brothers, Dave Chappelle, and Jerry Seinfeld all in one... that's her," she laughs.

HEALING LAUGHTER

Watching Mary, Fani, 83, and Jamie, eight, interact is like watching one of Mary's stand-up routines as her iconic '90s character Effie, larger than life and endlessly entertaining. “We're constantly laughing. Laughter has been a balm for me through my entire life so it's always been important to us," she says.

"Mum and Jamie are the most hilarious when they're together. Mum is always letting her cheat in cards and when I tell her that you don't win by cheating, Mum yells, 'I don't want her to be good, I need her to be sharp!' which I have to say I kind of love."