'Toughest year of my life': Magda Szubanski breaks down in tears

Magda Szubanski has broken down in tears on Andrew Denton's Interview while discussing what she described as the toughest year of her life.

The interview, which was filmed earlier this month, saw Szubanski open up about what it was like to lose her mother just weeks out from the announcement that the Australian public had voted in favour of same-sex marriage.

The Kath and Kim star was the public face of the marriage equality campaign and admitted that meant she hasn't had time to properly process her mother's death.

"It's been... the toughest year of my life without question," she told Denton. "Mostly because of mum. But the marriage equality stuff was something I was proud to do. I just felt so nervous the whole time because if I put a foot wrong, I could be blowing it for everyone. I haven't had a proper break since that."

Magda Szubanski chats to Andrew Denton.Credit: Seven Network

The wide-ranging interview touched on everything from Szubanski's relationship with her body to how queer actors have trouble realising their full potential.

"When you've internalised society's homophobia, it's like it corrupts your operating system," she said. "For me, it was like a virus in my system, that shame I felt. Totally misplaced [but] it kind of meant I didn't feel like I was standing on solid ground. I was terrified of myself, I think."

The most difficult part of the interview came when Denton showed the comedian an Instagram video of her mum waving. It resulted in Szubanksi having to reach for the tissues.

"I think that's probably why I'm so tired," she said. "I had the armour on through the marriage equality vote. I really didn't get to process it. It took seven days for mum to die. It was brutal. It's actually fucking traumatic, watching someone die. You're not normal after.

"I wish she'd been here to see the vote. She often would say to me, when families were turning on their gay kids, 'I don't understand how people turn on their own like that.' She had a real sense of injustice. The depth of her compassion was extraordinary."