Ginette Denise McDonald ONZM (born 18 April 1952) is a New Zealand actress, and television producer and director, best known for her comedic alter ego, "Lyn of Tawa".

[4] Following her return to New Zealand in 1976, McDonald played the role of Shirley Paget in the television soap opera Close to Home.

From the late 1970s McDonald's best-known character, "Lyn of Tawa", was seen on New Zealand television in her own series (the theme song to which was a remake of the instrumental tune "The Happy Organ"), as well as in a monologue during the 1981 Royal Variety Performance at the St James Theatre, Auckland.

[8] During the 1990s, McDonald's acting credits included Dead Certs (1995) alongside Rawiri Paratene, Face Value – Her New Life (1995)—which she also produced[3]—and Duggan (1999).

McDonald subsequently created "Lyn of Tawa" and, together with Mason and Roger Hall, wrote a series of sketches featuring the character for the revue show Knickers.

It was, however, after McDonald's return from London that Lyn really came to prominence, following her appearance at a celebrity roast for Judith Fyfe, which led to spots on variety shows, then one-off special and culminated in her own series.

Other programmes produced by McDonald include the television adaptations of the 1997 play Nga Wahine by Riwia Brown, and Joyful and Triumphant by Robert Lord.