Danielle Spencer (Australian actress)

Last updated

Danielle Spencer
Danielle Spencer 2013.jpg
Spencer in 2013
Born (1969-05-16) 16 May 1969 (age 55)
Occupation(s)Singer, actress, songwriter
Years active1989–present
Spouse
(m. 2003;div. 2018)
Children2
Father Don Spencer
Musical career
Genres Pop
InstrumentVocals
Labels
  • EMI
  • 101 Distribution

Danielle Spencer (born 16 May 1969) [1] is an Australian actress, singer, and songwriter. [2] [3]

Contents

Early life

Spencer is the daughter of Australian songwriter, singer and television entertainer Don Spencer and wife Julie (née Horsfall), a caterer from Yorkshire. [4] [5] She has an older brother, Dean. At age four, she began piano lessons. [6] During her teens she began acting and composing her own tunes. [7] [8] Until the age of twelve, she spent her childhood and youth alternately in Australia and in Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire, England, as her father worked in both countries for the BBC Play School . [9]

Career

Spencer grew up in close contact with the world of showbusiness. Occasionally she accompanied her father on his performances on stage. She took singing and acting lessons and dance classes in classical ballet and modern dance and jazz. [10] In 1987 Danielle Spencer starred in Rasputin as one of the Tsar's daughters and dated Terry Serio who also starred in the same musical as Prince Felix.

From 1989 to 2000 she worked as an actress, especially for Australian television, primarily as an actress in TV series. Subsequently, the focus of her artistic activity shifted to the area of singer / songwriter.

In 2001 she released her debut musical album, White Monkey. After a family break, in February 2010 she released her second album, Calling All Magicians . Under the direction of her husband, the music videos were made to the title songs and "Tickle Me" and "Wish I'd Been Here".

In August 2011 Spencer for the first time gave two live concerts alongside her husband. The pair joined the musicians and actors Alan Doyle, Kevin Durand, Scott Grimes and the group Size2Shoes to present the Crowe / Doyle Songbook Vol III at St John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Songs from this album relate, among others, to the novel Dirt Music by the Australian novelist Tim Winton. Spencer gives live concerts on a regular basis. For her live concert tour in October 2011, titled "Alone and Together", she joined Australian bass player Steve Balbi.

In March 2012, Spencer was announced as a contestant for season 12 of Dancing with the Stars on the Seven Network in which she placed second. Her professional partner was Damian Whitewood.

In 2015, Danielle Spencer was a member of Australia's judging panel in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest. [11]

Spencer is a supporter of her father Don Spencer's charity, the Australian Children's Music Foundation (ACMF), [12] an educational program for underprivileged and Indigenous children in Australia. She's supporter of women's cancer programs as the Pink Ribbon Breakfast for breast cancer and The Girls Night. [13]

On 10 July 2020, Spencer released an album with close friend, producer/songwriter Vince Pizzinga, under duo-name 'Lost Luggage'. Their self-titled LP consisted of alternative covers of various '80s classics. She promoted the release on various platforms, including on Channel 7, and The Kyle and Jackie O Show on KIIS 106.5. [14] [15]

Personal life

Spencer and then-husband Russell Crowe in September 2011 Russell Crowe (6149906636).jpg
Spencer and then-husband Russell Crowe in September 2011

Spencer began an on-again, off-again relationship with actor Russell Crowe in 1989 when they co-starred in the film The Crossing which appeared in Australian cinemas in 1990. [16] [17] Crowe and Spencer married on 7 April 2003 at Crowe's farm in Nana Glen, New South Wales. [17] [18] They have two sons: Charles, born in 2003 [19] and Tennyson, born in 2006. [1] In October 2012, it was reported that Crowe and Spencer had separated. [20] The divorce was finalised in April 2018. [21]

Since 2016, she has been in a relationship with author and artist Adam Long. [22]

Discography

Albums

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
AUS
[23]
"Jonathon White"2001White Monkey
"Blast Off"95
"Forgive Me"
"White Monkey"2002
"Tickle Me"
"On Your Side"2010Calling All Magicians
"Wish I'd Been Here"
"Be My Baby"2016Non-album single

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1990 The Crossing Meg
1990 What the Moon Saw Emma
1999Game RoomAlena

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1989 Rafferty's Rules Toni MollerEpisode: "On the Barricades"
1989 Mission: Impossible Diane MartinEpisode: "Bayou"
1989–1990 The Flying Doctors Fiona Jacobs / Sally McCarthy3 episodes
1991 Hampton Court Lisa Barrett13 episodes
1992 Mission Top Secret PamelaTelevision film
1993 Minder RobynEpisode: "For a Few Dollars More"
1994 Law of the Land Barb BrewerEpisode: "Games People Play"
1995 Home and Away Quinn Jackson11 episodes
1996 Pacific Drive Callie Macrae
1999 Murder Call Ingrid NergunEpisode: "Dying Day"
2000 All Saints Kate TaylorEpisode: "Food for Thought"
2000 Beastmaster DestineEpisode: "White Tiger"
2012 Dancing With The Stars (Australia)Performer (Runner Up)Season 12
2020The All New Monty: Guys & GalsPerformerSeason One

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russell Crowe</span> New Zealand-born, Australian actor (born 1964)

Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealand-born Australian actor. He was born in Wellington, spending 10 years of his childhood in Australia and residing there permanently by age 21. His work on screen has earned him various accolades, including an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a British Academy Film Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tina Arena</span> Australian singer-songwriter (born 1967)

Filippina Lydia "Tina" Arena is an Australian singer-songwriter, musician, musical theatre actress and record producer. She is one of Australia's highest-selling artists and has sold over 10 million records worldwide. Arena is multilingual, singing and recording in English, Italian, French and Spanish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod Stewart</span> British singer-songwriter (born 1945)

Sir Roderick David Stewart is a British rock and pop singer and songwriter. Known for his distinctive raspy singing voice, Stewart is among the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 120 million records worldwide. His music career began in 1962 when he took up busking with a harmonica. In 1963, he joined the Dimensions as a harmonica player and vocalist. In 1964, Stewart joined Long John Baldry and the All Stars before moving to the Jeff Beck Group in 1967. Joining Faces in 1969, he also launched a solo career, releasing his debut album, An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down, that year. Stewart's early albums were a fusion of rock, folk music, soul music, and R&B. His third album, 1971's Every Picture Tells a Story, was his breakthrough, topping the charts in the UK, US, Canada and Australia, as did its ballad "Maggie May". His 1972 follow-up album, Never a Dull Moment, also reached number one in the UK and Australia, while going top three in the US and Canada. Its single, "You Wear It Well", topped the chart in the UK and was a moderate hit elsewhere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Spencer Blues Explosion</span> American rock and roll band

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion was an American three-piece rock band from New York City, formed in 1991. The group consisted of Judah Bauer on guitar, backing vocals, harmonica and occasional lead vocals, Russell Simins on drums and Jon Spencer on vocals, guitar and theremin. Their musical style is largely rooted in rock and roll although it draws influences from punk, blues, garage, rockabilly, soul, noise rock, rhythm and blues and hip hop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sally Seltmann</span> Australian musician

Sally Mary Seltmann, is an Australian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and Record producer. From 2000 to 2009, Seltmann used the stage name, New Buffalo. Under that name, Seltmann wrote, performed, arranged and produced her debut album, The Last Beautiful Day in September 2004. Her second album, Somewhere, Anywhere appeared in March 2007. Seltmann and Canadian singer-songwriter Feist, co-wrote the song "1234" which was featured in a 2007 iPod Nano commercial. It became a Top 10 hit on the United States Billboard Hot 100 for Feist. Seltmann is married to Darren Seltmann formerly of electronic music group, The Avalanches. In April 2010, Seltmann released her third solo album, Heart That's Pounding. Late that year, she formed an indie rock trio, Seeker Lover Keeper, with fellow Australians Sarah Blasko and Holly Throsby. They issued a self-titled album in June 2011, which peaked at number three on the ARIA Albums Chart. In 2013, Seltmann released her fourth solo album, Hey Daydreamer. In April 2018, Allen & Unwin published Sally Seltmann's debut novel Lovesome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrissy Amphlett</span> Australian singer and actress (1959–2013)

Christine Joy Amphlett was an Australian singer, songwriter and actress, best known as the frontwoman of the rock band Divinyls. She was notable for her brash, overtly sexual persona and subversive humour in lyrics, performances and media interviews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Spencer</span> Australian childrens TV presenter and musician (born 1937)

Donald Richard Spencer is an Australian singer-songwriter, musician, and former children's television presenter. He had a long tenure as a host on Play School on both the Australian version (1968–99) and the United Kingdom version (1972–88), one of only two presenters to work on both versions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuck Prophet</span> American songwriter

Charles William Prophet is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and record producer. A Californian, Prophet first achieved notice in the American psychedelic/desert rock group Green on Red, with whom he toured and recorded in the 1980s. He has also recorded a number of solo records, and gained prominence as a musician and songwriter.

<i>The Kyle and Jackie O Show</i> Australian radio show

The Kyle and Jackie O Show is an Australian breakfast radio show hosted by Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O on KIIS 106.5 in Sydney and KIIS 101.1 in Melbourne. The show is syndicated in the late drive slot on the KIIS Network following Will & Woody across Australia, and is a station on iHeartRadio.

Jennifer May "Jenni" Forbes is an Australian-born singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. Her song, "I Want You", co-written with Peter Northcote, was performed by fellow Mushroom Records artist, Toni Pearen and peaked in the top 10 on the ARIA Singles Chart in April 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Missy Higgins</span> Australian musician (born 1983)

Melissa Morrison Higgins, stage name Missy Higgins, is an Australian singer-songwriter and musician. Her most popular singles include "Scar", "Steer", and "Where I Stood". Her Australian number-one albums are The Sound of White (2004), On a Clear Night (2007) and The Ol' Razzle Dazzle (2012). Higgins's fourth studio album, Oz, was released in September 2014. In 2018 she released a greatest hits album called The Special Ones, and in September 2024 released the album The Second Act.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sherry Rich</span> Australian alternative country singer-songwriter

Sherry Rich or Sherry Rich-Plant is an Australian alternative country singer-songwriter, guitarist and music teacher. As Sherry Valier, she formed an all-girl garage rock band, Girl Monstar (1988–93), on lead vocals, harmonica and rhythm guitar. She has worked as a solo artist fronting Sherry Rich and the Grievous Angels (1994–96), The Rich Family with her mother Noelene Rich, brother Rusty and husband Rick Plant, and a member of various ensembles including the Grapes, a duo with Ashley Naylor; the Mudcakes (2004–present), a children's music group with her husband.

Jackson Gregory Marx, known as Jack Marx, is an Australian journalist and author. He was born in Maitland, New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shana Halligan</span> American singer

Shana Beth Halligan is a singer, songwriter, and composer based in Los Angeles, California, best known for her work as the former vocalist for the trip-hop act Bitter:Sweet. She is the daughter of Dick Halligan, a founding member of the American rock band Blood, Sweat & Tears. In 2018, she appeared as a contestant in season 14 of the American series The Voice.

The Crossing is a 1990 Australian romantic drama film directed by George Ogilvie, produced by Sue Seeary and written by Ranald Allan. The film stars Russell Crowe, Robert Mammone and Danielle Spencer. The film was shot in the towns of Junee and Condobolin in New South Wales, Australia. The film was released in Australia on 18 October 1990. Russell Crowe was nominated for the Australian Film Institute Award for best actor while Jeff Darling was awarded for the best cinematography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allison Russell</span> Canadian singer-songwriter, musician and activist

Allison Russell is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician and activist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandolin Wind</span> 1977 single by Rod Stewart

"Mandolin Wind" is a song written by Rod Stewart. It was first released on Stewart's 1971 album Every Picture Tells a Story and later as the B-side of a single from that album, his version of "(I Know) I'm Losing You." Mercury Records issued the song as a 7-inch single in mid-1977. It has also appeared on numerous Rod Stewart compilation and live albums, including Sing It Again Rod, Storyteller – The Complete Anthology: 1964–1990 and Unplugged...and Seated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azealia Banks</span> American rapper (born 1991)

Azealia Amanda Banks is an American rapper, singer and songwriter. Raised in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, she began releasing music through Myspace in 2008 before being signed to XL Recordings at age 18. She subsequently signed with Interscope and Polydor Records before separating in 2013. Banks became an independent artist and started her own independent record label, Chaos & Glory Recordings. She later signed to Parlophone and Warner Records before quitting her label in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Girl (Bonnie McKee song)</span> 2013 single by Bonnie McKee

"American Girl" is a song by American singer and songwriter Bonnie McKee intended to be the lead single of her then-shelved second studio album. Epic Records first released it to McKee's SoundCloud on June 25, 2013. The song was written by McKee, Josh Abraham, Jon Asher, Alex Drury, Oliver Goldstein and Jacknife Lee, while Abraham and Oligee handled the production. The single has been described as a dance-pop and electropop track. Its lyrics address McKee's childhood and teenagehood from an American perspective. The song is included on McKee's second studio album, Hot City, which was released in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mama Kin (musician)</span> Australian singer-songwriter

Danielle Caruana, known professionally as Mama Kin, is an Australian singer-songwriter. She has released two albums, Beat and Holler and The Magician's Daughter. She lives with her family in Fremantle.

References

  1. 1 2 "Russell Crowe, Wife Have a Boy". People . 7 July 2006. Retrieved 14 October 2012. Spencer, 35...
  2. Hutton, Dan (25 October 2011). "Danielle Spencer - Happiness, Music, Family, Friends... And Football!". The Beast. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  3. on adelaidenow.com.au, 10 December 2011: "(...) I feel like probably next year would be the right timing to re-engage with acting if the right thing came along.". Retrieved 10 December 2011
  4. Ewbank, Tim; Hildred, Stafford (2001). Russell Crowe : the biography. London: Carlton Books. p.  48. ISBN   1-84222-423-9.
  5. "Homepage Don Spencer". Donspencer.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  6. "Danielle Spencer - 'Calling All Magicians' + Tony Visconti video interview". Band Weblogs. 8 September 2010. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  7. "Danielle Spencer - 'Calling All Magicians' + Tony Visconti video interview". Band Weblogs. 8 September 2009. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  8. McCarthy, Kerry (17 July 2011). "Danielle Spencer 'Music felt natural'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  9. Iley, Chrissy (4 July 2010). "My name is Danielle, Commander of the house of Crowe". Murphsplace.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  10. Ewbank, Tim; Hildred, Stafford (2001). Russell Crowe : the biography. London: Carlton Books. p.  47. ISBN   1-84222-423-9.
  11. Vincent, Peter (1 May 2015). "Eurovision 2015: Richard Wilkins, Danielle Spencer on Australia's judging panel". Sydney Morning Herald .
  12. Australian Children´s Music Foundation
  13. Interview thebeast.com.au. dated 26 October 2011 retrieved 30 October 2011
  14. McLaughlin, Reegan (31 July 2020). "Danielle Spencer's new album 'Lost Luggage' is a love letter to the 80s". Channel 7 .
  15. Spencer, Daniel (17 July 2020). "Had fun catching up with @kyleandjackieo KIIS 1065 this morning!". Facebook .
  16. Silverman, Stephen (7 April 2003). "Russell Crowe Joins the Married Ranks". People. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  17. 1 2 Miller, Samantha (21 April 2003). "A Beautiful Time: A Teary Russell Crowe Weds Danielle Spencer Amid a Down Under Weekend of Camaraderie with Rhion Cricket and ABBA". People. 59 (15). Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  18. Quaintance, Lauren (20 April 2010). "What Danielle Spencer knows about men" (Interview). The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  19. "Russell Crowe and wife have baby boy". Associated Press. 22 December 2003. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  20. Sams, Christine (14 October 2012). "Crowe, Spencer split amid actor's hectic filming schedule". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  21. Burns, Lindsey (10 April 2018). "Russell Crowe Has Finalized His Divorce After Five-Year Separation From Wife Danielle Spencer". Closer Weekly. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  22. Mollard, Angela (4 July 2020). "Danielle Spencer: 'The kids needed a parent who was present'". YouTube .
  23. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 263.
Preceded by
Haley Bracken & Aric Yegudkin
Dancing with the Stars (Australia) runner up
Season 12 (2012 with Damian Whitewood)
Succeeded by
Rhiannon Fish & Aric Yegudkin