Toni Pearen

Last updated

Toni Pearen
Born
Toni Michelle Pearen
NationalityAustralian
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • TV presenter
  • journalist
  • media presenter
Years active1988–present
Known for E Street
Notable work Australia's Funniest Home Video Show
SpouseWill Osmond (2007–present)
Musical career
Genres Pop
Instrument(s)vocals

Toni Michelle Pearen (born 5 June 1972) is an Australian entertainer, actress, singer, songwriter and television presenter. She initially became recognisable through her role on soap opera E Street from 1989 until 1992. She had a limited pop music career in the mid-1990s with the release of one album, Intimate (November 1994), which provided two ARIA certified gold singles, "In Your Room" (November 1992) and "I Want You" (April 1993). [1] She was host of Australia's Funniest Home Video Show from 2003 to 2007, and competed on the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars (2008).

Contents

Career

Film and television career

Pearen came to be known in 1989 when she landed the role of Toni Windsor on the Australian soap opera E Street . [2] She played the role until 1992 when she left to pursue her music career. In 1994, she briefly returned to TV, this time playing Beth Armstrong on Home and Away .

Pearen also appeared in a number of films including All Men Are Liars, Colin Fitz Lives! and On the Dead Side, all released in 1995. From 1995 until 2002 Pearen lived and worked in the United States, guest starring in multiple television shows such as JAG .

Upon returning to Australia in 2002, Pearen landed the role as host of Nine's Australia's Funniest Home Video Show beginning February 2003. [2] [3] In an interview with ninemsn, she said the show was a perfect fit for her, and it "reminds us that strange things happen every day, and you need to laugh."

After Australia's Funniest Home Video Show Pearen took on a guest starring role with the soap Out of the Blue for five episodes, and in 2010 had a small part in the World War II miniseries The Pacific , produced by Steven Spielberg – the follow-up to Band of Brothers . [4]

Pearen began appearing on the eighth season of the Seven Network's Dancing with the Stars . [5]

In 2021, Pearen participated as a contestant in the seventh season of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Australia. [6]

Music career

After leaving E Street , Pearen became a success in the Australian Dance Pop scene in 1992 and 1993, scoring two consecutive top 10 [7] ARIA Gold certified hits [1] with "In Your Room" and "I Want You". A year later, between 1994 and 1995 two less successful singles were released, "Walkaway Lover" and "Joy". Pearen's 1994 album Intimate was well received by critics, but peaked at number 56 in Australia. [7]

From 1995 to 2002, Pearen lived in Los Angeles, working as an actor, singer and songwriter. In 2002, she moved back to Australia, taking residence on Scotland Island, New South Wales. [8] In early 2003 during an appearance on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? , Pearen revealed she could be aiming to revive her music career in the near future. It was later revealed that part of the reason for her hiatus in the United States was to find the time to write new music. Although she has made musical performances at Carols by Candlelight in 2003 and ABBA Mania in 2006, very little of any plans to return to music did not happen until August 2008 when a new untitled demo track appeared on Pearen's Official MySpace page. Later in September 2008 another new untitled demo was added. On 21 October 2008 The Daily Telegraph reported on plans that Pearen is considering to start work on her long-awaited follow up album to 1994's Intimate, with achieving Top 5 on Dancing with the Stars as her inspiration. [9]

In 2022, Pearen made her long-awaited return to the music industry and released a song called "1972". This was inspired by Pearen celebrating her 50th birthday in 2022 and how the world has evolved since her birth year of 1972. [10] [11] [12]

Dancing with the Stars performances

In late 2008, Toni Pearen joined the cast of the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars . Pearen's partner is Henry Byalikov from the first season of So You Think You Can Dance Australia .

She was eliminated on 19 October 2008.

Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreResult
ToddHelenMark
1 Cha-cha-cha / "Mercy"999Safe
2 Tango / "Toxic"878Safe
3 Samba / "Work"788Safe
4 Quickstep / "Let's Go Crazy"9910Safe
5 Salsa / "American Boy"888Safe
6 Rumba / "No Air"888Safe
7 Jive / "Maniac"
Foxtrot / "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life"		9
5		8
7		8
6		Eliminated

Personal life

Pearen began her singing/acting studies at Lynda Keane Studios Sydney with Lynda Keane and Greg Anderson. [13]

She dated her Home and Away co-star, Mat Stevenson in 1994. [13]

In late 2006, Pearen was engaged to longtime boyfriend, Will Osmond, a bankrupted ex co-owner of a Darling Harbour restaurant. They have jointly acquired property, and once resided together on Scotland Island. [14] [15] Pearen married Osmond in the north western New South Wales town of Moree on 17 November 2007. Pearen's Los Angeles-based actor friend Kym Wilson was her bridesmaid. [16]

Pearen gave birth to a son in 2009 and a daughter in 2012. [17]

Filmography

Television and film roles

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988 A Country Practice Patty MorrisonFirst acting role
1989–1992 E Street Toni WindsorFirst regular role
1993 Video Smash Hits PresenterFirst presenting role
1993Coca-Cola Take 40 AustraliaPresenter
1994 Home and Away Beth Armstrong Recurring role; 19 episodes
1994Red Music TelevisionPresenter
1995 All Men Are Liars AngelaFeature film, Leading role
1995On the Dead SideFeature film
1997 Colin Fitz Lives! Pandemonium FanFeature film
1997, 2003 Carols by Candlelight Performer
2000 JAG JennyAppeared in episodes Boomerang, Part 1 and Boomerang, Part 2
2002The Best of Aussie DramaHerselfFirst appearance on Australian television in almost five years
2003 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Celebrity contestant
2003–2007, 2011 Australia's Funniest Home Videos HostLongest serving host of the show to date
Returned for the 21st Anniversary episode
2005 Celebrity Circus Herself
2005 The Footy Show Herself
2006 Bert's Family Feud ContestantTook part in the Celebrity Showdown week from 3–7 April
2006 ABBA Mania Performer
2006–2007 20 to 1 Herself
2007 Rock Eisteddfod Challenge Host
2008 Out of the Blue JustineAppeared in five episodes – First acting role in eight years
2008 The One HerselfWas read by a Psychic on the second last episode in July
2008 Deal or No Deal ContestantAppeared on special 25 August episode Dancing with the Deal
2008 Dancing with the Stars Contestant
2010 The Pacific The sequel to Band of Brothers, appeared in one episode
2011 The Morning Show PresenterDettol informercials
2011Tough NutsMatilda 'Tilly' Devine Foxtel
2018Ladies in BlackCustomer 4
2021 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! ContestantAustralian version

Discography

Albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
AUS
[7]
Intimate
  • Released: 1994
  • Label: Mushroom (TVD93409)
56

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationAlbum
AUS
[7]
"In Your Room"199210Intimate
"I Want You"199310
  • ARIA: Gold [1]
"Walkaway Lover"199435
"Joy"199571
"1972"2022

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are a set of annual ceremonies presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
1994 "I Want You" ARIA Award for Best Pop Release Nominated [18] [19]

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<i>Intimate</i> (Toni Pearen album) 1994 studio album by Toni Pearen

Intimate is the debut album by Australian actress and singer Toni Pearen. Recorded throughout 1992 to 1993 and released in 1994, the album spawned two top ten singles and a third top forty single. At the time her music career commenced, Pearen had been a popular cast member of the Australian drama series E Street. She was one of many Australian actresses who ventured into a music career, following the success of Kylie Minogue, as well as Dannii Minogue and Pearen's E Street co-star, Melissa Tkautz, who scored a successful number one hit as well as other popular songs in the early '90s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Want You (Toni Pearen song)</span> 1993 single by Toni Pearen

"I Want You" is the second single released by Australian actress and singer Toni Pearen. Released in March 1993, the song peaked at number 10 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart on 23 May 1993, spending 16 weeks in the top 50, and was certified gold during its 10th week in the top 20. "I Want You" garnered Toni Pearen an ARIA Award nomination for Best Pop Release in 1994, her only ARIA nomination.

<i>In Your Room</i> (Toni Pearen song) 1992 single by Toni Pearen

In Your Room is the debut single from Australian actress/singer Toni Pearen, released in November 1992. The single debuted at #54 on the Australian ARIA top 100 singles chart dated week ending 22 November 1992, and rose to its peak of #10 week ending 17 January 1993. The single spent 17 weeks in the top 50, with 1 week spent out of the chart to re-enter at 50 the following week ending 21 March 1993 and 30 weeks in the top 100. It achieved an ARIA gold certification for shipments exceeding 35,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joy (Toni Pearen song)</span> 1995 single by Toni Pearen

"Joy" is a pop/dance song performed by Australian actress/singer Toni Pearen. It was released in March 1995 as the fourth and final single from her debut album Intimate. "Joy" entered the ARIA top 100 singles chart on 19 March 1995 at #75, peaking at #71 the following week. "Joy" was released at a time when Pearen's music career was heading into decline. The album Intimate was unsuccessful and the previous single "Walkaway Lover" had charted lower than her first two singles, although it did make the top forty. "Joy" has so far been Toni Pearen's last single release.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 214.
  2. 1 2 (excerpt) (30 January 2003). "Psst... Toni Pearen to host Funniest Home Video Show". newstext.com.au. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  3. ↑ MSN Australia. "Host Toni Pearen's Profile". funniesthomevideos.ninemsn.com.au. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  4. ↑ Meegan, Genevive (27 July 2008). "Quick step for TV's Toni". The Advertiser. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
  5. ↑ Knox, David (27 July 2008). "Toni tangos to Seven". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 27 July 2008.
  6. ↑ Turner-Cohen, Alex (3 January 2020). "Toni Pearen and Mel Buttle confirmed for this year's I'm a Celebrity' Australia 2021 contestants". news.com.au . News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
  8. ↑ Williams, Garry (12 November 2006). "Toni's on a high". Australian Herald Sun. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  9. ↑ "Done Dancing, Toni Pearen Wants To Sing". Australian Daily Telegraph. 21 October 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  10. ↑ "Shazam". Shazam. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  11. ↑ "Toni Pearen on Apple Music". Apple Music.
  12. ↑ 1972, 14 October 2022, retrieved 30 December 2022
  13. 1 2 Williams, Sue (6 March 1994). "Toni's done it all-at 21!". The Sun-Herald . Retrieved 25 January 2021– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  14. ↑ "Christmas proposal". Australian Herald Sun. 28 December 2006. Retrieved 6 October 2007.
  15. ↑ "My Island Escape". Australian Herald Sun. 30 August 2006. Retrieved 6 October 2007.
  16. ↑ "No Bloopers at Pearen Wedding". Australian Herald Sun. 19 November 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
  17. ↑ "Toni Pearen is Ever so Lucky to be mum". The Herald Sun. 6 August 2012.
  18. ↑ "Winners by Year 1994". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 9 January 2012.
  19. ↑ "Australia 1994 ARIA Awards". ALLdownunder.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
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