Debra Byrne

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Debra Byrne
Lorrae Desmond (6640170533).jpg
Debra with her daughter Lucille in 2012
Born
Debra Anne Byrne

(1957-03-30) 30 March 1957 (age 67)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Occupations
  • actress
  • singer
  • producer
  • variety entertainer
  • writer
  • choreographer
Years active1969-present
Spouses
  • David Dudley (m. 1977 – d. 1980)
  • Neil Melville (m. 1989 – d. 1997)
Partner
  • Ced Le Meledo (c. 1999–2006)
Children3 (including Lucille Le Meledo)

Debra Anne Byrne (born 30 March 1957), formerly billed as Debbie Byrne, is an Australian pop singer, variety entertainer, theatre and TV actress and writer, director and choreographer of cabaret. From April 1971 to March 1975 she was a founding cast member of Young Talent Time . She started her solo singing career with a cover version of "He's a Rebel" (March 1974), which peaked at No. 25 on the Go-Set Australian Singles chart. At the Logie Awards of 1974 she won Best Teenage Personality and followed with the Queen of Pop Award in October – both ceremonies were sponsored by TV Week . She repeated both wins in the following year.

Contents

As a stage actress Byrne appeared in the Australian musical theatre versions of Cats (July 1985 to mid-1987), Les Misérables (November 1987 to May 1988, December 1989 to June 1990) and Sunset Boulevard (October 1996 to June 1997). Her solo album, Caught in the Act (April 1991), peaked at No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified gold. In 2006 Byrne published her autobiography, Not Quite Ripe: A Memoir.

Career

Early career as pop singer

In 1969 Debra "Debbie" Byrne made her television debut on Brian and the Juniors , a children's variety and talent quest, which was hosted by newsreader Brian Naylor. [1] :25 [2] She stayed with the show for 12 months until it finished late in 1970. In April 1971 she became an original cast member on Young Talent Time , another children's talent quest, which was hosted by Johnny Young. [1] :48–50 [3] Byrne proved to be a popular cast member: in March 1974 she won the Logie Award for Best Teenage Personality and the TV Week Queen of Pop Award in October. [4] [5]

In March 1974, before leaving the Young Talent Time regular cast, Byrne released her first solo single, "He's a Rebel", a cover version of the Phil Spector-produced 1962 hit by the Crystals. [4] [6] It peaked at No. 25 on the Go-Set Top 40 Australian Singles chart, [7] and reached No. 1 on the Melbourne charts. [4] Her debut album, She's a Rebel (1974), was produced by Young, with session musicians including Russell Dunlop on drums (ex-Aesops Fables, SCRA, Renée Geyer and Mother Earth, Johnny Rocco Band), Tim Partridge on bass guitar (Company Caine, Mighty Kong, Kevin Borich Express), Mark Punch on guitar (Johnny Rocco Band, Renée Geyer Band) and Terry Walker on guitar and backing vocals (the Strangers, Pastoral Symphony). [8]

Byrne's follow-up single was a second Crystals cover, "Da Doo Ron Ron" (January 1975), backed by the track, "Boogie Man". [4] In that year she won both the Logie Award for Best Teenage Personality and the TV Week Queen of Pop Award for a second time. [4] [9] In September 1975 Byrne travelled to London to record at Abbey Road Studios with Cliff Richard producing. While in London, she made public and TV appearances, including on The Cliff Richard Show. [4]

Byrne's first Australian television guest appearance as a featured solo artist was on The Graham Kennedy Show at the age of fifteen. Since then she has made a guest appearance on every major Australian Tonight show and was a regular performer on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) series, The Saturday Show. In 1978 she merged singing with acting for the first time on the ABC's Follies series. From August 1980 Byrne co-starred alongside John Farnham in their own series, Farnham and Byrne. [10] Craig Walsh of The Australian Women's Weekly previewed a segment for a rock 'n' roll themed episode, "[its] staging promises to make the series the smash hit of 1980, say the producers" with Byrne declaring "I've just discovered I can dance better than I thought." [10]

Byrne's career stalled between 1980 and 1985 due to her heroin addiction, for which she undertook rehab at Odyssey House. [4] A further stumbling block occurred when a sex tape of her and a former partner was stolen and leaked to the media. [1] :435–6,446–9 [11]

In mid-1985, Byrne recorded her second solo album, The Persuader , which was produced by Peter Dawkins. [1] :288 [12] She issued the single "The Persuader" in August, but neither single or album charted. [4] She made a successful and highly publicised career comeback in 1985 with the starring role as Kathy McLeod, opposite Matt Dillon, in the feature film, Rebel . [4] [13] She was nominated for an AFI Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role for the performance. [14] Byrne sang lead vocals on nine of ten tracks on Rebel: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1985). [15] [16]

Cabaret and concert performances

Byrne's live cabaret, Caught in the Act Again, commenced during mid-1999, it included both show tunes and some original material. The first half was "a little too low-key, mostly because the songs all have a similar, slow, acid-jazzy tempo" according to Fiona Scott-Norman of The Age. [17] She was backed by John McAll on piano and Don Hirini as backing vocalist; she also co-wrote some material, including "I Don't Make the Rules", with Hirini. [17] Caught in the Act Again earned a Green Room Award nomination for Best Cabaret Performance and Best Musical Arrangement.

Her cabaret work includes writing, directing, choreographing and starring in Girls, Girls, Girls from May to June 2002. [18] The show also starred Wendy Stapleton and Lisa Edwards (replaced by Nikki Nicholls) as a tribute to the Supremes, Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield, Patsy Cline and Lulu. [19] [20] In 2002 it won the Herald Sun Best Cabaret Award. [18] [21] The shows had sold out before they opened. [22] In subsequent years Byrne, Stapleton and Nicholls periodically resumed Girls, Girls, Girls.

Since 1972 Byrne has been a regular performer at the Christmas Eve Carols by Candlelight concert at Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl. At the 2005 concert she performed a duet of Silent Night with her five-year-old daughter, Lucille, who was making her professional stage and television debut. In late 2006 her autobiography, Not Quite Ripe: A Memoir, was published on Pan Macmillan. [23] She described how the book took her four years to write, "On and off. I wrote and I didn't write." [23] Byrne reprised her role of Grizabella in the ExitLeft production of Cats, which was staged at the Derwent Entertainment Centre in Hobart in late-October 2007. [24]

2009–present: stage and television roles

In April 2009 Byrne played the role of Sue Barnes in Metro Street at its world premiere in Adelaide and its subsequent tour to South Korea, with an appearance at the Daegu International Musical Festival (see Daegu) in June. [25] [26] [27]

From 29 July 2010 to April 2011 she played the role of the Bird Woman in the original Australian production of the stage musical, Mary Poppins at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre. [28] [29] She reprised the role in its Sydney run at the Capitol Theatre. [30] From May to June 2012 Byrne played the role of Claire Christie in the Nine Network's Tricky Business . [31]

From February to March 2014 she appeared on a dramatised crime biography, Fat Tony & Co. , portraying Judy Moran, wife of Lewis Moran who was part of the Carlton Crew which were involved in the Melbourne gangland killings. [32] Fat Tony & Co. focused on the rise and fall of convicted drug mastermind, Tony Mokbel, [33] and is an offshoot to the first series of Underbelly (February–May 2008). [32] Byrne described her portrayal of Moran "You'd be surprised what I wear as Judy that's from my own wardrobe [...] There's a definite air of the theatrical about her and a lot of what I saw Judy wearing ... I thought she wore some really nice clothes. Everything she wore was so over the top." [32]

In 2016 she took the role of Carlotta Campion in a concert version of Follies at the Melbourne Recital Hall for a limited run of three performances in May. [34] In August she worked with Vika Bull in their Carole King tribute show, Tapestry. [35] [36] In late 2016, Byrne appeared on the third series of ABC comedy, Upper Middle Bogan .

From 2017 through to 2019, she toured with Vika Bull in their Carole King tribute show 'Tapestry'.

In mid 2019, she is set to play the Beggar Woman in a production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street opposite Anthony Warlow and Gina Riley .

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNote
1971Caravan HolidayHerselfas Debbie Byrne
1985 Rebel Kathy McLeodas Debbie Byrne

Television

YearTitleRoleNote
1979TV FolliesJill Johnson / Laura SummersTV series
1978 Cop Shop Kerry ClementsTV series, 3 episodes
1987; 1989 Rafferty's Rules Sally Edwards / Tricia RoganTV series, 2 episodes
1991; 1992 Police Rescue Maria Mellick / Tricia MellickTV series, 2 episodes
1992 G.P. Helen CartwrightTV series, 1 episode
1992 Home and Away Julia BowmanTV series, 44 episodes
1992 The Flying Doctors Andrea GriffinTV series, season 9, episode 19: "Yesterday's News"
1993 Law of the Land Jean Jardine (regular)TV series
1995 Naked: Stories of Men SharonTV special, 1 episode
1998 State Coroner Tracy DabovichTV series, 1 episode
2002 The Secret Life of Us PetaTV series, season 2, 4 episodes
2007 City Homicide Marijke SharmanTV series, 1 episode
2011Mary Poppins: Behind the ScenesBird LadyTV special
2012 Tricky Business Claire ChristieTV series, 13 episodes
2014 Fat Tony & Co. Judy Moran TV miniseries, 6 episodes
2016 Upper Middle Bogan SusanTV series, 1 episode
2017 Underbelly Files: Chopper Judy Moran TV miniseries, 2 episodes

Television (as self)

YearTitleRoleNote
1969 Brian and the Juniors Regular memberTV series
1971-1975 Young Talent Time Regular team memberTV series
1972; 1975 The Graham Kennedy Show Guest performerTV series
1973Australian Popular Song Festival 1973Guest performerTV special
1973Ted Hamilton's New WaveGuest performerTV series
1974It's MagicSpecial guestTV series, episode 4
1974 The 16th TV Week Logie Awards Special guestTV special
1974Ted Hamilton's Musical WorldGuest performerTV series
1974-1975 TV Week King of Pop Guest performerTV series
1974-1976 The Ernie Sigley Show Special guestTV series
1974; 1975; 1977; 1981 Countdown Guest performerTV series, 4 episodes
1975 The 17th TV Week Logie Awards PresenterTV special
1975 The Norman Gunston Show Guest performer (singing "Da Doo Run Run")TV series
1976It's Cliff Richard & Friends (UK)Guest performer (singing "It Only Happens")TV series
1975-1976The National Record Industry AwardsGuest performerTV special
1975-1983 The Don Lane Show Guest performerTV series
1976The 1976 Australian Popular Song FestivalGuest performer (singing "There'll Never Be a Way")TV special
1976 Young Talent Time Special guestTV series
1976The National Record Industry AwardsGuest performer (singing "This Is Your City" / "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again")TV special
1976 Bandstand '76 Guest performer (singing "You Promised Me the Love")TV series
1976ErnieSpecial guestTV series
1976; 1980-1984; 1985 The Mike Walsh Show Guest performerTV series
1977 Graham Kennedy's Blankety Blanks Guest panellistTV series
1977 The Celebrity Game Guest panellistTV series
1977Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday AppealGuest performerTV special
1977Telethon '77Guest performerTV special
1977King of Pop: 1977 TV Week Australian Popular Music AwardsGuestTV special
1977Music for the People ConcertGuest performerTV special
1977Telethon: First HourGuestTV special
1977SoundcheckGuest judgeTV pilot
1977; 1979Six TonightGuestTV special, 2 episodes
1978The 1978 Australian Popular Song FestivalGuest performerTV special
1978 The Paul Hogan Show HerselfTV series, 1 episode
1978 The Saturday Show HerselfTV series, 27 episodes
1978Barry Humphries Special: Dame Edna Farewell to MelbourneGuest performerTV special
1979 Young Talent Time 8th Birthday Special GuestTV series, 1 episode
1979 Sammy Awards Presenteras Debbie Byrne
1980 Telethon '80 HerselfTV special
1980 Farnham and Byrne Host & performerTV series, 9 episodes
1981 The 21st TV Week Logie Awards Guest performer (singing "I've Got the Music in Me")TV special
1981 Young Talent Time 10th Birthday Special Guest performer (singing "I Don't Know How to Love Him")TV special
1981 Parkinson in Australia Special guestTV series
1982 Ten Eyewitness News News reportTV news program
1983 Countdown Music & Video Awards Guest performer (singing "He's a Rebel")TV special
1984-1996 The Annual Carols By Candlelight PerformerTV special
1985 Blankety Blanks Guest panellistTV game show
1985 Sounds Special guestTV series
1985Star SearchGuest performerTV series
1985-1998 The Midday Show Regular performerTV series
1985-1998 Hey Hey It's Saturday Regular performerTV series
1986 Young Talent Time 15th Birthday Spectacular Guest performer (singing "Tell Him")TV special
1986Late Night with Jono and DanoGuest performer (singing "Heroes")TV series
1986 The Two Ronnies in Australia Guest performer (singing "So Sad the Song")TV series
1986-1987Australia Day ConcertPerformerTV special
1987Have a GoGuest panellistTV series
1988The N.S.W. Royal Bicentennial ConcertGuest performer (singing "You're the Voice" and "Advance Australia Fair")TV special
1988 Young Talent Time 17th Birthday Show GuestTV series, 1 episode
1988OlympathonGuest performerTV special
1988Life Education Television AppealPresenterTV special
1989 The Bert Newton Show Regular performerTV series
1989 In Melbourne Today Guest performer (singing "Nature's Lament")TV series, 1 episode
1990; 1993 Tonight Live with Steve Vizard PerformerTV series, 2 episodes
1991 The 33rd TV Week Logie Awards PerformerTV special
1991 The Big Square Eye GuestTV series, 1 episode
1991Rugby League: First Test. Australia Vs New ZealandGuest performer (singing "Advance Australia Fair")TV special
19911991 Coca-Cola Australian Music AwardsGuestTV special
1991 Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Contestant (with Chelsea Brown & Guy Leech)TV series, 1 episode
1991; 1999 What's Cooking? GuestTV series, 2 episodes
1992 1992 ARIA Music Awards GuestTV special
1992John Farnham's 25th Anniversary SpecialHerselfTV special
1992Dancin' DynamitePerformerTV special
1992 The Main Event Special guestTV series
1992 Burke's Backyard Special guestTV series
1993Ray Martin's Top Sorts and SuperstarsPerformerTV special
1993 Getaway Special guestTV series
1993SundayGuest performerTV series
1993-1995Ernie and DeniseSpecial guestTV series
1993-2005 Good Morning Australia Guest performerTV series
1994Live It UpSpecial guestTV series
1994Kate Ceberano and FriendsGuest performer (singing "So Soon")TV special
1994ReviewGuest presenterTV series
1994Concert for RwandaGuest performer (singing "Diamond in the Rough")TV series
1994 Midday With Derryn Hinch Guest performer (singing "Nearly Home")TV series
1994Australia's Best for the Bush ConcertGuest performer (singing "Hard Times")TV special
1994Great Moments in Australian TheatrePerformerTV special
1994 AFL Today Grand Final Guest performer (singing "Advance Australia Fair")TV special
1994World Vision: Vision for a Better World AppealGuest performer (singing "So Soon")TV special
1994; 1998 Today Guest performerTV series
1995 This Is Your Life GuestTV series, 1 episode
1995 A Current Affair: The Challenge Guest performer (singing "Nearly Home")TV special (concert fundraiser for Spina Bifida)
1995 Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush Guest performerTV series
1995; 1996 Sale of the Century ContestantTV series, 3 episodes
1995; 1999Eleven AMGuestTV series, 2 episodes
1996WitnessGuestTV series
1996 This Is Your Life: The Showbiz Greats Special guestTV series
1996; 2001; 2006 Today Tonight GuestTV series
1997Oz Encounters: UFO's in AustraliaVoice & writerTV special
1997; 2006; 2010 A Current Affair GuestTV series, 3 episodes
1997; 1998 In Melbourne Tonight PerformerTV series, 2 episodes
1998; 2003; 2014 Today GuestTV series, 3 episodes
1998LawsGuestTV series
1999; 2001 Beauty and the Beast GuestTV series
1998The Mike Walsh Show YearsPerformerTV special
1998 Seven Nightly News GuestTV news program
1999; 2001DeniseGuest performerTV series, 2 episodes
1999 Rugby League NRL Grand Final Guest performer (singing "Advance Australia Fair")TV special
20012001 Royal Children's Hospital Variety GalaGuest performerTV special
2001 Young Talent Time Tells All GuestTV special
2003Love is in the AirGuestTV series, 1 episode: "She's Leaving Home"
2003 This Is Your Life: 10 Year Celebration GuestTV special
2003 Young Talent Time: The Collection HerselfDirect-to-DVD special
2005; 2006 Spicks and Specks GuestTV series
2006Studio A with Simon BurkeGuest performerTV series
2006 How the Hell Did We Get Here? GuestTV special
2006; 2011; 2012 Mornings with Kerri-Anne GuestTV series, 3 episodes
2006 9am GuestTV series
2006 Spicks & Specks: Another Specky Christmas GuestTV special
2007-2008 20 to 1 GuestTV special
2008Uncovering the Cover of CelebritiesGuestWeb series
2009Bent TVGuestWeb series
2009Wrok DownGuestTV series
2010 The 52nd TV Week Logie Awards PresenterTV special
2010PostcardsGuestTV series, 1 episode
2010 Nine News GuestTV news program
2011Love Dream BelieveGuestWeb series
2011 Helpmann Awards PresenterTV special
2012 ABC News HerselfTV news program, 1 episode
2016 Today Extra GuestTV series, 1 episode
2016 News Breakfast GuestTV series, 1 episode
2021, 2023 Studio 10 GuestTV series, 3 episodes
2021 Australian Open Tennis Guest performer (singing "I Am Woman" with Angie Hart)TV special
2023 The Morning Show GuestTV series, 1 episode

Stage

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985-1987 Cats GrizabellaAustralian Tour
1986 Jerry's Girls as HerselfAustralian Tour
1987-1990 Les Misérables FantineAustralian Tour
1995 Hot Shoe Shuffle AprilAustralian Tour
1996-1997 Sunset Boulevard Norma DesmondAustralian Tour
2003Minefields and MiniskirtsThe Nurse Malthouse Theatre
2006 Thoroughly Modern Millie Muzzie Arts Centre Melbourne
2007 Little Me Belle Portine Arts Centre Melbourne
2007 Cats Grizabella Derwent Entertainment Centre
2008 Follies Sally Durant Plummer Arts Centre Melbourne
2008High School MusicalMrs. Darbus Derwent Entertainment Centre
2009 Metro Street Sue BarnesAustralian and Asian Tour
2010-2012 Mary Poppins Bird WomanAustralian Tour
2016 Follies Carlotta CampionConcert Version
2019 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street The Beggar WomanAustralian Tour
2023 La Cage Aux Folles JacquelineAustralian Tour

Cabaret

YearTitleNotes
2002Girls, Girls, GirlsWith Wendy Stapleton and Nikki Nichols
2013Last Man Standing Arts Centre Melbourne
2017TapestryWith Vika Bull

Personal life

Debra Anne Byrne was born on 30 March 1957 in Fitzroy to Norman Owen Byrne (born ca. 1928 2014) and Verna Alice née Reid (ca. 1930 1980). [1] :2,10 She was the fifth of six children, her siblings are Lynda (died 2002), Cheryl, Sandra (died 1970), Peter and Robyn. [1] :2,63 She also has a younger half sister, Rebecca. Norman worked as an engineering foreman; he became violent when drunk. [1] :2–18 [37] According to Byrne she was sexually abused by her maternal grandfather, Ken Reid, from a young age until 13. [1] :55–58,344 [37] In 1993 Byrne dropped the usage of "Debbie" as her first name. [38]

During her stint in Young Talent Time Byrne had a sexual relationship with "Michael", an on-set boom-camera operator: she was under-age and he was more than ten years older. [1] :68–102 [39] She later recalled, "I didn't feel protected at all. The attitude was, 'It's over now, it's finished', but this was personal and embarrassing and humiliating and distressing ... Parents need to be aware that even now, with the best protections in place, there's going to be someone who cares more for the product than the child. No law can change that." [39]

In February 1975 she was hospitalised due to "a nervous collapse brought on by a strenuous touring campaign." [40] Her support slot on a tour for United States singer, Gene Pitney, was taken up by Samantha Sang. [40] Byrne described how "I was drinking, smoking, barely eating, and spending a lot of time in hotel rooms fighting anxiety and depression." [1] :132

By October 1978 Byrne was married to David John Dudley (born ca. 1956) and the couple lived in Elwood. [1] :132,148 In that month the pair were cleared of drugs charges; Byrne declared that "she knew of some entertainers who had 'come to grief' by being associated with drugs. She had been to one or two parties where drugs were being used but she did not mix with that section of the entertainment industry." [41] Later she recalled meeting Dudley at a party where her "latest boyfriend was an everyday dope smoker and I loved the freedom the drug gave me." [1] :132 They had a daughter together, Arja. Her marriage to Dudley broke-up in 1980 and her mother died in that year. [42]

Debra gave birth to her second daughter, Lauren, who was fathered by director Chris Webb.

During 1987 while rehearsing for her role of Fantine in the Australian theatre production of Les Misérables , Byrne met fellow actor, Neil Melville. [43] By June 1989 the couple were planning their wedding. [44] Byrne and Melville separated in November 1996 and later divorced. [45]

Byrne's performances as Norma Desmond on Sunset Boulevard from October 1996 to June 1997 were interrupted by "her frequent and sudden absences from the show [which] were partially blamed for the show's lack of success" despite "great critical notices." [46] She had attempted suicide late in 1997 and was being treated by a psychiatrist to feel "more focused and driven than ever before." [46] She was diagnosed with clinical depression and undertook a course of prescription medication. [46] In March 1998 she told Peter Ford of Playbill that "Nobody ever bothered to investigate if that was my major problem, when finally I had a label for my troubles it was a great relief." [46]

Byrne was the domestic partner of French musician, Ced Le Meledo, with whom she collaborated on the live show, Paris-Melbourne. They had one daughter together, Lucille Le Meledo (b. 12 July 2000). The couple separated in 2006. Her daughter eventually made her theatrical debut in 2011 as the title role in Annie.

[47] In that same year her autobiography, Not Quite Ripe: A Memoir, was released and described by her publisher as "the real story of her gritty, sometimes perilous existence as she chased her career, became addicted to heroin and finally rehabilitated herself". [23]

As of 2019, she lives in Melbourne with her daughter Lucille and two of her grandsons whom she has custody of.

Discography

Studio albums

Cast Recording and Soundtrack Appearances

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

YearNominee / workAwardResult
1992 Caught in the Act Best Adult Contemporary Album Nominated

King of Pop Awards

The King of Pop Awards were voted by the readers of TV Week. The King of Pop award started in 1967 and ran through to 1978. [48]

YearNominee / workAwardResult
1974herselfQueen of PopWon
1975herselfQueen of PopWon

Logie Awards

The Logie Awards (officially the TV Week Logie Awards) is an annual gathering to celebrate Australian television, sponsored and organised by magazine TV Week, with the first ceremony in 1959. The awards represent both public and industry voted awards.

YearNominee / workAwardResult
1974 [49] herselfBest Teenage PersonalityWon
1975 [50] herselfBest Teenage PersonalityWon

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Byrne won three awards in that time. [51]

YearNominee / workAwardResult (wins only)
1985Debbie ByrneFemale Vocal Entertainer of the YearWon
1988Debbie ByrneFemale Musical Theatre Performer of the YearWon
1989Debbie ByrneFemale Musical Theatre Performer of the YearWon

Other awards

Bibliography

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Lee (dancer)</span> Australian dancer and actor

Matt Lee is an Australian dancer and actor. He has starred in Bootmen, We Will Rock You, Rent, Grease, and Mary Poppins for which he won a Helpmann Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He was a motion capture principal for the Oscar winning film Happy Feet where he brought to life the loveable tap dancing penguin Mumble. He has choreographed for, and worked alongside Paula Abdul, Ricky Martin, Human Nature, Samantha Jade, Hilary Duff and Christine Anu. He was also a judge and choreographer for So You Think You Can Dance.

Elaine McKenna Evans, was an Australian singer and actress. She is known for her television appearances from the late 1950s to the 1960s, particularly on GTV-9's Tarax Show and In Melbourne Tonight. For her TV work, McKenna won the Logie Award for Best Singer in 1961. McKenna relocated to the United States in late 1961. She appeared on The Bob Newhart Show in that year. By February 1968 she had returned to Melbourne.

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