by David Levin, MSN Entertainment |  |
The Making of Dannii Minogue
Dannii Minogue has been in showbiz since she was seven. But it’s only now, as she turns 38, that her career has finally hit the stratosphere. Kylie’s little sister definitely has the X factor…
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Child star - ‘Kylie who?’
Dannii was acting in Aussie soaps from the age of seven. But it was the variety show Young Talent Time that made her a household name Down Under. Dannii was one of a group of talented teenagers who sang and danced their way through cover versions of top 40 hits each Saturday night, in a timeslot not dissimilar to The X Factor, alongside fellow Aussie child stars such as Tina Arena.
Dannii was acting in Aussie soaps from the age of seven. But it was the variety show Young Talent Time that made her a household name Down Under. Dannii was one of a group of talented teenagers who sang and danced their way through cover versions of top 40 hits each Saturday night, in a timeslot not dissimilar to The X Factor, alongside fellow Aussie child stars such as Tina Arena.
Unlike the likes of Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan, Dannii managed not to be affected by the craziness of child stardom. “I was lucky,” she recalls. “It was something I wanted to do and I got the chance. They [Dannii’ parents] supported me and drove me to rehearsals; I got to do what I loved. You have to go case by case on whether it is right for children to be performing.”
Minogue vs Minogue
Dannii left the show aged 17 and signed a solo record deal. Her debut album, Love and Kisses, went top 10 in Australia and the UK. Meanwhile, big sister Kylie’s star was rising – she quit Neighbours in 1987 and topped charts across the world with I Should Be So Lucky and her debut album, Kylie. For the first time in Dannii’s life, her sister was more famous than she was.
Dannii left the show aged 17 and signed a solo record deal. Her debut album, Love and Kisses, went top 10 in Australia and the UK. Meanwhile, big sister Kylie’s star was rising – she quit Neighbours in 1987 and topped charts across the world with I Should Be So Lucky and her debut album, Kylie. For the first time in Dannii’s life, her sister was more famous than she was.
Her second album bombed, but Dannii bounced back to play a troubled schoolgirl in Home and Away. She won an acting award for the role but ditched the show in 1990 after 12 months for the bright lights of Britain…
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The Brit factor
Around this time, Dannii’s personal life was in a shambles. She married Australian actor Julian McMahon (best known for his starring role in Nip/Tuck), in January 1994. But the ambitious star spent most of the marriage pursuing her career in London; McMahon did the same in Los Angeles, and they divorced less than two years later. She has since called the divorce “her greatest regret”.
Dannii ‘celebrated’ her divorce by posing nude for Playboy in 1995. She explained her decision to The Independent: “Just had a marriage break-up. Most women go to the hairdressers – I did Playboy. I chose the photographer, the location, what I did or didn't want to wear and everything else about the pictures. I found it a really liberating, empowering experience.”
In Kylie’s shadow – ‘Dannii who?’
By now, both Kylie and Dannii were living full time in London, and both working on solo singing careers. We know how that turned out – Kylie has sold over 40 million albums worldwide; Dannii’s success was largely contained to the dance charts (although that may change though when she releases new material next year).
By now, both Kylie and Dannii were living full time in London, and both working on solo singing careers. We know how that turned out – Kylie has sold over 40 million albums worldwide; Dannii’s success was largely contained to the dance charts (although that may change though when she releases new material next year).
Being singers and sisters led to the inevitable reports of sibling rivalry in the British tabloid press; a claim which they have always denied. “I don't compare myself with my sister,” Dannii told The Guardian in 2008. “I've wanted to have a private relationship with her and so it was always hard to explain and say to someone that just because you don't see us together it doesn't mean that we are not together. It's been interesting how people's opinions of that have changed over the past few years.”
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She’s got the X Factor
Dannii was appearing as a judge on Australia's Got Talent in 2007 when Simon saw a video of the show and decided to offer her the chance to be the fourth judge on X Factor.
Dannii was appearing as a judge on Australia's Got Talent in 2007 when Simon saw a video of the show and decided to offer her the chance to be the fourth judge on X Factor.
But Dannii’s first year was fraught with highs and lows – she won the competition with Leon Jackson (remember him?), but her success was marred by a personality clash with Sharon Osbourne. “When you had Sharon appearing on Graham Norton's TV show talking about her hatred for me, and then I had to face her at work the next day, it was really hard,” Dannii said of the feud. “The arguing really rocked Louis as well. He was upset because Sharon was. He was a really good friend of hers and sided with her.”
Of course, we know now that Sharon quit the show and was replaced by Cheryl Cole. Dannii has since patched things up with Louis and has publicly said she is much happier this year. Add to that a killer haircut and a happy personal life (thanks to her boyfriend of 18 months, rugby player and model Kris Smith) and Dannii is happier than ever.
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Next stop, America?
Dannii recently signed with the biggest celebrity agency in Hollywood, William Morris Endeavour. She’s in good hands; the agency also guides the careers of A-listers Matt Damon and Charlize Theron, among others, and is keen to find the Minogue sister presenting or acting jobs.
Dannii recently signed with the biggest celebrity agency in Hollywood, William Morris Endeavour. She’s in good hands; the agency also guides the careers of A-listers Matt Damon and Charlize Theron, among others, and is keen to find the Minogue sister presenting or acting jobs.
"This is the first chance Dannii has had to talk through her options with her American representatives," a source close to the star told the Mirror. "She is big in the UK and Australia, and she feels ready to try and make it in America. And there are a couple of presenting and acting jobs her US agents have in mind.
“Cheryl, Kylie and her boyfriend Kris Smith have all been encouraging Dannii to go for it,” the source continued. “Working with Simon has opened some doors for Dannii but it may come back to bite him on the bum." Hands off America; Dannii’s ours!
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