Christine Anu

Christine Anu

Christine Anu in 2007
Background information
Born (1970-03-15) 15 March 1970
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Origin Torres Strait Islander
Genres Pop
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, actress
Years active 1993–present
Labels Independent
Website christineanu.com.au

Christine Anu (born 15 March 1970) is an Australian pop singer and actress. She gained popularity with the release of her song "My Island Home". Anu has been nominated for 17 ARIA Awards.[1]

Biography

Early life

Anu was born on 15 March 1970 in Cairns, Queensland,[2] to a Torres Strait Islander mother from Saibai.[3][4]

Music career

Anu performs at the 2000 Summer Paralympics Opening Ceremony

Anu began performing as a dancer and later went on to sing back-up vocals for The Rainmakers, which included Neil Murray of the Warumpi Band. Her first recording was in 1993 with "Last Train", dance remake of a Paul Kelly song. The follow-up, "Monkey and the Turtle", was based on a traditional story. After "My Island Home", she released her first album, Stylin' Up which went platinum,[2] and also gained her a position as a spokeswoman for Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.

In 1995, Neil Murray won an Australasian Performing Right Association songwriting award for writing "My Island Home". Christine Anu won an ARIA Award for best female recording artist as well as a Deadly Sounds National Aboriginal & Islander Music Awards Award in 1996 for best female artist.

Baz Luhrmann asked her to sing on the song "Now Until the Break of Day" on his Something for Everybody album. It was released as a single and the video then won another ARIA award and led to her being cast in Moulin Rouge!.[2]

In January 1998, Anu teamed up with Archie Roach, Paul Kelly, Judith Durham, Renee Geyer, Kutcha Edwards and Tiddas and formed 'Singers for the Red Black and Gold'. Together, they released a cover of "Yil Lull"

In, 2000, Anu released Come My Way which peaked at number 18 on the ARIA albums chart and went gold.[2] In 2000 she sang the song "My Island Home" at the Sydney 2000 Olympics Closing Ceremony.[5]

In November 2003, Anu released her third studio album, 45 Degrees.

In 2007, Anu toured a children's show and released an associate album titled Chrissy's Island Family. The album gained an ARIA Award nomination.

On 26 September 2010, she released a new digital only single, "Come Home".

On 7 November 2014, Anu released a Christmas album, titled Island Christmas.[6]

Acting and TV career

Anu has also had an acting plus TV career. She appeared in Dating the Enemy, a 1996 Australian film starring Guy Pearce and Claudia Karvan. She then appeared in an Australian production of the stage musical Little Shop of Horrors in the same year.

Anu's stage career developed with a starring role in the original Australian production of Rent in 1998 and 1999. Anu was offered a role in a Broadway production of this musical but had to decline due to commitments in recording her second album. Her links with Baz Luhrmann led to him offering her a part in Moulin Rouge!. In 2003, she appeared as Kali in The Matrix Reloaded and played the character on the video game Enter the Matrix.

In 2004, she became a judge on Popstars Live, a television quest broadcast on the Seven Network at 6.30 pm on Sunday night in Australia along the lines of Australian Idol. The program failed to achieve a similar level of success, leading network executives to pressure the judges to offer harsher criticism of the contestants. Christine Anu refused to offer harsher criticism, leading to her resignation as a judge in April 2004. In a statement issued on her departure, she said: "I chose to play a positive role model and wanted to encourage these young people in their endeavours, rather than criticise them. Although leaving Popstars Live was a difficult decision for me to make, I do feel somewhat relieved that I can now focus on my music."[7]

Anu reappeared on television in 2012, in the Australian sci-fi television series Outland, about a gay sci-fi fan club. Anu plays wheelchair using Rae, the sole female member of the group. Also in 2012 she participated in Who Do You Think You Are.[8]

Radio

In 2016 Christine Anu began presenting 'Evenings' on 702 ABC Sydney, 1233 ABC Newcastle, 666 ABC Canberra, and ABC Local Radio stations across New South Wales.[9]

She took over from Dominic Knight who had presented the program since 2012. In the first half of 2016 the program suffered a dip in the ratings after she began hosting.[10][11][12]

Christine has a number of regular guests she speaks to about a range of topics.

Guest Speciality
Tatjana Clancy Music
Dr Brad McKay Health and Lifestyle
Laurence Barber Movies
Dr Peter John Chen Politics
Fred Watson Astronomy

Personal life

Anu married her childhood sweetheart, Simon Deutrom, in 2010.[13][14] Anu is a mother of two: eldest son Kuiam (born 1996), daughter Zipporah (born 2002)[2][13][15] Zipporah's father is actor Rodger Corser.[16]

In June 2016 Anu announced that she and Simon Deutrom were separating after six years of marriage.[17]

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Filmography

Films and television

List of films and television shows featuring Christine Anu
Year Title Role Notes
1996 Dating the Enemy Minor role, first feature film[18]
1998 Wildside TV guest appearance[2][19]
2001 Moulin Rouge! Dancer [2]
2003 The Matrix Reloaded Kali Also lent voice to video game Enter the Matrix[20]
2000 It's a Wiggly Wiggly World Herself The Wiggles video and album[21]
2004 Popstars Live Judge [22]
2004 Play School
2005 The Alice Valerie Episodes 1.11 and 1.13
2007 East West 101 Fiona Baker Episode "Death at the Station"
2007 Toasted TV
2009 Who Do You Think You Are? Herself Episode "Christine Anu" aired 18 October 2009[23]
2012 Outland Rae Lead role[24]
2012 Excess Baggage Herself Celebrity contestant[25]
2013 Dance Academy Summer Episode "Travelling Light"
2015 Ready for This Vee

Theatre and stage performances

List of theatre shows featuring Christine Anu[26]
Year Title Role Notes
1994 Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom
1996-97 Little Shop of Horrors Crystal David Atkins musical[19]
1998–99 Rent Mimi Stage musical[27]
2002-03 Kissing Frogs
2010 The Sapphires
2011 Rainbow's End
2013 South Pacific Bloody Mary Stage musical[28][29]
2014 Parramatta Girls
2016 Hairspray Motormouth Maybelle Arena production

Awards and nominations

ARIA Awards

Year Award[1] Work Result
1994 Best Video "Last Train" Nominated
Breakthrough Artist – Single Nominated
1995 Best Indigenous Release Stylin' Up Won
Breakthrough Artist – Album Nominated
Best Female Artist Nominated
Album of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year "Island Home" Nominated
1996 Best Indigenous Release "Come On" Won
Best Pop Release Nominated
Best Female Artist Won
1998 Best Video "Now Until the Break of Day" Won
2000 Engineer of the Year "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" Won
Best Female Artist Nominated
2001 Best Pop Release Come My Way Nominated
Best Female Artist Nominated
2007 Best Children's Album Chrissy's Island Family Nominated
2015 Best World Music Album Island Christmas Nominated

Green Room Awards

Year Award Work Result
1999 Female Artist in a Leading Role (Music Theatre) Rent Won

References

  1. 1 2 "History: Winners by Artist: Christine Anu". ARIA Awards. Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Keenan, Catherine (18 January 2003). "Frog princess". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "Christine Anu – Biography". BiggestStars.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  4. ↑ "Christine Anu". Who Do You Think You Are?. Season 2. Episode 4. 18 October 2009. 3:55 minutes in. Special Broadcasting Service. SBS One.
  5. ↑ Christine Anu's 45 Degrees. Abc.net.au. Retrieved on 12 June 2012.
  6. ↑ "Island Christmas - Christine Anu". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  7. ↑ Sydney Morning Herald article on her departure from Popstars Live. Smh.com.au (14 April 2004). Retrieved on 12 June 2012.
  8. ↑ "Season 2 episodes | Who Do You Think You Are on SBS". Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  9. ↑ Bodey, Michael (4 December 2015). "Wendy Harmer to replace Linda Mottram on 702 ABC Sydney". The Australian. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  10. ↑ Bodey, Michael (31 May 2016). "Radio ratings: Sydney stable amid Melbourne moves". The Australian. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  11. ↑ "Sydney Radio Survey 4, 2016" (PDF).
  12. ↑ "Sydney Radio Survey 3, 2016" (PDF).
  13. 1 2 "Christine Anu". Ngarralinyi 2TLP Community Indigenous Radio. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  14. ↑ "Christine Anu: My Facebook wedding". New Idea. 15 November 2010. Archived from the original on 29 November 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "Christine Anu". Essential Baby. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  16. ↑ "Rush star Rodger Corser and Renae Berry expecting first child together". Herald Sun. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  17. ↑ "'With great sadness we confirm we have separated:' Christine Anu announces split from childhood sweetheart Simon Deutrom after six years of marriage". Daily Mail. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  18. ↑ "Catching up with Christine Anu". Deadly Vibe. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  19. 1 2 "Gig of the week: Christine Anu". Sea Cliff Coast. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  20. ↑ Screen World - John Willis - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  21. ↑ "WIGGLES, THE: IT'S A WIGGLY WIGGLY WORLD | Roadshow Entertainment". Roadshow.co.nz. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  22. ↑ "Anu: Why I quit - TvRadio". www.smh.com.au. 14 April 2004. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  23. ↑ http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/whodoyouthinkyouare/episodes/detail/episode/1667/season/2
  24. ↑ Vickery, Colin (31 January 2012). "Excess Baggage's Christine Anu ready to star in ABC sitcom Outland". News.com.au. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  25. ↑ "Christine Anu". Channelnine.ninemsn.com.au. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  26. ↑ "Christine Anu". www.ausstage.edu.au. AusStage. Retrieved 2016-08-22.
  27. ↑ "Australia's Rent Premieres in Sydney Nov. 4". Playbill.com. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  28. ↑ Words By Robert Dunstan. "South Pacific Music - Festival Theatre Adelaide". Ripitup.com.au. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  29. ↑ "Christine Anu: The New Bloody Mary". Stage Whispers. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2014.

External links

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