Having a natural affinity with performing, Dannii Minogue has crossed television, stage, theatre and film since the age of seven, performing professionally now for over 30 years. Currently starring in the fourth series of the smash-hit television phenomenon Australia’s Got Talent, alongside Brian McFadden and Kyle Sandilands, Dannii remains the show’s most beloved – and only original – judge. Simultaneously Dannii has enjoyed a hat-trick of seasons atop the UK’s highest-rated television programme The X Factor. Further-more, Dannii stars as the new-face in the UK’s Marks and Spencer TV and print Spring/Summer advertising campaign. Eagerly anticipated is a creative fashion venture of her own – ‘Project D by Dannii and Tabitha’ - which Dannii has lovingly co-designed with British talent Tabitha Somerset-Webb. Their forthcoming capsule collection, inspired by a mutual friendship and love of fashion, will be launched in June 2010. To follow soon after in September 2010 Project D by Danniii and Tabitha will launch its first signature fragrance.
It was in 2007 that Dannii decided to flip the coin and step off the stage and into the judge’s chair, launching Australia’s Got Talent. It wasn’t long before Simon Cowell snapped up the Aussie princess to judge and mentor on UK’s The X Factor. Last year’s sixth series (Dannii’s third) went on to become the most successful year ever. With an incredible final audience peaking at 19.2 million viewers, The X Factor maintained its most popular show crown and won a National TV Award for ‘Best Entertainment Show’ in January 2010.
There is no disputing this Australian beauty really does have an eye for spotting new talent across the world. In the last 18 months alone Dannii has been named ‘Ultimate Television Personality’, ‘Celebrity of the Year’, ‘TV Personality of the Year’ and ‘Britain’s Favourite X Factor Judge’. A latter-day cover star of the Sunday Times’ Style, she has also been crowned one of the world’s most impeccably dressed women (No 5) by fashion bible Vogue and the sixth best dressed in the world by readers of Glamour. Likewise, in February of this year, Dannii was bestowed with the ‘Best TV Star’ accolade at the prestigious Elle Style Awards in London - chosen by readers and presented to her by sister Kylie.
With her background in live family entertainment TV, some of Dannii’s favourite career moments are recently hosting ITV1’s prime-time special, Ultimate Movie Toons (2010), presenting The Lion King special for Disney (1995) and hosting the most recent UK Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards (2008). The KCAs received rave reviews and a 60% increase in audience figures. Following the ‘soggy-celebrity-footsteps’ of Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz, Dannii survived and giggled her way through the shower of slime. So impressed was the President of Nickelodeon U.S., Cyma Zarghami, that she requested Dannii lecture with her at a members only event at the British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA).
Very few experience the success and longevity in the entertainment industry that Dannii has. Thirty-one years ago she began her career on the iconic Australian television drama series Skyways and The Sullivan's, but became a house-hold-name for her role in the most loved prime-time variety show Young Talent Time – the Australian equivalent of Disney’s Mickey Mouse Club. Her popularity, combined with six years of prime time live TV every week, paved the way to a successful solo recording career. ¬Dannii continued to star in Australian network dramas before joining the internationally successful soap opera Home and Away, where she played the rebellious Emma Jackson throughout 1989. This was followed by the feature film Secrets (1992), opposite Shine’s Noah Taylor, and most recently the UK short film, The Porter (2005), with Max Beesley and Brian Ferry.
Dannii’s theatre and musical credits include her all time favourite movie character ‘Rizzo’ in Australia’s production of Grease - The Arena Spectacular, playing to more than 450,000 in its first season. Next came the role of Lady Macbeth in a special outdoors adaptation of Macbeth for the Edinburgh Festival. Another triumph saw Dannii play leading role ‘Esmeralda’ for five sell-out months in Notre Dame De Paris at London’s prestigious Dominion Theatre. It was here that Dannii picked up the award for ‘Best Stage Performance’, playing to a 2,000 strong audience, seven times a week.
As one of Australia’s biggest female exports, Dannii is no stranger to the music charts. The million-selling artist owns an anthology of 21 smash-hit singles and five studio albums. In 1990 the then pop starlet released her Top 10 debut single Love and Kisses and Top 10 debut album, simply titled Dannii. A string of Top 10 chart hits followed internationally including Jump To The Beat, This Is It, Put The Needle On It, I Begin To Wonder and You Won’t Forget About Me. Dannii proudly holds the music title 'Queen of the Clubs' after scoring a record-breaking 11 Number One club hits in the UK; more than any other female artist in the world, ever. This achievement began in 1997 with the Xenomania chart-topper All I Wanna Do. The dance music hits continued when the legendary Pete Tong approached Ms Minogue to record the international hit Who Do You Love Now? in 2001. Madonna then sealed Dannii's place at the top in 2003 with Don’t Wanna Lose This Groove; a bootleg of Into The Groove and Don’t Wanna Lose This Feeling. This was the first time Madonna had ever given permission to any artist to use her material. In total, Dannii’s music has earned her more than 200 weeks – virtually four years – on the official UK sales chart. She is currently hanging with her music idols Freemasons, (and learning how to DJ from her friend), and international DJ Gods, Carl Cox and Roger Sanchez.
From cutting individual and iconic sounds for our dance-floors, Dannii sliced up British radio by creating her own music show called Neon Nights for London’s Capital Radio. Her show followed the official chart show and was the first radio show to ever be sold by the Radio network internationally. She expanded her radio skills last year by co-hosting the Kyle & Jackie Breakfast Show for two weeks on Sydney’s top rating breakfast show on 2DayFM.
Outside the world of showbiz, Dannii continues her charity work as ‘Ambassador for Young People’ with the Terrance Higgins Trust; the UK’s leading HIV and AIDS charity. She also accepted Olivia Newton-John’s personal invitation to become an Ambassador for the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre Appeal. The charity is raising money to replace the old cancer wards of the Austin Hospital in Melbourne with a brand new building to be named the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre.
Following Dannii’s heart-warming appearance on Pier’s Morgan Life Stories, Dannii’s long awaited debut autobiography, published by Simon and Schuster, will be released in October. Personal, contemplative and passionate, it marks a brave and exciting phase for both artist and audience.
Recent Quotes:
“One of the world’s Best Dressed Women’ – Vogue
“It’s all about Dannii” – Sunday Times Style
“Our favourite Judge. Dannii is always working a sophisticated brand of glamour’ – Heat Magazine
“X Factor best dressed judge” – Grazia
“D is for delicious Dannii, there is an edgy side to this Minogue sister’ – Glamour
“The Star Attraction” – The Guardian
“Divine Ms M” – Herald Sun
"Funny, feisty, friendly and oozes star quality" - Cosmopolitan Magazine
"The X Factor's glamour puss" - The Daily Mail
“Dannii Minogue really kicked our ass!” - Simon Cowell
“The most aroused I’ve been since the Godfather of soul, James Brown” – Howard Stern
“Enough to make a man Minogue-amous” – Billy Connolly
“Dannii has a stranglehold on the dancefloor” – Billboard Magazine (US)
Recent Awards:
‘Best TV Star’ – Elle Style Awards 2010 (UK)
‘Ultimate TV Personality’ – Cosmopolitan magazine 2009 (UK)
‘Favourite Judge’ – by readers of OK! Magazine 2009 (UK)
‘Celeb of the Year’ – by readers of Metro newspaper 2008 (UK)
‘TV Personality of the Year’ – by readers of Glamour magazine 2008 (UK)
‘Party of Sydney’s Rosemount International Fashion Week’ – where Dannii performed for
M.A.C Cosmetics Gold Fever Party in 2008 - Harper’s Bazaar (Australia)
'Queen of the Clubs' – Popjustice (UK)
