COLLEEN HEWETT

Beginning her career four decades ago at a very, very young age in the central Victorian Gold mining town of Bendigo, Colleen Hewett has been professionally singing and acting ever since. At the age of six years, when Colleen saw television for the first time, she knew that she was going to be a part of it in some way. This insight proved accurate when, at the age of 12, she performed publicly for the first time at the YMCA in Bendigo with The Esquires.

In the ‘60s Colleen toured throughout Australia , singing with the Laurie Allen Revue. 1970 Colleen released her first single Superstar and her album Colleen Hewett. Colleen was cast in ‘Godspell' (performed at the original Playbox Theatre in Melbourne) and achieved a Gold record with Day by Day, her song from the show.

These successes led to Colleen being crowned Queen of Pop two years running. She then went on to take roles in ‘Pippin' and the widely acclaimed rock opera, ‘Tommy'. Whilst performing in ‘Pippin', Colleen and her co-star, John Farnham , were also hosting a variety show ‘It's Magic' for the O/10 Network. The television show was recorded at the Nunawading studios during the day and Colleen and John would then travel to the theatre for the evening performances of ‘Pippin'. Later Colleen also performed in the stage musical, ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet'.

Whilst her music career was soaring throughout the ‘70s, she was also busy acting in the TV dramas of the day including ‘Homicide', ‘Matlock Police', ‘Truckies', ‘Carson's Law', ‘Division 4', ‘Young Ramsay', ‘Cop Shop', ‘Prisoner' and ‘Flying Doctors'. Whilst performing in ‘Truckies' Colleen became pregnant with her first child and eventually the pregnancy was written into the script. Many of these television programs were released worldwide.

Colleen achieved two more gold records for ‘Dreaming My Dreams with You' and for her much acclaimed version of ‘Wind Beneath My Wings'. More television roles followed in ‘Half Way Across the Galaxy and Turn Left' , (worldwide release), ‘Shadows of the Heart' and the highly successful Australian series, ‘Ocean Girl' (also worldwide release).

Colleen also hosted a breakfast radio program in Melbourne. Colleen's career has been busy and exciting and has afforded her many opportunities. ‘Each of us is given certain skills in our life, and it is up to us to make the best of them. I believe that I have always made the most of my singing. There is nothing in my career, or life in general, that I regret.' Colleen observes: ‘I am learning every day. I have similar challenges to other women of my age and I am determined to meet them head on. There is no point in looking back.'

For the past six years Colleen has stood back from the limelight enjoying a ‘semi-retirement'. She has spent her time in Melbourne, Bendigo and Fiji and has enjoyed the company of her three children, her family and her friends. She has been waiting for the right opportunity to return to the stage and she believes this is the perfect one. In 2006 Colleen was invited to star in The Boy from Oz. She played the role of Peter Allen’s mother, Marion, opposite Hugh Jackman. The show toured Australia with over 40 sell-out shows during which she received rave reviews.

Colleen has fond memories of Johnny O’Keefe’s generosity and is delighted to be invited to play his mother Thelma in the new production of SHOUT!

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