On the Couch with Brenda Clarke

Brenda ClarkeWho is Brenda Clarke?
“Who am I? I’m 2460 ONE!” Not really, just kidding. I am an actress, singer, presenter and voice artist, always on the look out for a gig.

What would you do differently to what you do now?
Not much really, eat less and exercise more I suppose.  I still work hard, try to keep learning new things to keep my creative juices flowing.  I took myself off to USA and did a film production course and earlier this year recorded my first solo CD.

Who inspires you and why?
Lynda La Plante, what a dynamo of a woman.  Started out as an actress and as she matured the worked dropped off so she started writing, then producing.  What a talent and what a hard worker.

What would you do to make a difference in the world?
The world starts in my own back yard, so I try to be a kind and generous person to those around me.  Little things like that.  If I had access to the finance I would start up an biodiesel fuel plant produced from canola oil!

Favourite holiday destination and why?
I love travelling O.S. Europe, Canada, USA, England, but I always love Visiting Port Douglas for at least a week to recover after these long haul trips.  Walks on the beach, snorkelling The Great Barrier Reef and good food, can’t go wrong.

When friends come to town what attractions to you take them to and why?
As I live in the Hepburn Shire it’s usually to a good restaurant or I cook up a storm at home as I love entertaining.  If the weather is good see if I can get them out on the lake in my canoe and have a picnic.

What are you currently reading?
Calamity Jane, The Woman and The Legend and About 4 biography’s on Ethel Merman!

What are you currently listening too?
Pink’s The Truth About Love – saw her at Rod Laver and thought she was terrific!

Happiness Is?
Having a loving partner and a little doggie to come home to.  It would be nice to be in a big musical production or feature film too of course!

What does the future hold for you?
. . . Arr. . .Um . . . Could be Who knows?
There’s something due any day
I will know right away
Soon as it shows
It may come cannonballin’ down through the sky
Gleam in its eye
Bright as a rose!
Who knows?
It’s only just out of reach
Down the block, on a beach
Under a tree
I got a feeling there’s a miracle due
Gonna come true
Coming to me
Could it be?
Yes it could
Something’s coming
Something good
If I can wait
Something’s coming I don’t know what it is
But it is Gonna be great!

Brenda Clarke is an entertainer who works in Film, Television and Theatre both in Australia and England. She has appeared in Short Films, many TV programmes and comedy shows as well as very successful TV series; Winners & Losers,  Neighbours and Prisoner. Brenda also landed a role in the West End and National UK Tour of Prisoner Cell Block H.

Her talents have lead her to work in various forms of entertainment from Theatre Restaurants, Cabaret, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Melbourne Midsumma Festival and the popular English Christmas Entertainment-Pantomime, where she played The Good Fairy at the Belfast Opera House.

She has played leading roles such as “Maria” in the Australian production of The Sound of Music, to character roles such as “Grandma” in the highly popular children’s show, My Grandma Lived In Gooligulch.  Other musical credits include: Mame, Kiss Me Kate, The Wizard of Oz, Nunsense, Get Happy and her own production Perfectly Porter.

Brenda had the opportunity of working with Stephen Sondheim when she participated in part of the Musical Writers Workshop at Oxford University, England, which was set up by Cameron Mackintosh for up and coming musical theatre composers.

Brenda recently recorded her first CD of American Song Book Composers; George & Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Harold Arlen and Cole Porter. For more information, visit: www.brenda-clarke.com for details.

Image: Brenda Clarke