Who is Claire Healy?
Claire Healy is a bespectacled, bicycling, cheese enthusiast by day, and a gin-soaked, sequined cabaret anti-diva by night. (Though, as a true Hufflepuff, she is sometimes a bespectacled cheese enthusiast at night as well, because cheese is very important). She also feels uncomfortable talking about herself in the third person…
What would you do differently to what you do now?
No regrets! (Increase my fancy cheese budget perhaps?)
Who inspires you and why?
All of the kick-ass women in my life taking risks, having adventures, fighting for their beliefs, and giving zero f*cks. They are a constant source of joy and inspiration.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Try to make people smile more. For a while this manifested itself by me smiling enthusiastically at strangers in the street. They either thought I was hitting on them or that I was a dangerous weirdo, so now I do it through song. It was a positive change.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
I’m not very good at holidays… I need activities. However, I once worked as a ukulele and singing teacher at a holistic resort on the Greek Island Skyros, where I taught a beautiful bunch of people for three hours a day, ate my bodyweight in amazing Greek food, then bobbed around the ocean for a bit. Not too shabby…
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
Breakfast. The most attractive thing about Melbourne is definitely breakfast. (I’m really fixating on the food thing, aren’t I? I STAND BY MY CHOICE)
What are you currently reading?
I could lie and say I’m reading some heavy intellectual literature… but in truth I’m spending some quality time with Harry Potter. It’s been a while.
What are you currently listening to?
There’s nothing like a bit of Aretha to crank up to full volume and dance around the house to. TAKE OUT TCP. (No. I still don’t know what she’s going on about there…) Also a bit of Ben Folds and Regina Spektor. Pianos make me feel all of the feelings.
Happiness is?
A good old riotous cabaret singalong. This is followed closely by a hot bath with a gin and a good book. I’m pretty hardcore.
What does the future hold for you?
My life ambition is to: 1. Win the Eurovision Song Contest, and 2. Get a PhD. For now, I’ll settle for some more adventures, and spreading the joy of misbehaving a little and giving zero f*cks. Through song. Obviously!
Claire will present her cabaret, Impure Thoughts at the Melba Spiegeltent: 7 – 9 December 2017. For more information, visit: www.clairehealy.com.au for details.
Image: Claire Healy – photo by James Penlidis