Aussie actor turns singer

Muriel's Wedding star Toni Collette actually began her career as a singer, making an appearance on the ABC show 'Blah Blah Blah' in 1988.

Sep 22 2004

Collette actually began her career as a singer, making an appearance on the ABC show 'Blah Blah Blah' in 1988, at the age of 16. On the show she accompanied herself on the piano while singing: 'I miss your pathetic little face, I miss your routines, tired-out feet, I miss that hopeless little smile, your underwhelming style. And the stubble on your chin…'

At 31, she's been penning her own music for the past 10 years and now 'wants to get it out,' she says. She's also obviously afraid of the usual comments made about actors-turned-singers. But she needn't worry if her music is as credible as her acting. The greatest shame will be if she gives up acting altogether. Whereas Kylie's forays on to the big screen aren't exactly missed (anyone remember The Delinquents?), Toni Collette has appeared in some little gems, such as Muriel's Wedding and Japanese Story as well as The Sixth Sense. Unfortunately she recently appeared in the flop Connie And Carla as an all-singing-all-dancing, non-drag, drag queen type thing. Not the best way to introduce your public to a new creative pursuit.

Luckily there are a couple of films (In Her Shoes, by LA Confidential director Curtis Hanson and The Last Shot, co-starring Alec Baldwin) coming out soon that will keep up her film profile while she tries out the new career.