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Danielle Jane Minogue was born
October 20, 1971, in Melbourne, Australia. Her mother Carol is a former
ballet dancer, her father's name is Ron, and her sister is none other than
pop sensation Kylie Minogue. Dannii and Kylie also have a brother Brendan,
who is a TV cameraman.
Dannii may be the youngest of three siblings, but that doesn't mean that
she doesn't pack quite a punch. Starting with dancing and singing lessons
at an early age, Dannii finally landed a role in the Australian television
series, Skyways in 1978. She then appeared on The Sullivans later that
year, after her sister Kylie won a role on the show.
Dannii hit it big with her appearance as "Talent Discovery" on the popular
Australian show that showcased talent, Young Talent Time. In 1982, she
officially joined the cast of the variety show, which also featured singer
Tina Arena. The young singer finally had a chance to show off her vocal
chords after her cover of Madonna's "Material Girl", featured on the Young
Talent Time album entitled, Now and Then. Then in 1987, a follow-up Young
Talent Time album was released, with 2 more Dannii solo covers: "Final
Countdown" and "Let's Go."
In 1988, after her 6-year run on YTT, Dannii left to embark on new waters:
a role on the '60s set series, All the Way, and the international variety
show New Generation. That same year, Dannii set foot onto a whole new
territory; since she designed some of her own Talent Time outfits, her
obvious flare for fashion encouraged her to release her own line of
clothing, appropriately named DANNII, which sold out of stores after 10
days.
After signing with Australia's Mushroom Records, Dannii finally released
her debut single as a solo artist, "Love and Kisses." As if being
nominated the "Most Popular Female TV Personality" at the 1989 Logie
Awards and the Variety Club of Australia's "Young Variety Award" for her
role as Emma Jackson on Home & Away weren't enough, Dannii's "Love and
Kisses" surpassed Gold status, selling 60,000 units.
At the start of 1990, Dannii left Home & Away, to concentrate on her
blossoming music career. Her second single, "Success" was released, and as
life imitates art, her debut album Love and Kisses became a chart-topper.
The album spawned the hits "I Don't Wanna Take This Pain" and "Jump to the
Beat."
In 1992, Dannii enjoyed another hit single with "Love's On Every Corner"
as well as the release of the film she starred in, Secrets. When "This Is
It" entered the UK charts at number 10 in 1993, which officially made the
Minogue sisters the most successful ones on the British charts. That same
year, her second album, Get Into You was released, spawning the title
track and "This Is The Way."
Dannii returned to television for a brief period as the host of the UK
morning show, The Big Breakfast, making her mark in television as well.
She also made guest-appearances on Top of the Pops and Electric Circus.
The rest of the '90s were marked by posing for Playboy; the launch of
Dannii's new fashion line in the UK's Choice Catalogue; and on a personal
note, her marriage and subsequent divorce to Julian McMahon.
In 1997, Dannii's mega-hit single, "All I Wanna Do" was released (not to
be mistaken for Sheryl Crow's infectious tune of the same name), followed
by "Everything I Wanted" and "Disremembrance."
The Singles album was released in Australia in April 1999, the same year
that Danni graced the stage in a theatre production of MacBeth, at the
Edinburgh Festival.
When not singing, acting, or designing clothes, Dannii supports charities
such as The Lighthouse Foundation (AIDS Charity) and the Young Homeless.
As for her love life, Dannii enjoys love in the fast lane with her fiancé,
Formula One racer Jacques Villeneuve. |
