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Debra Byrne
Debra with her daughter Lucille in 2012
Born
Debra Anne Byrne

(1957-03-30) 30 March 1957 (age 66)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Occupations
  • actress
  • singer
  • producer
  • variety entertainer
  • writer
  • choreographer
Years active1969-present
Spouses
  • David Dudley (m. 1977 – d. 1980)
  • Neil Melville (m. 1989 – d. 1997)
Partner
  • Ced Le Meledo (c. 1999–2006)
Children3 (including Lucille Le Meledo)

Debra Anne Byrne (born 30 March 1957), formerly billed as Debbie Byrne, is an Australian pop singer, variety entertainer, theatre and TV actress and writer, director and choreographer of cabaret. From April 1971 to March 1975 she was a founding cast member of Young Talent Time. She started her solo singing career with a cover version of " He's a Rebel" (March 1974), which peaked at No. 25 on the Go-Set Australian Singles chart. At the Logie Awards of 1974 she won Best Teenage Personality and followed with the Queen of Pop Award in October – both ceremonies were sponsored by TV Week. She repeated both wins in the following year.

As a stage actress Byrne appeared in the Australian musical theatre versions of Cats (July 1985 to mid-1987), Les Misérables (November 1987 to May 1988, December 1989 to June 1990) and Sunset Boulevard (October 1996 to June 1997). Her solo album, Caught in the Act (April 1991), peaked at No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified gold. In 2006 Byrne published her autobiography, Not Quite Ripe: A Memoir.

Career

Early career as pop singer

In 1969 Debra "Debbie" Byrne made her television debut on Brian and the Juniors, a children's variety and talent quest, which was hosted by newsreader Brian Naylor. [1]: 25  [2] She stayed with the show for 12 months until it finished late in 1970. In April 1971 she became an original cast member on Young Talent Time, another children's talent quest, which was hosted by Johnny Young. [1]: 48–50  [3] Byrne proved to be a popular cast member: in March 1974 she won the Logie Award for Best Teenage Personality and the TV Week Queen of Pop Award in October. [4] [5]

In March 1974, before leaving the Young Talent Time regular cast, Byrne released her first solo single, " He's a Rebel", a cover version of the Phil Spector-produced 1962 hit by the Crystals. [4] [6] It peaked at No. 25 on the Go-Set Top 40 Australian Singles chart, [7] and reached No. 1 on the Melbourne charts. [4] Her debut album, She's a Rebel (1974), was produced by Young, with session musicians including Russell Dunlop on drums (ex-Aesops Fables, SCRA, Renée Geyer and Mother Earth, Johnny Rocco Band), Tim Partridge on bass guitar ( Company Caine, Mighty Kong, Kevin Borich Express), Mark Punch on guitar (Johnny Rocco Band, Renée Geyer Band) and Terry Walker on guitar and backing vocals ( the Strangers, Pastoral Symphony). [8]

Byrne's follow-up single was a second Crystals cover, " Da Doo Ron Ron" (January 1975), backed by the track, "Boogie Man". [4] In that year she won both the Logie Award for Best Teenage Personality and the TV Week Queen of Pop Award for a second time. [4] [9] In September 1975 Byrne travelled to London to record at Abbey Road Studios with Cliff Richard producing. While in London, she made public and TV appearances, including on The Cliff Richard Show. [4]

Byrne's first Australian television guest appearance as a featured solo artist was on The Graham Kennedy Show at the age of fifteen. Since then she has made a guest appearance on every major Australian Tonight show and was a regular performer on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) series, The Saturday Show. In 1978 she merged singing with acting for the first time on the ABC's Follies series. From August 1980 Byrne co-starred alongside John Farnham in their own series, Farnham and Byrne. [10] Craig Walsh of The Australian Women's Weekly previewed a segment for a rock 'n' roll themed episode, "[its] staging promises to make the series the smash hit of 1980, say the producers" with Byrne declaring "I've just discovered I can dance better than I thought." [10]

Byrne's career stalled between 1980 and 1985 due to her heroin addiction, for which she undertook rehab at Odyssey House. [4] A further stumbling block occurred when a sex tape of her and a former partner was stolen and leaked to the media. [1]: 435–6, 446–9  [11]

In mid-1985, Byrne recorded her second solo album, The Persuader, which was produced by Peter Dawkins. [1]: 288  [12] She issued the single "The Persuader" in August, but neither single or album charted. [4] She made a successful and highly publicised career comeback in 1985 with the starring role as Kathy McLeod, opposite Matt Dillon, in the feature film, Rebel. [4] [13] She was nominated for an AFI Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role for the performance. [14] Byrne sang lead vocals on nine of ten tracks on Rebel: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1985). [15] [16]

Cabaret and concert performances

Byrne's live cabaret, Caught in the Act Again, commenced during mid-1999, it included both show tunes and some original material. The first half was "a little too low-key, mostly because the songs all have a similar, slow, acid-jazzy tempo" according to Fiona Scott-Norman of The Age. [17] She was backed by John McAll on piano and Don Hirini as backing vocalist; she also co-wrote some material, including "I Don't Make the Rules", with Hirini. [17] Caught in the Act Again earned a Green Room Award nomination for Best Cabaret Performance and Best Musical Arrangement.

Her cabaret work includes writing, directing, choreographing and starring in Girls, Girls, Girls from May to June 2002. [18] The show also starred Wendy Stapleton and Lisa Edwards (replaced by Nikki Nicholls) as a tribute to the Supremes, Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield, Patsy Cline and Lulu. [19] [20] In 2002 it won the Herald Sun Best Cabaret Award. [18] [21] The shows had sold out before they opened. [22] In subsequent years Byrne, Stapleton and Nicholls periodically resumed Girls, Girls, Girls.

Since 1972 Byrne has been a regular performer at the Christmas Eve Carols by Candlelight concert at Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl. At the 2005 concert she performed a duet of Silent Night with her five-year-old daughter, Lucille, who was making her professional stage and television debut. In late 2006 her autobiography, Not Quite Ripe: A Memoir, was published on Pan Macmillan. [23] She described how the book took her four years to write, "On and off. I wrote and I didn't write." [23] Byrne reprised her role of Grizabella in the ExitLeft production of Cats, which was staged at the Derwent Entertainment Centre in Hobart in late-October 2007. [24]

2009–present: stage and television roles

In April 2009 Byrne played the role of Sue Barnes in Metro Street at its world premiere in Adelaide and its subsequent tour to South Korea, with an appearance at the Daegu International Musical Festival (see Daegu) in June. [25] [26] [27]

From 29 July 2010 to April 2011 she played the role of the Bird Woman in the original Australian production of the stage musical, Mary Poppins at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre. [28] [29] She reprised the role in its Sydney run at the Capitol Theatre. [30] From May to June 2012 Byrne played the role of Claire Christie in the Nine Network's Tricky Business. [31]

From February to March 2014 she appeared on a dramatised crime biography, Fat Tony & Co., portraying Judy Moran, wife of Lewis Moran who was part of the Carlton Crew which were involved in the Melbourne gangland killings. [32] Fat Tony & Co. focused on the rise and fall of convicted drug mastermind, Tony Mokbel, [33] and is an offshoot to the first series of Underbelly (February–May 2008). [32] Byrne described her portrayal of Moran "You'd be surprised what I wear as Judy that's from my own wardrobe [...] There's a definite air of the theatrical about her and a lot of what I saw Judy wearing ... I thought she wore some really nice clothes. Everything she wore was so over the top." [32]

In 2016 she took the role of Carlotta Campion in a concert version of Follies at the Melbourne Recital Hall for a limited run of three performances in May. [34] In August she worked with Vika Bull in their Carole King tribute show, Tapestry. [35] [36] In late 2016, Byrne appeared on the third series of ABC comedy, Upper Middle Bogan.

From 2017 through to 2019, she toured with Vika Bull in their Carole King tribute show 'Tapestry'.

In mid 2019, she is set to play the Beggar Woman in a production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street opposite Anthony Warlow and Gina Riley.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Note
1971 Caravan Holiday as herself as Debbie Byrne
1985 Rebel Kathy McLeod as Debbie Byrne

Television

Year Title Role Note
1969 Brian and the Juniors Regular member as Debbie Byrne
1971-1975 Young Talent Time Regular team member as Debbie Byrne
1972 The Graham Kennedy Show performs "Top of the World" as Debbie Byrne
1973 Australian Popular Song Festival 1973 Guest Performer TV special
1973 Ted Hamilton's New Wave performs unknown song as Debbie Byrne
1974 It's Magic Special Guest TV series, Episode 4
1974 The 16th Annual TV Week Logie Awards Special guest as Debbie Byrne
1974 Ted Hamilton's Musical World performs unknown song as Debbie Byrne
1974-1976 The Ernie Sigley Show Special guest as Debbie Byrne
1974-1975 TV Week King of Pop performs "He's a Rebel" as Debbie Byrne
1974 Countdown performs "He's a Rebel" as Debbie Byrne
1975 Countdown performs "Boogie Man" as Debbie Byrne
1975 The 17th Annual TV Week Logie Awards Presenter as Debbie Byrne
1975 The Ernie Sigley Show performs unknown song as Debbie Byrne
1975 TV Week King of Pop performs rock medley as Debbie Byrne
1975 The Graham Kennedy Show performs unknown song as Debbie Byrne
1975-1983 The Don Lane Show performs "How Can I Tell You" as Debbie Byrne
1975-1976 The National Record Industry Awards performs "Tell Sonny Not To Come" as Debbie Byrne
1975 The Norman Gunston Show performs "Da Doo Run Run" as Debbie Byrne
1976 It's Cliff Richard & Friends (UK) performs "It Only Happens" as Debbie Byrne
1976 The 1976 Australian Popular Song Festival performs "There'll Never Be A Way" as Debbie Byrne
1976 The Ernie Sigley Show performs unknown song as Debbie Byrne
1976 The Ernie Sigley Show performs "You Promised Me the Love" as Debbie Byrne
1976 Young Talent Time Special guest as Debbie Byrne
1976 The Mike Walsh Show performs unknown song as Debbie Byrne
1976 The National Record Industry Awards performs "This Is Your City/Never Gonna Fall In Love Again" as Debbie Byrne
1976 Bandstand '76 performs "You Promised Me the Love" as Debbie Byrne
1976 Ernie Special guest as Debbie Byrne
1977 Graham Kennedy's Blankety Blanks guest panel as Debbie Byrne
1977 The Celebrity Game guest panel as Debbie Byrne
1977,1979 Six Tonight Guest - Herself TV special
1977 Countdown performs "You Promised Me the Love" as Debbie Byrne
1977 Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal performs unknown song as Debbie Byrne
1977 Telethon '77 Herself - Guest Performer TV special
1977 King Of Pop: 1977 TV Week Australian Popular Music Awards Guest - Herself TV special
1977 Music for the People Concert performs unknown song as Debbie Byrne
1977 The Don Lane Show performs "Dirty 'Ol Man" as Debbie Byrne
1977 Telethon: First Hour Guest - Herself TV special
1977 Soundcheck Herself - Guest judge TV pilot
1978 The 1978 Australian Popular Song Festival performs unknown song as Debbie Byrne
1978 Cop Shop Kerry Clements 3 Episodes
1978 The Paul Hogan Show Herself TV series, 1 episode
1978 The Saturday Show as Debbie Byrne 27 episodes
1978 Barry Humphries Special: Dame Edna Farewell To Melbourne Guest Performer TV special
1979 Young Talent Time 8th Birthday Special Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1979 TV Follies Jill Johnson / Laura Summers as Debbie Byrne
1979 Six Tonight Guest - Herself TV special
1979 Sammy Awards Presenter as Debbie Byrne
1980 Telethon '80 Herself TV special
1980 Farnham and Byrne as Debbie Byrne Host and performer, 9 Episodes
1980-1984 The Mike Walsh Show Regular performer as Debbie Byrne
1981 The 21st Annual TV Week Logie Awards performs "I've Got the Music In Me" as Debbie Byrne
1981 Young Talent Time 10th Birthday Special performs "I Don't Know How to Love Him" as Debbie Byrne
1981 Countdown performs "Tears" as Debbie Byrne
1981 Parkinson In Australia Special guest as Debbie Byrne
1982 Ten Eyewitness News News report as Debbie Byrne
1982 The Don Lane Show performs unknown song as Debbie Byrne
1983 Countdown Music & Video Awards performs "He's a Rebel" as Debbie Byrne
1983 The Don Lane Show performs "Why Don't You Move In With Me Today" as Debbie Byrne
1984-1996 The Annual Carols By Candlelight Performer as Debbie Byrne/Debra Bryne
1985-1998 The Midday Show Regular performer as Debbie 1993-98 Debra
1985 Blankety Blanks Guest panel as Debbie Byrne
1985 The Mike Walsh Show Herself - Guest with Suzi Quatro TV series, 1 episode
1985-1998 Hey Hey It's Saturday Regular performer as Debbie 1993-98 Debra
1985 Sounds Special guest as Debbie Byrne
1985 Star Search Guest performer as Debbie Byrne
1986-1987 Australia Day Concert Performer as Debbie Byrne
1986 Young Talent Time 15th Birthday Spectacular performs "Tell Him" as Debbie Byrne
1986 Late Night with Jono and Dano performs "Heroes" as Debbie Byrne
1986 The Two Ronnies in Australia performs "So Sad the Song" as Debbie Byrne
1987;1989 Rafferty's Rules Sally Edwards/Tricia Rogan 2 Episodes
1987 Have a Go Guest panel as Debbie Byrne
1988 The N.S.W. Royal Bicentennial Concert performs "You're the Voice" and "Advance Australia Fair" as Debbie Byrne
1989 The Bert Newton Show Regular performer as Debbie Byrne
1988 Young Talent Time 17th Birthday Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1988 Olympathon Guest Performer TV special
1988,1989 Hey Hey It's Saturday Guest (Red Faces)/Herself sings "Walking After Midnight" TV series, 1 episode
1988 Life Education Television Appeal Presenter as Debbie Byrne
1989 The Bert Newton Show as Debbie Byrne Performer
1989,1989 Hey Hey It's Saturday Herself sings "Seven Lonely Nights" TV series, 1 episode
1989 Hey Hey It's Saturday Herself sings "If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody" TV series, 1 episode
1989 In Melbourne Today Performs "Nature's Lament" TV series, 1 episode
1990-1993 Tonight Live with Steve Vizard as Debbie Byrne Performer
1990,1990 Hey Hey It's Saturday Guest (Red Faces)/Herself sings "Way Over Yonder" TV series, 1 episode
1990 Hey Hey It's Saturday Guest (Red Faces)/Herself sings "Little By Little" TV series, 1 episode
1991 1991 TV Week Logie Awards as Debbie Byrne Performer
1991;1999 What's Cooking as Debbie Byrne TV series, 2 episodes
1991 The Big Square Eye as Debbie Byrne ABC TV series, 1 episode
1991;1992 Police Rescue Maria Mellick / Tricia Mellick 2 Episodes
1991 Rugby League: First Test. Australia Vs New Zealand Performs "Advance Australia Fair" TV special
1991 1991 Coca-Cola Australian Music Awards as Debbie Byrne TV special
1991 Celebrity Wheel Of Fortune Guest - Contestant with Chelsea Brown & Guy Leach TV series, 1 episode
1992 G.P. Helen Cartwright 1 Episodes
1992 1992 Aria Music Awards as Debbie Byrne TV special
1992 Home and Away Julia Bowman 44 episodes
1992 John Farnham's 25th Anniversary Special as Debbie Byrne TV special
1992 The Flying Doctors Guest role: Andrea Griffin TV series, Season 9, 1 episode 19: Yesterday's News
1992 Dancin' Dynamite Performer as Debbie Byrne ABC TV special
1992 The Main Event Special guest as Debbie Byrne
1992 Burke's Backyard Special guest as Debra Byrne
1993-2005 Good Morning Australia Guest performer as Debra Byrne
1993 Tonight 'Live Guest performer as Debra Byrne
1993 Ray Martin's Top Sorts and Superstars Performer as Debra Byrne
1993 Law of the Land Jean Jardine Regular
1993 Getaway Special guest as Debra Byrne
1993-95 Ernie and Denise Special guest as Debra Byrne
1993 Sunday Guest performer as Debra Byrne
1994 Live It Up Special guest as Debra Byrne
1994 Kate Ceberano and Friends Performs "So Soon" as Debra Byrne
1994 Review Guest presenter as Debra Byrne
1994 Concert for Rwanda Performs "Diamond In the Rough" as Debra Byrne
1994;1998 Today Performs "Nearly Home" as Debra Byrne
1994 Midday With Derryn Hinch Performs "Nearly Home" as Debra Byrne
1994 Australia's Best for the Bush Concert Performs "Hard Times" as Debra Byrne
1994 Great Moments in Australian Theatre Performer as Debra Byrne
1994 AFL Today Grand Final Performs "Advance Australia Fair" as Debra Byrne
1994 World Vision: Vision for a Better World Appeal Performs "So Soon" as Debra Byrne
1995 Naked: Stories of Men Sharon 1 Episode
1995 This Is Your Life as Debra Byrne TV series, 1 episode
1995 The Challenge Concert for Spina Bifida Performs "Nearly Home" as Debra Byrne
1995 A Current Affair: The Challenge Performer as Debra Byrne
1995;1999 Eleven AM Guest as Debra Byrne TV series, 2 episodes
1995 Don't Forget Your Toothbrush Guest performer as Debra Byrne
1996 Today Tonight Guest as Debra Byrne
1996 Witness Guest as Debra Byrne
1996 This Is Your Life: The Showbiz Greats Special guest as Debra Byrne
1997 Oz Encounters: UFO's In Australia Voice & writer as Debra Byrne
1997 When Rock Was Young: The 70s Archive clip: Performs "I Don't Know How to Love Him" from YTT as Debbie Byrne
1997 A Current Affair Guest as Debra Byrne
1997;1998 In Melbourne Tonight Performer as Debra Byrne
1998; 2003 Today Guest as Debra Byrne
1998 State Coroner Tracy Dabovich 1 Episode
1998 Laws Guest as Debra Byrne
1999;2001 Beauty and the Beast as Debra Byrne
1998 The Mike Walsh Show Years as Debra Byrne Performer
1998 Seven Nightly News Guest as Debra Byrne
1999 What's Cooking as Debbie Byrne TV series, 1 episode
1999 Eleven AM Guest as Debra Byrne TV series, 1 episode
1999;2001 Denise performs "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" as Debra Byrne
1999 Rugby League NRL Grand Final Performs "Advance Australia Fair" as Debra Byrne
2001 2001 Royal Children's Hospital Variety Gala Herself as performer TV special
2001 Denise Herself TV series, 1 episode
2001 Today Tonight Herself TV series, 1 episode
2001 Beauty and the Beast as Debra Byrne TV series, 2 episodes
2001 Young Talent Time Tells All Guest as Debra Byrne TV special
2001 An Audience with John Farnham Guest as Debra Byrne (Audience member) TV special
2002 The Secret Life of Us Peta TV series, 4 episodes
2003 Love Is In the Air Guest as Debra Byrne ABC TV series, 1 episode "She’s Leaving Home"
2003 This Is Your Life: 10 Year Celebration Guest as Debra Byrne TV special
2003; 2014 Today Guest - Herself with Johnny Young, John Bowles & Jeremey Kewley (Young Talent Time Dvd Launch) TV series, 1 episode
2003 Young Talent Time: The Collection Herself as Debra Byrne DVD video
2006 Studio A with Simon Burke Guest performer as Debra Byrne
2005/2006 Spicks and Specks Guest as Debra Byrne
2006 How the Hell Did We Get Here? Guest as Debra Byrne
2006 A Current Affair Guest as Debra Byrne
2006 Today Tonight Guest as Debra Byrne
2006 Mornings with Kerri-Anne Guest as Debra Byrne
2006 9am Guest as Debra Byrne
2006 Spicks and Specks Guest as Debra Byrne
2006 Spicks & Specks: Another Specky Christmas Guest as Debra Byrne
2007 City Homicide Marijke Sharman 1 Episode
2007-2008 20 to 1 Guest as Debra Byrne
2008 Uncovering the Cover of Celebrities Guest as Debra Byrne Web series
2009 Bent TV Guest as Debra Byrne Web series
2009 Wrok Down Guest as Debra Byrne
2010 The Annual TV Week Logie Awards Presenter as Debra Byrne
2010 Postcards as Debra Byrne TV series, 1 episode
2010 Nine News Guest as Debra Byrne
2010 A Current Affair Guest as Debra Byrne
2011 Love Dream Believe as Debra Byrne Web series
2011 Mornings with Kerri-Anne Guest as Debra Byrne
2011 Mary Poppins: Behind the Scenes Bird Lady as Debra Byrne
2011 Helpmann Awards Presenter as Debra Byrne
2012 Mornings with Kerri-Anne Guest as Debra Byrne
2012 Tricky Business Claire Christie Lead role, 13 Episodes
2012 ABC News as Debra Byrne ABC TV series, 1 episode
2014 Today Guest as Debra Byrne TV series, 1 episode
2014 Fat Tony & Co. Judy Moran Recurring role, 6 Episodes
2016 Today Extra Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
2016 News Breakfast Guest as Debra Byrne ABC TV series, 1 episode
2016 Upper Middle Bogan Susan Guest role, 1 episode
2017 Underbelly Files: Chopper Judy Moran Recurring role, 2 Episodes
2021, 2023 Studio 10 as Debra Byrne TV series, 1 episode
2021 Australian Open Tennis performs "I Am Woman" with Angie Hart TV special
2023 The Morning Show Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
2023 Studio 10 Herself - Guest & Peter Phelps TV series, 1 episode
2023 Studio 10 10th Birthday Show Herself TV series, 1 episode

Stage

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
1985-1987 Cats Grizabella Australian Tour
1986 Jerry's Girls as Herself Australian Tour
1987-1990 Les Misérables Fantine Australian Tour
1995 Hot Shoe Shuffle April Australian Tour
1996-1997 Sunset Boulevard Norma Desmond Australian Tour
2003 Minefields and Miniskirts The Nurse Malthouse Theatre
2006 Thoroughly Modern Millie Muzzie Arts Centre Melbourne
2007 Little Me Belle Portine Arts Centre Melbourne
2007 Cats Grizabella Derwent Entertainment Centre
2008 Follies Sally Durant Plummer Arts Centre Melbourne
2008 High School Musical Mrs. Darbus Derwent Entertainment Centre
2009 Metro Street Sue Barnes Australian and Asian Tour
2010-2012 Mary Poppins Bird Woman Australian Tour
2016 Follies Carlotta Campion Concert Version
2019 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street The Beggar Woman Australian Tour
2023 La Cage Aux Folles Jacqueline Australian Tour

Cabaret

Year Title Notes
2002 Girls, Girls, Girls With Wendy Stapleton and Nikki Nichols
2013 Last Man Standing Arts Centre Melbourne
2017 Tapestry With Vika Bull

Personal life

Debra Anne Byrne was born on 30 March 1957 in Fitzroy to Norman Owen Byrne (born ca. 1928 – 2014) and Verna Alice née Reid (ca. 1930 – 1980). [1]: 2, 10  She was the fifth of six children, her siblings are Lynda (died 2002), Cheryl, Sandra (died 1970), Peter and Robyn. [1]: 2, 63  She also has a younger half sister, Rebecca. Norman worked as an engineering foreman; he became violent when drunk. [1]: 2–18  [37] According to Byrne she was sexually abused by her maternal grandfather, Ken Reid, from a young age until 13. [1]: 55–58, 344  [37] In 1993 Byrne dropped the usage of "Debbie" as her first name. [38]

During her stint in Young Talent Time Byrne had a sexual relationship with "Michael", an on-set boom-camera operator: she was under-age and he was more than ten years older. [1]: 68–102  [39] She later recalled, "I didn't feel protected at all. The attitude was, 'It's over now, it's finished', but this was personal and embarrassing and humiliating and distressing ... Parents need to be aware that even now, with the best protections in place, there's going to be someone who cares more for the product than the child. No law can change that." [39]

In February 1975 she was hospitalised due to "a nervous collapse brought on by a strenuous touring campaign." [40] Her support slot on a tour for United States singer, Gene Pitney, was taken up by Samantha Sang. [40] Byrne described how "I was drinking, smoking, barely eating, and spending a lot of time in hotel rooms fighting anxiety and depression." [1]: 132 

By October 1978 Byrne was married to David John Dudley (born ca. 1956) and the couple lived in Elwood. [1]: 132, 148  In that month the pair were cleared of drugs charges; Byrne declared that "she knew of some entertainers who had 'come to grief' by being associated with drugs. She had been to one or two parties where drugs were being used but she did not mix with that section of the entertainment industry." [41] Later she recalled meeting Dudley at a party where her "latest boyfriend was an everyday dope smoker and I loved the freedom the drug gave me." [1]: 132  They had a daughter together, Arja. Her marriage to Dudley broke-up in 1980 and her mother died in that year. [42]

Debra gave birth to her second daughter, Lauren, who was fathered by director Chris Webb.

During 1987 while rehearsing for her role of Fantine in the Australian theatre production of Les Misérables, Byrne met fellow actor, Neil Melville. [43] By June 1989 the couple were planning their wedding. [44] Byrne and Melville separated in November 1996 and later divorced. [45]

Byrne's performances as Norma Desmond on Sunset Boulevard from October 1996 to June 1997 were interrupted by "her frequent and sudden absences from the show [which] were partially blamed for the show's lack of success" despite "great critical notices." [46] She had attempted suicide late in 1997 and was being treated by a psychiatrist to feel "more focused and driven than ever before." [46] She was diagnosed with clinical depression and undertook a course of prescription medication. [46] In March 1998 she told Peter Ford of Playbill that "Nobody ever bothered to investigate if that was my major problem, when finally I had a label for my troubles it was a great relief." [46]

Byrne was the domestic partner of French musician, Ced Le Meledo, with whom she collaborated on the live show, Paris-Melbourne. They had one daughter together, Lucille Le Meledo (b. 12 July 2000). The couple separated in 2006. Her daughter eventually made her theatrical debut in 2011 as the title role in Annie.

[47] In that same year her autobiography, Not Quite Ripe: A Memoir, was released and described by her publisher as "the real story of her gritty, sometimes perilous existence as she chased her career, became addicted to heroin and finally rehabilitated herself". [23]

As of 2019, she lives in Melbourne with her daughter Lucille and two of her grandsons whom she has custody of.

Discography

Studio albums

Soundtrack appearances

  • Cats - Original Australian Cast Recording (1985)
  • Rebel - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1985)
  • Les Miserables - The World Symphonic Recording (1988)
  • Mary Poppins - Original Australian Cast Recording (2010)

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
ARIA Music Awards of 1992 Caught in the Act Best Adult Contemporary Album Nominated

King of Pop Awards

The King of Pop Awards were voted by the readers of TV Week. The King of Pop award started in 1967 and ran through to 1978. [48]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1974 herself Queen of Pop Won
1975 herself Queen of Pop Won

Logie Awards

The Logie Awards (officially the TV Week Logie Awards) is an annual gathering to celebrate Australian television, sponsored and organised by magazine TV Week, with the first ceremony in 1959. The awards represent both public and industry voted awards.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1974 [49] herself Best Teenage Personality Won
1975 [50] herself Best Teenage Personality Won

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Byrne won three awards in that time. [51]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
1985 Debbie Byrne Female Vocal Entertainer of the Year Won
1988 Debbie Byrne Female Musical Theatre Performer of the Year Won
1989 Debbie Byrne Female Musical Theatre Performer of the Year Won

Other awards

  • 1985 AFI Award nomination for Best Actress in a Lead Role for Rebel [14]
  • 1991 Grammy Award for Best Theatre Musical Soundtrack, shared with cast of The World Symphonic Recording of Les Misérables,
  • 2002 Herald Sun Best Cabaret Award for Girls, Girls, Girls,
  • Green Room Award nomination for Best Cabaret Performance and Best Musical Arrangement for Caught in the Act Again,
  • 2009 Daegu Musical Award for Best Actress for Metro Street.

Bibliography

  • Byrne, Debra (2006), Not Quite Ripe: A Memoir, Macmillan, ISBN  978-1-4050-3765-5

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Byrne, Debra (2006), Not Quite Ripe: A Memoir, Macmillan, ISBN  978-1-4050-3765-5
  2. ^ "Remembering the Juniors". Television.AU. 7 June 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  3. ^ "Young Talent Time reunited on ACA". Television.AU. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Debra Byrne'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN  1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 29 August 2004.
  5. ^ "Logie Awards: 1974". TV Week. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Debbie Byrne – 'He's a Rebel'". Where Did They Get That Song?. PopArchives (Lyn Nuttall). Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  7. ^ Nimmervoll, Ed (17 August 1974). "National Top 40". Go-Set. Waverley Press. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  8. ^ She's a Rebel (liner notes). Debbie Byrne (performer). L & Y Records. 1974. L 35362.{{ cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) ( link)
  9. ^ "Logie Awards: 1975". TV Week. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  10. ^ a b Walsh, Craig (2 July 1980). "Back to the 50s... Rock 'n Roll Blast-off!". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 48, no. 5. p. 2 (Your TV Magazine). Retrieved 10 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Celebrity sex tapes". The Daily Telegraph. News Corp Australia. 6 April 2007. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  12. ^ Byrne, Debbie (1985), The Persuader, EMI, retrieved 11 September 2016
  13. ^ Stratton, David (1990). The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bust in the Australian Film Industry. Pan MacMillan. p. 114. ISBN  0-7329-0250-9.
  14. ^ a b "1985 Winners & Nominees". Australian Film Institute (AFI). Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  15. ^ "Rebel: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Australian Television Memorabilia Guide. Nodette Enterprises Pty Ltd. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  16. ^ Malone, Peter (25 March 1996). "Michael Jenkins". Peter Malone's Website. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
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External links