THE SECRETS OF CINDERELLA
THE LEGENDARY HUSBANDAND-WIFE STARS ON LOVE AND MARRIAGE
For decades, they’ve been two of our most loved performers. But for A Place to Call Home and Home and Away favourite Frankie J. Holden and his wife, former
A Country Practice star Michelle Pettigrove, it’s their world away from the spotlight that is the main focus of their lives.
Having farewelled city life many years ago, the couple live with their 17-year-old daughter, Georgia, on the NSW Far South Coast, where they are co-owners of the Tathra Beachside Holiday Park and gallery and homewares outlet Black Daisy Trading. They also still work in the entertainment field, which they love.
When Frankie, now 67, first met Michelle, 53, on the set of A Country Practice 30 years ago, they were simply work colleagues. At the time, Frankie was already a father of three
– to now grown-up daughters Olivia, Eliza and Matilda from his marriage to wife Melda, who passed away 23 years ago.
“I came on A Country Practice to do a guest role, but there were no fireworks or anything like that. I was married,” says Frankie.
“And I was in a long-term relationship,” says Michelle.
“But then we re-met at the very end of 1997 at a corporate event in Melbourne, which I was emceeing,” says Frankie. “At the time, Michelle was living in Sydney and I was in Melbourne with the three girls, so we had a long-distance tentative relationship for quite a few months,” adds Frankie. “Eventually, Michelle moved to
Melbourne to suss it out. We were married on the 27th of March, 1999, in Beechworth, Victoria. I was certain pretty early on that I’d found someone very special.”
These days, the couple are proud grandparents of six – “with a seventh on the way”. And their love, it’s clear, is stronger than ever.
In March 2019, Frankie and Michelle returned to Beechworth to renew their vows in memorable style.
“It was so lovely,” says Michelle. “All of the girls were there – the three big ones with their husbands and kids. It was really beautiful. And Georgia, who wasn’t around for our first wedding, got to be a part of it as well.
“My favourite part of our actual wedding was when the three older girls sang a beautiful song that was very meaningful. This time around, all four of the girls sang it together and it was very beautiful.”
As for Frankie and Michelle’s secret to what is clearly a happy union, it couldn’t be less complicated.
“For me, it has to do with family,” says Michelle. “I felt so loved … from the first day. The family is impossible not to love, and now it’s grown so big. And the glue that sticks it all together is Frank.”
To which Frankie adds: “And I love Michelle more than I ever did. I think she’s gorgeous and we have so much fun together. I often tell Michelle just how lucky I am.”
As rags to riches stories go, they don’t come more memorable – or classic – than that of Cinderella, a girl who dared to dream of a life beyond … well, cleaning.
Who doesn’t love the sight of Cinderella in her light blue ball gown and matching tiara? And who hasn’t secretly wished they had a magic fairy godmother who could make it happen?
With Disney’s beloved classic, Cinderella, turning 70 this week, here are secrets you never knew about the family favourite.
CINDERELLA SAVED DISNEY
Disney wasn’t always a mega-successful movie-making powerhouse. Before Cinderella’s release, Disney was in debt and in danger of going bust.
While Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940) and Bambi (1942) would eventually earn classic status, they were all box-office bombs on release.
Truth was, Disney hadn’t had a big hit since 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Cinderella, of course, proved a huge success on its release in 1950, eventually making $457 million worldwide, not only saving the studio but allowing Disney to create its own distribution company, start making television shows and build Disneyland, which opened in 1955.
Critically, Cinderella also proved popular, and was nominated for three Oscars, including best music, original song, for ‘Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo’.
MAGIC MAKEOVER
In the movie, Cinderella’s dream of going to the ball and meeting Prince Charming is in tatters – literally – when her jealous stepsisters rip her dress to shreds. Enter her fairy godmother.
With a wave of her wand she transforms a pumpkin into a carriage, mice into horses, a horse into a coachman and a dog into a footman. Best of all, Cinders gets an incredible blue ball gown fit for a princess and some glass slippers.
This moment was said to be Walt Disney’s favourite piece of animation ever.
ONE FOR THE AGES
Cinderella is said to be about 19 or 20, making her one of the oldest Disney princesses, along with The Princess and the Frog’s
Tiana, who is also 19. Frozen’s Elsa, although not technically a princess as she is Queen of Arendelle, is 21.
SURPRISE ROLE
Strange as it seems, Ilene Woods, who voiced Cinderella, had no idea she was auditioning for the role. Songwriters Mack David and Jerry Livingston, who wrote the music and lyrics for Cinderella, asked Ilene to record demo versions of ‘Sing Sweet Nightingale’, ‘Bibbidi-bobbidiboo’ and ‘So This is Love’.
The songwriters presented the songs to Walt, and after hearing Ilene sing, he knew she was the right voice for the role. Ilene was said to be very surprised she had won the role over 300 others who auditioned.
“It brings back wonderful, wonderful memories,” she later said of voicing Cinderella.
GRIMM FATE
Although the story of Cinderella has existed for centuries, the version that is best known was published in French by Charles Perrault in 1697. The Brothers Grimm then provided their own version in their collection of stories, Grimms’ Fairy Tales in 1812.
In both Grimms’ take and Perrault’s Cendrillon, the stepsisters mutilated their feet in order to fit into the glass slipper. In Grimms’ bloody version, the evil stepsisters were punished by having their eyes pecked out by birds.
On a brighter note, however, it was Perrault who introduced the fairy godmother to the tale. And then Disney, of course, sprinkled its own magic.