SHE’S GOT THE LOOK AND NOW THE VOICE

AUSSIE SHOWBIZ REPORTER RENEE BARGH GUSHES ON LIFE IN THE FAST LANE AND LANDING A GIG ON THE VOICE

AUSTRALIAN entertainment queen Renee Bargh’s life seems like a dream. She effortlessly interviews the biggest names in Hollywood, has a long-list of A-list celebrity friends, lives in a bohemian Venice beach house, is physically flawless and makes men weak at the knees.

As I gush over Renee’s perfect life in LA, the high-profile showbiz reporter from Mullumbimby, NSW, abruptly tells me to stop.

“Honey, what you see on Instagram or television is a shining-pretty version of what goes on,” she says with a laugh.

“My life is nowhere near as glamorous as you think it is.

“It’s hard work and when you are on camera there is a lot of pressure. You have to be resilient and open to criticism constantly.

“A couple of years ago, I really struggled with cystic acne and it wrecked my selfesteem.

“I can also tell you, I am not a perfect interviewer. I’ve had quite a lot of awkward interviews on the red carpet.

“I am human and I make mistakes but you just have to move on and get better.

“But nevertheless, I have done some incredible things that I am very proud of.

“During the coronavirus pandemic, I’ve had time to think about my life, health and career. I am so lucky.”

Renee has been quietly digging away at her burgeoning TV career for the past decade. After graduating from Brent Street Performing Arts school in 2005, she joined Girlband and went on to host various Australian television shows and red carpet events, including Channel [V] music and travel shows. Renee then packed up her life and moved to Los Angeles in 2010 to become a host on the popular US TV entertainment show Extra.

She is now back on Aussie soil, momentarily, for co-hosting duties on The

Voice Australia with Darren McMullen. Renee says she is enjoying every moment back home, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic grips the world and the US death toll nears 130,000.

“I am really happy to be home, it feels like a breath of fresh air after being in Los Angeles,” she says.

“Unlike the USA, I have been enjoying a sense of normalcy in Sydney. I have been going to the beach, seeing people smiling without a mask, going to cafes and seeing friends and family.

“Prior to COVID, my friends will all attest to the fact that I was never home. If I had two hours off in the day I would be at the gym or catching up with a friend.

“But COVID-19 has forced me to stop and I have all of a sudden realised that I am an introvert, I love my own company, I don’t get lonely and I just love being home.

“I have also really enjoyed Zooming with the family and chatting for hours over a glass of wine.

“My mum was giving my sister and I French lessons, which was really fun.

“When the border reopens, I am looking forward to seeing my sister Danielle on the Gold Coast.”

Renee was born in Southport on the Gold Coast in 1986 and says the city of sun, surf and sand is one of her favourite places in the world.

“When I am on Aussie soil, I will spend the majority of my time on the Coast,” she says.

“It’s stunning, has so many amazing restaurants and is such a peaceful lifestyle.”

Renee admits receiving the call about her new Australian co-hosting gig was one of the best days of her life.

“It’s an absolute dream to be home and with The Voice family,” she says, having taken over the role from Sonia Kruger.

“I am a big believer in manifesting your dreams and speaking it out until it comes true.

“When it comes to entertainment television, it doesn’t get much bigger or more dynamic than The Voice.

“I’ve always been a huge fan of the show and right now I am blown away at what we have been able to do and achieve. With incredible technology and production teams – we have been able to keep Zoom judges Kelly Rowland and Boy George and it feels like nothing has really changed.”

Renee added she has been enjoying working with her best friend Delta Goodrem, who has returned as a coach for an eighth season.

“Delta has been my best friend for a long time and I have watched her go through so much in her life and career and constantly get back up and have grace, humility, kindness and perseverance,” she says.

The pair met in 2005 when Renee was a backing vocalist for Delta at the ARIA Music Awards.

They became best mates when they were both in LA, and later flatmates.

When asked about her rise to fame, Renee muses, her career has been a “huge learning curve. In the beginning I was naive and I am just thankful to everyone who took a massive risk on me.”

She says from interviewing small indie artists on Channel [V] to her first Extra interview with John Travolta was a big step but the start of something special.

“I will always be in debt to John, his interview and particularly a question about baby names is the reason I am in this job today”, the 33-year-old says.

Renee says chatting to stars on the Hollywood red carpet is a surreal experience and the novelty is yet to wear off.

“Despite being in the gig for a decade, there are still a few staple people I get excited to interview,” she says.

“George Clooney has always been on the top of my list of my favourite interviews. He has always been charming and present more than any other movie star.

“There are some actors who are incredibly famous but you don’t get that sparkle or that thing but George Clooney has that thing and so does Brad Pitt.

“Everyone loves interviewing Brad Pitt because you get to look at him in the flesh, he is so beautiful in real life.

“He has that movie-star quality that is so rare.

“I remember being starstruck when I interviewed Julia Roberts at the 2011 SAG Awards. She is the prettiest woman and when she steps on to the carpet you feel her presence, energy and light.

“Jennifer Aniston has always been extra cool. She has always felt like a friend, which is so funny to say because I grew up watching her. But when I met her she was down to earth and it felt like I had known her my whole life.

“Oprah is also amazing. When I interview her I know I have to bring my A-game because she is the interviewer of interviewers and the pressure is always on. She is really engaging and makes you feel really special in the moment.”

Despite her long list of red carpet interviews, Renee says she is still dying to interview American singer-songwriter Beyonce.

“Now, that would be insane,” the presenter says.

“I have been in a couple of metres of her and seeing her in the flesh was like seeing God.”

Renee says as a little girl, she never dared to dream about a life in the entertainment industry because it seemed impossible, especially for a girl from country NSW.

“I had an amazing upbringing, it was magical,” she says.

“When I was at school at Mullumbimby High I wanted to be a professional dancer. My dream was to tour with artists.

“As a little girl I would watch all the music shows that were on TV and I always wanted to do that but never knew how.

“I didn’t really know how it all worked until I moved to Sydney and studied performing arts and a whole new world opened up to me with agents, commercials, castings and auditions.

“It was a huge move from the quiet quaint town of Mullumbimby to Redfern amid the riots in 2005.

“It was so vastly different but so exciting. “I felt the same thing when I moved to LA. It was similar but everything was so much bigger.”

Amid a few tears, on my behalf, Renee tells me comparison will always be deadly.

“I am inspired by the actions of a lot of people,” she says.

“I don’t really idolise anyone because I have been in the business long enough to meet people and realise that we are all flawed.

“If you try to be like someone else you are going to be disappointed.

“It’s important to stay in your own lane and stay true to who you are.

“I think authenticity always wins and if you aren’t sure who you are just yet, you will be sure at some point.

“You will figure it out, just trust your gut.”

The Voice Showdowns will air Sunday at 7pm and Monday at 7.30pm Followed by The Voice Semi-Final on Tuesday, July 14 at 7.30pm.