HAIRDRESSER TO THE STARS
You can colour Jodie-lee Geoghegan, ‘Artist to the Stars’, as very, very excited.
Like many hair and makeup professionals working in the entertainment industry, Covid substantially reduced her ability to work. On Tuesday night all that was forgotten when she was back stage, working with others, at the Andrea Bocelli concert in Brisbane.
“It was so good to be there and especially working on such an amazing concert. It was truly next level in production,” said the popular local.
“Andrea and his son Matteo are such beautiful people and really put on a show. Hair and make-up is my life and to be back doing something like this concert and being in discussions about further opportunities is a dream come true.”
Having worked with lots of celebrities – Erin Brockovich was a particular favourite – and movies such as Elvis in her career, Jodie-lee was just as thrilled for her fellow backstage crew.
“So many of them have really had a tough time because there were no tours and therefore no work. It was fantastic to experience that buzz among them as we all got to do what we love with fellow professionals.” As we said – excited.
ALLA TAKING HER MESSAGE GLOBAL
GREAT to see that it’s not just us that thinks Alla Dimech is a fashion star because the eversmiling lover of dressing up for race meetings is about to go global.
She has just been interviewed for Fashion at the Races an American based blog dedicated to covering all things to do with racing fash
ion i and millinery around the wo r ld . Blessed with innate style and grace, A l l a cheerfully h admits that her introduction came about by chance after attending the GCTC in 2012. She was immediately hooked on the colour and attention to detail of the other ladies and began entering competitions purely for the pleasure it gave her to be among other aficionados of racing fashion. Many wins, including her favourite, crowned Best Dressed Lady at the Dubai
World Cup race meet- - ing in 2018, followed d but winner or not Alla a will always love dress- - ing up to have fun with h her friends. Exactly the e right attitude.
HUTCHO IS BACK ON SONG
It has been a wild ride for local singer, song writer Chris Hutchison. In 2006 he played to a sold out crowd of 2000 at HOTA and was touring with the likes of Thirsty Merc, Shannon Noll and Guy Sebastian. Then marriage, children and a desire to be home interrupted his career until he started to mount a comeback. Enter Covid and those plans were pushed aside until now. “It really does feel f like now is the time. t I know the game better, Spotify are promoting my m new single Dead to Me in two genres, modern and a country, and it’s it’ now about me following up. It’s all about timing and having a good product or brand. Teigan Fortnum, my partner, has really pushed me to do this. It’s a beautiful love story because she is 100 per cent in my corner and has been doing everything she can to help. There are four songs to be released over summer followed by my debut album. The music has to be out first and then I’ll look to tour off the back of it. I do a
lot of weddings s which puts food d on the table but t next year is s going to be huge. . It’s that cliche e thing – one song, , one famous per- son hears it and d you’re off.”
Here’s to o 2023 and be- yond. ONCE A SW E ET - HEART ALWAYS A SWEETHEART
Jackie Love is many things. Kick-ass dancer, evocative singer, naturally beautiful, able to sing in 11 languages and shy. Shy?
She laughs at the incongruity of a performer able to entertain thousands but naturally timid off stage.
“It probably stems from being very tall and blonde as a child and standing out. It’s why I was sent to dance classes although I’m getting better at interacting with people.”
Her career has spanned many decades but she is remarkably unaffected by the places and famous people of her career.
“There have been many highlights around the world, singing in front of two Popes and many world leaders and royals but given her recent passing, it was a Royal Command Performance in front of Queen Elizabeth II (pictured) in 1982 at the Brisbane Commonwealth Games.
“It is a great memory.” She credits legendary American performer Sammy Davis Jr as the person who really gave her career a gigantic boost.
“I was 19, he saw me performing and took me to America with him on a tour. Watching him two shows a night was a masterclass in how to work a crowd and he would monitor me before he went on and give me tips. He was so protective and organised my mother and father to come over to share the experience which I have always appreciated.”
It is that mentorship that has set Jackie on a path of helping up and coming performers.
“Sammy changed my life and I, in my own small way, love doing that for others. I also do a lot of charity work these days and it is astonishing how a particular song can really reach people as they get older and change their demeanour. Happy memories I guess.”
While her impossibly long legs gathered a lot of publicity, it is her work ethic that has been the driver of her career.
“It is my ballet training – I would rehearse and rehearse to get everything just right before any show. It is the one thing you have to do as a performer – hard work is the key.”
Over her career, there is one role she relished, that of Lina Lamont in Singing in the Rain.
“I did it for two years around Australia and it was so much fun.”
She’s too modest to say it but having seen it, she stole the show every single time. For the future Jackie is looking forward to getting the goahead to star in a Christmas pantomime, continuing her career with corporate and club gigs while still helping and volunteering to help others when she can.
“I have enjoyed a great career and have no regrets. For a kid from Perth to travel the world doing what she loves has been a dream.”
One of the sweethearts of showbiz.