Suzy Cato’s family drama ‘I HAVE TO WORK ON POSITIVITY’
The ever-chirpy children’s entertainer reveals a secret health scare
Even after three decades delighting Kiwi kids, entertainment legend Suzy Cato still gets nervous before she goes on stage. “I get the butterflies in my tummy – it doesn’t matter how many times
I do it,” she confesses.
But the 53-year-old mum-oftwo, star of hit shows You And Me and Suzy’s World, was overjoyed to be face to face with her fans again at a series of recent shows in Wellington and Dunedin after so many events were disrupted due to last year’s Omicron outbreak.
“Like most entertainers,
I had to do the great big shuffle,” Suzy grins, adding she kept busy by making her debut as an audiobook narrator on Elastic Island Adventures: Flip Flop Bay by Kiwi author Karen McMillan, which sees a group of children discover a magical isle with the ability to transport them to tropical destinations.
“I didn’t realise this book had so many characters!” laughs Suzy. “When there are three pirates on one page and I’m having to do all the voices, that’s a challenge, but it was so much fun.”
While this is Suzy’s first audiobook, she’s certainly no stranger to reading aloud. During lockdown, she started reading live bedtime stories for
the nation’s children, often choosing books by local authors to shine a light on Kiwi tales.
“It’s about hearing our lives represented,” says Suzy, who’s based on Auckland’s North Shore. “Browns Bay in Auckland is mentioned in Elastic Island – you’re not going to get that in the average book from overseas! And having audiobooks with Kiwi accents, amongst all the American and British options, is really important.”
As much fun as she had recording Elastic Island, the experience had a dramatic delay when Suzy’s 15-year-old son Morgan caught COVID. Her studio session had to be postponed while Suzy, her hubby Steve, 55, and Morgan’s 17-year-old sister Riley all quarantined together.
“Morgan was pretty sick those first three days – aches, pains, fevers and delirium at one stage,” says Suzy. “We were watching him very closely during that time, but he bounced back. I’m very grateful he wasn’t hit as hard as some others have been.”
While Suzy and her family may have rebounded from the pandemic, she’s keenly aware that the past couple of years have been an especially difficult time. “Mental health is something we’ve all had to deal with,” says Suzy, who chose the Mental Health Foundation as her charity for Dancing With The Stars when she was a contestant in 2018.
The entertainer and author says the social media reaction to her first appearance on the reality show was a testing ground for her own resilience when some found her DWTS transformation shocking.
“Aunty Suzy stepped out in a skimpy gold top and leather pants!” recalls the star. “There was a huge outpouring of support, but also some people saying, ‘Childhood ruined! I can’t believe Suzy’s done this!’
“Luckily, I was in a space to be able to laugh at it. The comments on social media aren’t always kind, but I’ve generally been very fortunate – or I’ve just deleted the comments. There’s no point in having that in your life.”
Suzy’s strategy for mental resilience centres around positivity. “I try to look for the best in every day and do the things that help me do that, even if it’s just taking a little
break to sit in the sunshine when I need to. But I’ve definitely had days where I’ve pulled the blankets up over my head.”
Having previously opened up about the heartbreaking loss of two pregnancies before she conceived her children, Suzy adds, “Something I’ve worked on pretty much all my life is navigating my way out of those dark moments. It’s about finding your inner happiness – that spark connecting to your own resilience.”
This message of positivity is Suzy’s main focus, whether she’s talking to her own children or Kiwi kids of all ages.
“A big part of what I do is reaching out to people – and I’m getting comments on my videos like, ‘Oh, that voice takes me back!’ or, ‘Oh, my God, it’s Aunty Suzy!’ It’s a wonderful gift. I’m honoured to have that opportunity.”
‘I’ve definitely had days where I’ve pulled the blankets up over my head’