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Born Danielle Jane Minogue on October 20th 1971,
Dannii first appeared as a child in two Australian
television programmes Skyways and The Sullivans.
Dannii went to the Johnny Young Talent School and first appeared on YTT as a
contestant on her 8th birthday, where she sang "On the Good Ship Lollypop".
She joined the team at age 10, appearing on the 500th episode show
singing "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?" with Mark Mc Cormack.<
She enjoyed touring, especially when visiting places
like Dunk Island and Hamilton Island.
Dannii recalls her most embarrassing YTT moment to be
when she and a group of team members fell through the
stage!
Her first recording appeared on a Young Talent Time
album released in Australia, when Dannii was just
15 years old! During her six years with the
phenomenally successful talent show Dannii featured in
several sold-out nationwide tours and performed on two
albums, which featured her first solo tracks as a
recording artist.
A tremendously busy year followed in 1988. Dannii's interest in fashion turned
the star into a successful designer. Her debut range, simply entitled Dannii
was an immediate success selling out in an amazing 10 days across Australia.
During 1989 Dannii released a further 3 ranges, signed a record deal in
Australia and began filming as Emma Jackson in the Australian soap
Home And Away. This show was seen by over fifty million viewers a week and
brought Dannii to the attention of European audiences for the first time.
By the end of 1989 Dannii was voted by Australian magazines as Best Female
Personality and Best New Star!
After the Australian release of Love And Kisses,
which sold over 60,000 units and reached number
four during 1990, Dannii quit Home And Away,
released a further two hit singles and headed to London,
where she now spends most of her time. During 1991
four UK Top 15 singles were released; Love And Kisses,
Success, Jump To The Beat and Baby Love.
They were all taken from her debut album
Love And Kisses, which leaped into the Top 10 and
went gold on release. At the end of the year UK
magazines had voted Dannii as Best New Star,
Number 1 Woman Of The Year, Best New Artist and
The World's Best Female Pop Star!
Having established herself as an international super
star, Dannii continued to travel the world releasing
her second album Get Into You which spawned many more
hit singles including the 1993 Top 10 smash This Is It.
Constantly dynamic, Dannii put a temporary hold on her
singing career to concentrate on her passion for
television presenting. In September 1994 Dannii hosted
BBC's Fan TC with a return series in 1995 attracting
audiences of over 2 million. She went on to tour for
six weeks presenting the Big Breakfast's Egg's On Legs
roadshows, released 2 number one hits in Japan,
presented a Disney television special and appeared in
Australian Playboy magazine, which sold out in an
amazing three days!
Even more success followed in 1995. The spectacular
year began with It's Not Just Saturday, a 16-week
teenage style show of which audience figures peaked
at over 1.5 million. Throughout April, May and June
Dannii was kept busy filming adventure series Scoop
and in June, Dannii launched her very own clothing
range in the UK. Taking to the road again with the
Big Breakfast she went on to co-present MTV's
Hanging Out and then Electric Circus. To top an
amazing year off Dannii released an 18-month calendar,
which became the biggest selling calendar on record,
selling over 50,000 copies in its first
month of sales!
Continuing to host Electric Circus Dannii released
her third studio album Girl in 1997, which was
proceeded by the more dance-based single
All I Wanna Do that reached number 4. Dannii
jetted to Australia to appear in
Grease The Arena Spectacular,
where she played her favourite character Rizzo,
captivating audiences of over 450,000.
She then returned to the UK to kick start her first
ever tour, Unleashed '98, which took in
over 23 dates! Having already notched up hit singles
around the world it wasn't long before Mardi Gras
records in Australia asked Dannii to launch the
first ever gay and lesbian record label.
Everlasting Night became the official anthem of
1999 and Dannii was asked to perform for the second
year in a row at the event. Never before has an artist
been on the Mardi Gras bill two years running.
Towards the end of 1999 Dannii tackled one of the
most demanding and sought after
Shakespearian roles - Lady MacBeth.
Performing outside at the Royal Botanic Gardens for
Edinburgh's Fringe Festival,
Dannii thrilled audiences for three weeks to
rave reviews.
Having conquered so much in such a short space of time
it didn't take much to persuade Dannii to audition
for the lead role in Notre-Dame De Paris in
London's West End. Having secured the part as gypsy
girl Esmeralda, Dannii took to the stage in
February 2001 playing to over 2,000 people a night
at the Dominion Theatre. Dannii later went on to win
Best Stage Performance at the Maxim Awards for this
show. This was closely followed by critical acclaim
for her role in the controversial play
The Vagina Monologues. Dutch trance masters Riva,
then approached Dannii to guest vocal on one
of 2001s biggest singles Who Do You Love Now?.
The track reached the dizzy heights of number three.
Before 2002 had even started Dannii had signed a six-album deal with London
Records and began work on her forth studio album, now titled Neon Nights.
A world-wind of live gigs up and down the country continued throughout the
year including the Smash Hits Tour 2002 and headlining the 10th anniversary
of London’s world-famous G.A.Y club. Put The Needle On It hit the UK’s Top 10
in early November and spent some 11 weeks on the UK singles chart.
The track was also a big hit around Europe and became one Dannii’s biggest
hits in homeland Australia.
On March 3rd 2003 Dannii releases her 16th UK
single I Begin To Wonder. Having worked with producers
such as Neimo, JCA, Ian Masterson and Korpi & Blacksell
(Murlyn), Neon Nights promises a perfect blend of pop
and club sophistication that will take Dannii
stateside in 2003.
She still keeps in touch with several of her YTT friends, including Natalie,
Tim, Vince and Beven.
Dannii left YTT in May '88 but returned to be a part
of the New Generation for USA and Canadian audiences.
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