POPSUGAR Australia Celebrity

Ellen and Portia Mingle With Local Stars at Official Welcome Party

Jessica Chandra — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 08:07:15 EST

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi may have been in the country since Friday but they were officially welcomed to Australia with a black-tie gala that was held at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne last night. The event was supposed to be held a week earlier, but Ellen’s recent illness and postponed arrival meant the cocktail reception was pushed back - not that any of the 300 frocked up VIP guests, including Lisa Wilkinson, Magda Szubanski, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Cameron McGlinchey, Shane Jacobson, Brynne Edelsten, Rebecca Judd, and host Sonia Kruger, seemed to mind. When they couldn’t catch a moment with the woman of the moment, local celebs were content to mingle with the supporting players in Ellen’s life and popular show, such as her mother, Betty DeGeneres, and DJ, Tony Okungbowa.

The gala capped off a successful day in Melbourne for Ellen, and after an overwhelming turnout at her Birrarung Marr Park show earlier day, it’s no surprise that Ellen expressed her desire to possibly move to Australia in the future. She said, “I shouldn’t put it out there, but I can see us living here one day. Not for a while as I’ve got shows to do, but I can see it happening. This is the most incredible trip, I will never forget it.”

10 Minutes With Goddess Stars Laura Michelle Kelly and Magda Szubanski

Jessica Chandra — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:00:04 EST

In Goddess, the new Australian musical comedy opening on March 14, Elspeth Dickins (Laura Michelle Kelly) is a young mother living in Tasmania who’s looking after her toddler twin boys while her husband (Ronan Keating) is travelling around the world, saving whales. He gives her a webcam so they can stay in touch, but he’s never online when Elspeth is. So she installs the webcam above in her kitchen and invites the world in as she performs her ‘sink songs,’ gradually building an audience and catching the attention of advertising exec Cassandra Wolfe (Magda Szubanski), who needs a new star to front a campaign for a new female-targeted laptop called the Goddess. Elspeth leaves her kids behind to try her luck in Sydney, but is then faced with the dilemma of chasing her dreams or being with her family.

Leading ladies Laura Michelle Kelly and Magda Szubanski did press for the movie ahead of its world premiere last week. I caught up with the stars - it was also Laura Michelle’s birthday! - to discuss what drew them to the story, what it was like to work with first-time actor Ronan, and Magda’s nerves over doing a big musical number. Read on for our chat!

Sugar Diary: Our Week in Pics

Genevieve Rota — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 12:07:05 EST

Well, it's Friday lunch-time, and you know what that means. . . It's time to recap what's been going on in our work world this week! We kicked it off with a delish lunch that made a rainy day seem so much better, and the rest flowed from there! Marisa went to lunch hosted by Megan Gale, who was as lovely and gorgeous as ever, Alison tried out some new products - including the too-cute Archies Girls range by MAC - and Jess attended an Aussie movie premiere and tried out a cooking school. Throw in the green nail polish, the new boyfriend and packets and packets of Tim Tams and you have a very happy week! It's all here in this gallery - click through and check it out.

Laura, Ronan, Magda and More Celebrate Goddess' World Premiere

Jessica Chandra — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:15:00 EST

The stars of the new Australian musical/comedy Goddess turned out for the world premiere at Event Cinemas, Bondi Junction in Sydney last night. The red carpet was decked out with a makeshift sink as the film’s lead, Elspeth Dickens (Laura Michelle Kelly), finds fame when she broadcasts her ‘sink songs’ on the Internet through her webcam. British actress Laura, who’s well-known in musical theatre circles, expressed her excitement at Australian audiences finally being able to watch the movie. She said working on Goddess was “so much fun” and that she was sad to be leaving the country to return to LA.

Ronan Keating has his first acting role in the movie and said the most exciting thing for him was “finding someone who believed in me,” crediting director Mark Lamprell and producer Richard Keddie for giving him a chance. Magda Szubanski told media how much hair, makeup and costume helped her get into character as advertising exec Cassandra Wolfe, and YouTube star Natalie Tran, who has a supporting role, said the experience of shooting the film was “really cool” because “usually I do things by myself like a loser, so it was pretty cool to see what it’s like when there are a lot of cameras and a lot of other people.”

Click through for more of our interviews from last night - Goddess is out on Mar. 14.

Aussie Screen Stars Flock to The Domain For Tropfest Film Festival

Jessica Chandra — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 08:00:48 EST

Nearly 100,000 people made their way to The Domain in Sydney yesterday for the 2013 Tropfest Film Festival, and among them were some of Australia’s most recognisable stars of film and TV. Sam Worthington returned home to sit on a celebrity judging panel that included Rebecca Gibney, The Sapphires director Wayne Blair, Magda Szubanski and Rake star Richard Roxburgh, and he was the one who handed out the top prize at the world’s largest short film festival to filmmaker Nicholas Clifford for the short We’ve All Been There. Sam also created an award last night for best personality in a documentary, pledging $3,000 to 86-year-old Raymond Borzelli, the dancing, busking subject of Better Than Sinatra.

The 2013 Tropfest Film Festival marked the end of an era at The Domain, with Tropfest founder John Polson announcing the location will move to Centennial Park. And while the rain held out last night, to beat February’s seasonal climate the date for future festivals will be brought forward to December, with the next one being staged on Dec. 8 this year.

The Stars of Kath & Kimderella Hit the Red Carpet in Sydney For Another Crazy Premiere

Jessica Chandra — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:00:55 EST

The entrance of Hoyts at the Entertainment Quarter was awash with Kath and Kim lookalikes (with some Sharons and Kels) awaiting the arrival of their favourite characters at the Sydney premiere of Kath & Kimderella last night. The screams intensified as Kel Knight (Glenn Robbins) pulled up in his butcher’s car with Sharon Strzelecki in the passenger seat - he told us that she actually got a bit car sick on the way - and then a bright pink hummer arrived carrying the movie’s leading ladies, Kath Day-Knight (Jane Turner) and Kim Craig (Gina Riley). The foxy ladies of Fountain Lakes returned to the red carpet after Sunday night’s Melbourne premiere in different outfits from the movie - Kath in a shiny white jumpsuit and Kim in a blue, embellished, ruffled mullet-style dress. The cast linked up with designer Alex Perry for some group shots - Kim said she was the “new Megan Gale” and Sharon tried to get a fashion deal happening with her own sports line - before making the press rounds. Check out what they had to share with us - Kath & Kimderella is out Sep. 6.

Kath on her premiere preparation: “I’ve been filled and grilled and sucked and plucked, getting ready for tonight - it’s a very exciting night.”
Kath on the bling in her hair: “It’s stuck with super glue so I’ll probably have to cut it out. But that’s what you do for the fans.”
Sharon on the fans: “There are so many lookalikes! I didn’t know who was the real Mrs. D, or who was the real me, actually! I got a bit confused. There were so many good Sharon lookalikes.”
Sharon on her favourite thing about Italy: “Look, I had an unfortunate accident on my way back from Italy because Kim’s luggage fell out of the overhead cabin and hit me on the head. So I couldn’t actually remember much of it. But Italy’s a beautiful country - the food, the people. The people are gorgeous. I had a great time.”
Sharon’s advice on what people should do in Italy: “I don’t even have the time to tell you, but the Panthenon (Pantheon), the Collectimaseum (Colosseum) - that’s amazing, go and see that. There are so many things. It’s not Fountain Gate - it’s not Fountain Lakes either - but it’s pretty nice.”
Kel on seeing Kath with another man: “You know what? People have often asked me that question. Italian men don’t threaten me. I saw her down at the fruit and veg shop the other day, and she was squeezing Tony’s avocadoes, and I said, ‘Fine by me, I know exactly what you’re doing. Good luck to you, I say.’ She’s safe as far as I’m concerned.”

Kath and Kimderella Take Sydney! Snoop the Hilarious Red Carpet Arrivals

Alison Parr — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:28:45 EST

Last night I accompanied Pop to the Sydney premiere of Kath & Kimderella at Sydney's Fox(y) Studios, only to be greeted with a spectacular of style that could only be described as nice... different... unusual. The fans got into the Fountain Lakes spirit of things with their best sartorial tributes to Kath's retro-fabulous take on 'tizzy', Sharon's sports-mad style and Kim (aka "the new Megan Gale") in her glamorous Gypsy Wedding-inspired get-up. Even Alex Perry got in on the fun! We've already taken some styling notes from the Day-Knight household, so we'll just let you enjoy last night's red carpet shenanigans, sans style commentary. The pictures really do speak for themselves . . .

Kath and Kim Get Foxy For the Melbourne Premiere of Kath & Kimderella

Jessica Chandra — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:00:51 EST

Have you ever seen a premiere more fun than this? Fountain Gate shopping centre hosted the Melbourne premiere of Kath & Kimderella last night and the “filum’s” main players were out in force on the red carpet. Kath (Jane Turner) turned up in her best ’80s attire, a shimmery blue playsuit, and accessorised with sequins and beads in her curly mop of her. Her daughter, Kim (Gina Riley), brought out all the stops in a massive pink gown complete with a tiara that read ‘Princess.’ Sharon Strzelecki (Magda Szubanski) wore a jazzed up version of her netball uniform and pulled a Usain Bolt pose, while leading men Kel (Glenn Robbins) and Brett (Peter Rowsthorn) were on hand to support their ladies. Other guests also got into the mood of the premiere, such as Ruby Rose, who wore a T-shirt featuring Sharon and wore curlers in her hair. Kath & Kimderella is released on Sep. 6.

Style Secrets We Learnt From the Kath and Kimderella Red Carpet Premiere

Alison Parr — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:39:49 EST

Fountain Gate shopping centre (where else!) played host to the red carpet premiere of Kath & Kimderdella last night, with the ladies of Fountain Lakes taking to the red rug in their foxiest ensembles. We gleaned up some fresh fashion tips from Kath, Kim and Sharon that we thought were well worth sharing. Keep reading for your Kath & Kim style guide, then step inside to see their red rug romp!

Bum bags are de rigueur for hands-free posing on the red rug. Invest in a classic mottled-leather style for staying power. Failing that, get your downtrodden husband date to carry your handbag for you.
If the dress code reads "black tie" it actually means "tizzy". Go forth in a riot of taffetta, sequins and/or polyester fabric you can find. Shine is your friend.
An ankle bootie is just the ticket with a three quarter-length jodhpur jumpsuit.
Jump on the sports luxe bandwagon by glamming up your ol' faithful netty uniform. Blinged-up trackie dacks are the only way to be a centre-court horn bag.
When it comes to accessories, think nice, think different, think unusual; bow-topped belts, hair jewels and matching earring/necklace combos prove that more actually is more. Foxy!

Magda Szubanski Reveals She's Gay During a Valentine's Day Appearance on The Project

Jessica Chandra — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:23:55 EST

Magda Szubanski made a Valentine’s Day appearance on The Project last night, where she cleared up any uncertainty about her sexual orientation by identifying herself as “absolutely gay.” The beloved Australian actress, who starred in Babe and as Sharon on Kath & Kim, also came out in support of same-sex marriage, and got emotional when talking about why she chose now to come out, hinting that was her work that prevented her from doing so earlier. She said, “I think it must be hard for people who don’t know experience what it’s like to know what the pressures of being gay are. I love my work, and I just . . . You’re forced into this position where you almost feel like you have to choose. You just want to give of yourself . . . I know you’re going to ask me if it would’ve been hard - of course it would’ve. It’s so recent that things have changed.” Magda’s admission came shortly after White Collar actor Matt Bomer revealed he was gay when he thanked his partner, Hollywood publicist Simon Halls, at the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards on the weekend.

If you missed Magda’s interview on The Project you can watch it after the jump.