Speakers Profile - Denise Drysdale










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Regional Queensland

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Denise Drysdale has hosted television shows, radio programs and appeared in movies. She's also entertained audiences in the corporate arena and in Clubs around Australia.

A truly versatile and dynamic entertainer, in 2005 Channel 9 selected Denise Drysdale as one of the 50 most significant people on TV in the last 50 years.

Born in Melbourne in 1948, Denise Drysdale began her career as a dancing three-year-old. Having won numerous dancing competitions, at age 11 Denise made her television debut. However, by age 16, she was sacked from Graham Kennedy's In Melbourne Tonight for being overweight and the 'weak link'. Photographed at the time by a Channel Nine photographer, Denise went on to win the annual Girl of the Year Award with Everybody's magazine in 1964.

When Denise Drysdale claimed to be a singer, despite never having sung professionally in her life, her singing career was launched. Following an Australian tour with Ray Brown and the Whispers, she was offered a recording contract then went on to appear in 26 episodes of the ABC's Dig We Must.

Employed as Melbourne's first go-go dancer at age 17, Denise's popularity led to the Australian Government inviting her to perform for the troops in Vietnam for three weeks in 1967. In 1969, she went to the Far East to entertain American troops.

Over the years Denise has appeared regularly on numerous television shows including: The Ernie Sigley Show, The Norman Gunston Show, Celebrity Squares, Young Talent Time, Countdown, Division Four, Homicide and Bellbird. In 1975 Denise won the TV Week Gold Logie for the Most Popular Female Personality on Australian TV. She won her second Gold Logie the following year. In the same period, she also won consecutive Silver Logies.

As an actress, she has appeared in the movies, The Last of The Knucklemen, Snap Shot and Blowing Hot and Cold. While onstage, she has appeared in many plays and musicals including: Salad Days, Grease, The Barry Crocker Show, Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Hello Dolly in 1994. She also spent two years in Sydney doing Weekend Magazine and Beauty and the Beast.

In 1989, Denise teamed up with Ernie Sigley again to host In Melbourne Today, and in 1991 began a Sydney version of the show In Sydney Today. In 1998, Denise joined the Seven Network to present her own show for the first time, simply called Denise. In 2000, she celebrated 40 years in television, an extraordinary achievement for any performer.

In demand in the corporate arena, Denise's honest, down to earth, let's entertain them philosophy works like a charm with sponsors and the general public alike. Her motto of no job too small has stood her in good stead and her corporate clients include: Telstra, Australia Post, Kidz Biz, The Housing Commission Association, Freight Awards, Asia on Parade, International Lifestyle Convention, Recycling Australia, and the Grand Prix Victoria.