Sophie Lee
Encyclopedia
Sophie Lee is an Australian film, stage and television actress and author.
First rising to fame in 1990 hosting the The Bugs Bunny Show
on Australian TV, the show provoked controversy through her wardrobe, which was publicised as "middle-aged men... rush home from work in time to watch Sophie throw to Bugs Bunny cartoons". The Nine Network
series, which had previously not been hosted, featured Bugs Bunny
and other Warner Bros.
Looney Tunes
and Merrie Melodies
cartoons, plus occasional other material, such as an interview between Sophie and Kylie Minogue
. She was cast by executive producer David Lyle out of 150 candidates.
In 1991, Lee started playing the ongoing role of Penny Wellings in the drama series The Flying Doctors
. In 1992, she also hosted the TV series Sex with Sophie Lee
. Lee built on this in the media, speaking out on feminism, sexism and the need for sex education in the AIDS
era.
Lee has acted in a number of iconic films, including the Australian comedies Muriel's Wedding
, Bootmen
and The Castle as well as cult films such as He Died with a Felafel in His Hand
and Titsiana Booberini
. She is a patron of "Big Screen" at the National Film and Sound Archive
.
For her performance in the 1997 film The Castle, Lee was nominated for the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Supporting Actress
Lee has appeared in a number of stage productions, including Mr Kolpert with the Sydney Theatre Company and the title role in "The Virgin Mim" .
From 2008, she has hosted ""Natgeo Presents with Sophie Lee" on the National Geographic channel. She is also a commentator on the series 20 to 1
.
Apart from acting, Lee played saxophone in the Australian pop/dance group Freaked Out Flower Children
, who released the hit album "Love In" (1991) and the #31 single "Spill the Wine
".
She has now branched into writing, releasing a book in 2007 titled "Alice in La La Land" through Random House
publishing. The book is inspired by her time spent in Hollywood. Also in 2007, she became a columnist for "Sunday Magazine". In 2009 Sophie released her first children's novel titled "Edie Amelia and the Monkey Shoe Mystery", a fantastically imaginative story for 7+ year olds, published by Pan Macmillan
in the early 1990s, she lived in St Kilda, Victoria
.
For six years up to early 2000, she was the partner of Melbourne comedian/writer/actor Mick Molloy
and regularly appeared on his nationally syndicated radio show.
In 2002 she married Anthony Freedman and now has a daughter, Edie, and two sons, Tom and Jack from the marriage.
Career
Early in her career, Sophie Lee worked as a model, both in Australia and Japan appearing in print and on TV. Her first feature film was Raw Silk in 1988.First rising to fame in 1990 hosting the The Bugs Bunny Show
The Bugs Bunny Show
The Bugs Bunny Show is a long-running American television anthology series hosted by Bugs Bunny, that was mainly composed of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons released by Warner Bros. between August 1, 1948 and the end of 1969. The show originally debuted as a primetime half-hour program on...
on Australian TV, the show provoked controversy through her wardrobe, which was publicised as "middle-aged men... rush home from work in time to watch Sophie throw to Bugs Bunny cartoons". The Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
series, which had previously not been hosted, featured Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny is a animated character created in 1938 at Leon Schlesinger Productions, later Warner Bros. Cartoons. Bugs is an anthropomorphic gray rabbit and is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality and his portrayal as a trickster. He has primarily appeared in animated cartoons, most...
and other Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon series. It preceded the Merrie Melodies series and was Warner Bros.'s first animated theatrical series. Since its first official release, 1930's Sinkin' in the Bathtub, the series has become a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television...
and Merrie Melodies
Merrie Melodies
Merrie Melodies is the name of a series of animated cartoons distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures between 1931 and 1969.Originally produced by Harman-Ising Pictures, Merrie Melodies were produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions from 1933 to 1944. Schlesinger sold his studio to Warner Bros. in 1944,...
cartoons, plus occasional other material, such as an interview between Sophie and Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
. She was cast by executive producer David Lyle out of 150 candidates.
In 1991, Lee started playing the ongoing role of Penny Wellings in the drama series The Flying Doctors
The Flying Doctors
The Flying Doctors is an Australian drama series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday lifesaving efforts of the real Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia....
. In 1992, she also hosted the TV series Sex with Sophie Lee
Sex (TV series)
Sex, also known as Sex with Sophie Lee, is an Australian television series that ran from 1992 to 1993 on the Nine Network. It was hosted by Sophie Lee in its first season and Pamela Stephenson in its second...
. Lee built on this in the media, speaking out on feminism, sexism and the need for sex education in the AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
era.
Lee has acted in a number of iconic films, including the Australian comedies Muriel's Wedding
Muriel's Wedding
Muriel's Wedding is a 1994 Australian-French romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by P. J. Hogan. The film, which stars actresses Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths, Sophie Lee, and Bill Hunter, focuses on the socially awkward Muriel whose ambition is to have a glamorous wedding and improve...
, Bootmen
Bootmen
Bootmen is a 2000 Australian comedy-drama film, directed by Dein Perry. It was distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures in Canada and USA and 20th Century Fox Distribution in Australia and funded by the Australian Film Finance Corporation...
and The Castle as well as cult films such as He Died with a Felafel in His Hand
He Died With A Felafel In His Hand
He Died with a Felafel in His Hand is a novel by John Birmingham, first published in 1994 by The Yellow Press . The story consists of a collection of colourful anecdotes about living in share houses in Brisbane and other cities in Australia with variously dubious housemates. The title refers to a...
and Titsiana Booberini
Titsiana Booberini
Titsiana Booberini is a short film written and directed by Robert Luketic and released in 1997.Initially entered at the Telluride Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival, the films success led to it being screened at film festivals all over the world...
. She is a patron of "Big Screen" at the National Film and Sound Archive
National Film and Sound Archive
The National Film and Sound Archive is Australia’s audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national collection of audiovisual materials and related items...
.
For her performance in the 1997 film The Castle, Lee was nominated for the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Supporting Actress
Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role is an award in the annual Australian Film Institute Awards. It has been awarded annually since 1976.-Previous winners:*1976: Melissa Jaffer – Caddie...
Lee has appeared in a number of stage productions, including Mr Kolpert with the Sydney Theatre Company and the title role in "The Virgin Mim" .
From 2008, she has hosted ""Natgeo Presents with Sophie Lee" on the National Geographic channel. She is also a commentator on the series 20 to 1
20 to 1
20 to 1 is an Australian television series, currently hosted by Bert Newton that counts down an undefined "top 20" of elements or events of popular culture, such as films, songs, sporting scandals. Previously the show was hosted by Charles "Bud" Tingwell and narrated by David Reyne...
.
Apart from acting, Lee played saxophone in the Australian pop/dance group Freaked Out Flower Children
Freaked Out Flower Children
Freaked Out Flower Children were an Australian band best known for having Sophie Lee as a member. They played 1960s-style "flower power" music. Their single "Spill the Wine" reached #31 on the Australian single charts.-Members:Gumpy Phillips - Guitar, Vocals...
, who released the hit album "Love In" (1991) and the #31 single "Spill the Wine
Spill the Wine
"Spill the Wine" is a 1970 song performed by Eric Burdon and War. Released as a single in May 1970 , it was War's first chart hit, peaking at number three. It was also a top three hit in Canada and Australia...
".
She has now branched into writing, releasing a book in 2007 titled "Alice in La La Land" through Random House
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
publishing. The book is inspired by her time spent in Hollywood. Also in 2007, she became a columnist for "Sunday Magazine". In 2009 Sophie released her first children's novel titled "Edie Amelia and the Monkey Shoe Mystery", a fantastically imaginative story for 7+ year olds, published by Pan Macmillan
Personal life
Growing up, her family did not have a TV in the house, as her father, a University lecturer of Philosophy at the University of Newcastle, preferred more intellectual pursuits. Attended the local public school in Dudley, Newcastle, and St Mary's Convent school, even though the family did not believe in Catholicism. She moved to Sydney at age 18 for her career. When working at GTV-9GTV-9
GTV is a commercial television station in Melbourne, Australia owned by the Nine Network. The station is currently based at a new high-tech, purpose-built studios at 717 Bourke Street, Docklands.-History:...
in the early 1990s, she lived in St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
.
For six years up to early 2000, she was the partner of Melbourne comedian/writer/actor Mick Molloy
Mick Molloy
Michael "Mick" Molloy is an Australian comedian, writer and producer who has been active in the fields of radio, television, stand-up and film.-Biography:...
and regularly appeared on his nationally syndicated radio show.
In 2002 she married Anthony Freedman and now has a daughter, Edie, and two sons, Tom and Jack from the marriage.
Appearances in popular culture
- Australian band TISMTISMTISM was a seven piece anonymous alternative rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The group was formed in 1982 and enjoyed a large underground/independent following. Their third album Machiavelli and the Four Seasons reached the Australian national top 10 in 1995...
's song "Get Thee to a Nunnery" was specifically about Sophie Lee, mentioning her by name.
- 23 June 2009 Lee appeared on the Australian Television show Talkin' 'Bout Your GenerationTalkin' 'bout your GenerationTalkin' 'Bout Your Generation is an Australian game show produced by Granada Productions which premiered on Network Ten on 5 May 2009. It is hosted by Shaun Micallef....
as a member of the 'Generation X' team.
Film
- Raw Silk (1988) (TV movie)
- Typhon's People (1993) (TV movie)
- Halifax f.p: Acts of Betrayal (1994) (TV movie)
- Muriel's WeddingMuriel's WeddingMuriel's Wedding is a 1994 Australian-French romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by P. J. Hogan. The film, which stars actresses Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths, Sophie Lee, and Bill Hunter, focuses on the socially awkward Muriel whose ambition is to have a glamorous wedding and improve...
(1994) - The Hostages (1997)
- Titsiana BooberiniTitsiana BooberiniTitsiana Booberini is a short film written and directed by Robert Luketic and released in 1997.Initially entered at the Telluride Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival, the films success led to it being screened at film festivals all over the world...
(1997) - The CastleThe Castle (film)The Castle is a 1997 Australian comedy film directed by Rob Sitch. It starred Michael Caton, Anne Tenney, Stephen Curry, Sophie Lee, Eric Bana and Charles 'Bud' Tingwell. The screenwriting team comprised Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Jane Kennedy of Working Dog Productions.The Castle was...
(1997) - Holy Smoke!Holy Smoke!Holy Smoke! is a 1999 Australian drama film directed by Jane Campion, who co-wrote the screenplay with her sister Anna. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival and was shown at the New York Film Festival and the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival before being released theatrically.-Plot...
(1999) - BootmenBootmenBootmen is a 2000 Australian comedy-drama film, directed by Dein Perry. It was distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures in Canada and USA and 20th Century Fox Distribution in Australia and funded by the Australian Film Finance Corporation...
(2000) - He Died with a Felafel in His HandHe Died With A Felafel In His HandHe Died with a Felafel in His Hand is a novel by John Birmingham, first published in 1994 by The Yellow Press . The story consists of a collection of colourful anecdotes about living in share houses in Brisbane and other cities in Australia with variously dubious housemates. The title refers to a...
(2001) - Mimi (2002)
- BlackJack: Dead MemoryBlackJack (telemovie)BlackJack is a series of Australian television movies created by Shaun Micallef and Gary McCaffrie, and starring Colin Friels. The movies began airing on Network Ten in 2003 and concluded in 2007. They were shown in the United Kingdom on the BBC and UKTV Drama.After blowing the whistle on his...
(2006) - BlackJack: At The GatesBlackJack (telemovie)BlackJack is a series of Australian television movies created by Shaun Micallef and Gary McCaffrie, and starring Colin Friels. The movies began airing on Network Ten in 2003 and concluded in 2007. They were shown in the United Kingdom on the BBC and UKTV Drama.After blowing the whistle on his...
(2006) - BlackJack: GhostsBlackJack (telemovie)BlackJack is a series of Australian television movies created by Shaun Micallef and Gary McCaffrie, and starring Colin Friels. The movies began airing on Network Ten in 2003 and concluded in 2007. They were shown in the United Kingdom on the BBC and UKTV Drama.After blowing the whistle on his...
(2007)
Television
- The Flying DoctorsThe Flying DoctorsThe Flying Doctors is an Australian drama series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday lifesaving efforts of the real Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia....
(1991) 15 episodes - SexSex (TV series)Sex, also known as Sex with Sophie Lee, is an Australian television series that ran from 1992 to 1993 on the Nine Network. It was hosted by Sophie Lee in its first season and Pamela Stephenson in its second...
(1992) - R.F.D.S. (1993-1994)
- Raw FMRaw FMRaw FM was an Australian Television series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that aired for one season of thirteen episodes between November 1997 and February 1998. Raw FM was about an independent radio station of the same name and the young people that run it...
(1997) 1 episode - Good Guys Bad GuysGood Guys Bad GuysGood Guys, Bad Guys was an Australian crime TV series that screened on the Nine Network between 1997 and 1998, with a telemovie and twenty-six episodes produced. A comedy/drama set in Melbourne....
(1997) - Small Tales & True (1998) 1 episode
- The Big Schmooze (2000) 1 episode
- Something in the Air (2000) 4 episodes
- Tanya and Floyd (2002)
- The Chaser DecidesThe Chaser DecidesThe Chaser Decides is a Logie Award-winning Australian political satire based comedy program produced by The Chaser. The show provides commentary on Australian federal elections and has been broadcast in 2001, 2004 and 2007 on ABC TV...
(2004) 1 episode - StingersStingersStingers was an Australian police drama television series. It ran for eight seasons on the Nine Network before it was canceled in late 2004 due to declining ratings and the late timeslot Channel Nine gave the program...
(2004) 3 episodes - 20 to 120 to 120 to 1 is an Australian television series, currently hosted by Bert Newton that counts down an undefined "top 20" of elements or events of popular culture, such as films, songs, sporting scandals. Previously the show was hosted by Charles "Bud" Tingwell and narrated by David Reyne...
(2007–2008) 4 episodes - Talkin' 'Bout Your GenerationTalkin' 'bout your GenerationTalkin' 'Bout Your Generation is an Australian game show produced by Granada Productions which premiered on Network Ten on 5 May 2009. It is hosted by Shaun Micallef....
(2009) 1 episode
External links
- Sophie Lee article at the Museum of Broadcast Communications
- Freaked Out Flower Children – Spill the Wine, YouTube
- Pre-fame Portmans ad YouTube