The humble beginnings of Australia's superstars

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Everybody had to start somewhere. Before the Oscars, before the Grammys, the likes of Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, Tina Arena, Asher Keddie and Kylie Minogue were just aspiring young talents looking for an opportunity... and they got it! These are not necessarily the first appearances by these now famous actors and singers, but they certainly capture the early talent, charm, hopes and dreams that would ultimately take them to the top.

Close up of a young girl smiling at camera with colourful ribbons in her hair.

Fame by Asher Keddie: Young Talent Time, 1983

This is actor Asher Keddie’s first appearance on Young Talent Time as a talent quest contestant.
A 10-year-old Barry Gibb performing on live television in 1960.

The Bee Gees' first national TV performance

The Bee Gees’ first national TV appearance on Nine’s variety show Desmond and the Channel 9 Pins, on 12 August 1960.
Head and shoulders shot of Kylie Minogue at age 8 in an episode of The Sullivans. She is looking upwards, away from the camera and her hair is partly covering her face.

Kylie on The Sullivans

This episode of The Sullivans (1976–83) features 8-year-old Kylie Minogue in her first TV acting role.

A young Russell Crowe looking at paperwork, as part of a role playing exercise, in the short film Manager on the Case

Manager On The Case

A baby-faced Russell Crowe plays Norman Courtney, the 'injured employee' in this short film about the Commonwealth Agency rehabilitation program.

 
A young girl performing a song in a cute sailors outfit salutes as she sings to camera.

Dannii Minogue's Young Talent Time Debut, 1979

It is amusing to see host Johnny Young’s mispronunciation of Dannii’s surname in this short clip of her first performance as a talent show contestant in 1979.  
Nicole Kidman, wearing her school trackies, in a scene from Winners (episode Room to Move)

Winners: Room to Move (1985)

Nicole Kidman, in the tradermark curls of her early years as an actress, stars in a telemovie which was criticised at the time for 'undermining parental authority'.
Jacki Weaver, smiling and holding a box of 'Rice Krinkles', featuring her face on the front. In the box, Jacqui is seen eating the product.

Jacki Weaver advertising Rice Krinkles (1965)

This commercial for the Nabisco-owned breakfast cereal Rice Krinkles features an 18-year-old Jacki Weaver.
A young girl in a blue top is singing and looking at the camera. She has a red rotary telephone in front of her.

Tina Arena sings ABBA, Whitney Houston: Young Talent Time

Tina Arena’s first appearance as a contestant on Young Talent Time in 1974 is part of the show’s folklore.
David Wenham, wearing a singlet, working in a kitchen manufacturing workshop

Don't Touch Wood!

David Wenham plays a tradie with no sense of professionalism or customer service, bringing down his mate's struggling kitchen manufacturing business.
Actor Bryan Brown, wearing hearing protective equipment, in the 1981 short film Noise

Noise

Bryan Brown stars as a factory worker and aspiring foreman who must make a decision between being bullied at work, or risk losing his hearing.
Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue, pictured from waist up, both aged approximately 8 or 9, in a 1979 episode of the series Skyways.

Child stars Kylie and Jason in Skyways

Before their famed roles in Neighbours, Kylie and Jason appeared on screen together years earlier as sister and brother in the Crawford Productions television series, Skyways (197
Jeremy Shadlow and Noah Taylor having a conversation in the 1988 film Out of Control

Out Of Control

This dramatised film features Noah Taylor in one of his first roles, as a teenage drug dealer.
An Aboriginal man, a young woman and a male child standing in the desert

Walkabout: This is Australia

The brother and sister are dying of thirst, camped by a spring that has dried up while they were asleep. The boy (Lucien John) sees a figure on the horizon.

WARNING: This clip contains animal suffering or death
Bill Hunter, in military uniform, in the film One Good Reason

One Good Reason

Bill Hunter features as Major Tom Archer in this film about the dilemma of an army major who is considering resigning to take a job in private enterprise. 
Zoe Carides and Ben Mendelhson stare at each other at the entrance of a night club. There are blue neon signs reading 'S Club' on both sides of the door. Paul Gleeson stands behind them.

The Insiders - A Journey Through Form S

Zoe Carides and Ben Mendelsohn star in an instructional video for high school kids, teaching them why they should do their tax return, and how to fill out the corresponding form.
Heath Ledger as a young actor with another actor. They are both wearing cycling gear. Ledger's character has a bloody gash on his head.

Heath Ledger: Sweat

Early in his career Heath Ledger starred as Snowy Bowles - a young, gay cyclist - in the 26-part series Sweat, pitched at young adults.
Jack Thompson in an office, wearing a tie

Case Histories in Supervision, episode 2: By-Pass

One of Jack Thompsons earliest roles, as a young designer frustrated at a manager who refuses to recognise his good ideas.
Johnny O'Keefe on the set of Sing Sing Sing, 1964

JO'K and The Bee Gees on 'Sing Sing Sing'
Geoffrey Rush, looking angry and wearing a headset microphone on the stage of the Sydney Opera House

Geoffrey Rush in Starstruck

In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance, Geoffrey Rush plays the stage manager during the Sydney Opera House finale of Gillian Armstrong's Starstruck.
A young Kylie Minogue leaning on Bradley Kilpatrick's shoulder, in an episode of The Henderson Kids

The Henderson Kids, series 1 episode 2

Kylie Minogue in her first lead role as Charlotte 'Char' Kernow. This series also starred Ben Mendelsohn and Nadine Garner, and premiered on Network Ten on 11 May 1985. 
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