Lucy Durack (born 17 November 1982) is an Australian actress, singer and television personality who played

Glinda Glinda is a fictional character created by L. Frank Baum for his ''Oz'' novels. She first appears in Baum's 1900 children's classic ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'', and is the most powerful sorceress in the Land of Oz, ruler of the Quadling Coun ...

in the Australian production of ''

Wicked Wicked may refer to: Books * Wicked, a minor character in the ''X-Men'' universe * '' Wicked'', a 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire that inspired the musical of the same name * ''Wicked'', the fifth novel in Sara Shepard's ''Pretty Little Liars'' s ...

'', and Elle Woods in the Australian production of '' Legally Blonde: The Musical''. She starred as Tugger in Australian television drama '' Doctor Doctor'' in 2016 and as Roxy Karibas in ''

Sisters A sister is a woman or a girl who shares one or more parents with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to ...

'' in 2017.

Early life

Born in

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

, Durack graduated from the

Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at Edith Cowan University (ECU) was established in 1980 to provide performing arts tuition. WAAPA (commonly pronounced "whopp-a") operates as a part of ECU, located at the ECU campus in ...

(WAAPA) with a Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre) and prior to graduating was cast in the

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

and Sydney seasons of '' Mamma Mia!'' in which she understudied and performed the role of Sophie.

Career

Durack has played the roles of Peggy Sawyer in '' 42nd Street'', Miss Dorothy in the Australian Premiere of ''

Thoroughly Modern Millie ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' is a 1967 American musical-romantic comedy film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Julie Andrews. The screenplay, by Richard Morris based on the 1956 British musical ''Chrysanthemum'', follows a naïve young ...

'', Lois Lane/Bianca in ''

Kiss Me, Kate ''Kiss Me, Kate'' is a musical written by Bella and Samuel Spewack with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The story involves the production of a musical version of William Shakespeare's ''The Taming of the Shrew'' and the conflict on and off-s ...

'', Rikki Rose in ''Respect'', Sybil Chase in

Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time'' magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and ...

's ''

Private Lives ''Private Lives'' is a 1930 comedy of manners in three acts by Noël Coward. It concerns a divorced couple who, while honeymooning with their new spouses, discover that they are staying in adjacent rooms at the same hotel. Despite a perpetuall ...

'', and Laurey in ''

Oklahoma! ''Oklahoma!'' is the first musical theater, musical written by the duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, ''Green Grow the Lilacs (play), Green Grow the Lilacs''. Set in farm country outside the town of ...

''. Durack's screen credits include the role of Cherry in the feature ''Goddess'', Bunny in Southern Star/UKTV telemovie ''Dripping in Chocolate'', Cassie Bennett on Channel Seven's ''

headLand A headland, also known as a head, is a coastal landform, a point of land usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends into a body of water. It is a type of promontory. A headland of considerable size often is called a cape.Whittow, John ...

'', '' All Saints'', ''Rush II'', '' Spicks and Specks'', ''

Parlami d'Amore ''Parlami d'amore'' (English: ''Speak to me of love'') is a 2008 Italo-Spanish film directed by Silvio Muccino. The film is based on Muccino's novel of the same name that he co-wrote with Carla Vangelista. The film was nominated for 8 David di Do ...

'', the Australian feature film ''Finding Nigel'' and the worldwide broadcast of the BBC2 Voice of Musical Theatre Competition in Cardiff in which she was a finalist. Durack is a frequent guest presenter on Channel Seven's ''Absolutely Melbourne''. While regularly performing in concert with various orchestras throughout Australia, Durack's cabaret appearances include ''Immaculate Confection'' with collaborator Matthew Lee Robinson which toured to Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Tasmania and the

Adelaide Cabaret Festival The Adelaide Cabaret Festival is an annual arts festival featuring cabaret held in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. It has been held in June each year since 2001, with the exception of 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, ...

, All Star Cabaret for the Sydney Theatre Company, Cavalcade for His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, and the 2003 Sydney Cabaret Convention for which she received the Judges' Award. Durack is known for playing the role of

in the Australian production of ''Wicked''. After previews began in June 2008, the show opened on 12 July at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne. It closed on 9 August 2009, and transferred to the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, where it ran from 5 September 2009 through 26 September 2010. After a short break, Durack began performances on the show's Australian National Tour which began 25 January 2011 in Brisbane (running to 2 April). It moved to Adelaide from 14 April to 4 June 2011, and played Perth from 19 June through 11 September 2011. She has co-starred alongside

Amanda Harrison Amanda Harrison is an Australian actress and singer, known for her roles in ''Wicked'' (Elphaba), ''We Will Rock You'' ("Meat" understudy in the UK, and “Oz" understudy in Australia), and for originating the role of Paula Pokrifki in the worl ...

Jemma Rix Jemma Rix (née Stevenson; born 25 December 1984) is an Australian theatre performer, who has played the role of Elphaba in the Melbourne, Sydney, Australian and Asian touring companies of ''Wicked''. Rix first performed the role in the shorten ...

Pippa Grandison Pippa Jody Grandison (born 12 September 1970) is an Australian actress and singer. She currently lives in Sydney, with her husband Steve Le Marquand and son. Career Pippa Grandison was born in Perth, Western Australia. She made her debut in th ...

Maggie Kirkpatrick Margaret Anne Kirkpatrick (née Downs; born 29 January 1941) is an Australian stage and screen actress who starred in the cult TV series ''Prisoner'' (otherwise known as ''Prisoner: Cell Block H'' in the UK and North America), where she was bes ...

Bert Newton Albert Watson Newton (23 July 1938 – 30 October 2021) was an Australian media personality. He was a Logie Hall of Fame inductee, quadruple Gold Logie award-winning entertainer and radio, theatre and television personality and presenter. Newt ...

Rob Guest Robert John Guest (17 July 19501 October 2008) was a New Zealand-Australian actor, television personality and host and singer, who started his career in pop music in New Zealand, before becoming best known for his work in Australian musical th ...

Rob Mills Robert Mills (born 21 June 1982) is an Australian actor, television host and singer-songwriter. He was one of the finalists from the first season of ''Australian Idol''. He co-hosted the late-night quiz show '' The Mint'', and was a regular sin ...

and

Anthony Callea Anthony Cosmo Callea (born 13 December 1982) is an Australian singer-songwriter and stage actor who rose to prominence as the runner-up in the 2004 season of '' Australian Idol''. Callea's debut single, a cover of Celine Dion and Andrea Bocel ...

. Durack sang the National Anthem at the

AFL Grand Final The AFL Grand Final is an Australian rules football match to determine the premiers for the Australian Football League (AFL) season. From its inception until 1989, it was known as the VFL Grand Final, as the league at that time was the Victori ...

and at Oaks Day as part of Melbourne's

Spring Racing Carnival The Spring Racing Carnival is the name of an Australian Thoroughbred horse racing series held annually in Melbourne during October and November. The Carnival and its status in the wider community Although racing in Australia is held every day exc ...

and performing on Channel 9's Carols By Candlelight and Channel Seven's

Carols in the Domain Carols in the Domain is an annual Australian Christmas concert event held in the Domain Gardens in Sydney. It began in 1983, and features many national and international performers and guest appearances. It a free event, broadcast around Austral ...

, all as part of the cast of ''

''. At the end of the Australian tour of ''Wicked'' which took place on 11 September 2011 in Perth, Durack moved on from her four-year role of Glinda to Melbourne for rehearsal of the new Australian production of ''Strange Bedfellows'', where she played the role of the mayor's daughter, Faith. Durack passed the role of Glinda onto Suzie Mathers. When ''

'' returned to Australia in 2014, Durack once again played the role of Glinda beginning with the Melbourne season in May 2014. In March 2012, it was announced that Durack would play the main character,

Elle Woods Elle Woods is the protagonist of Amanda Brown's 2001 novel ''Legally Blonde'' and the 2001 film of the same name as well as the 2003 sequel, '' Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde''. Woods is also the protagonist of the 2007 Broadway adapt ...

in the Australian production of ''

Legally Blonde ''Legally Blonde'' is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Robert Luketic in his List of directorial debuts, feature-length directorial debut, and scripted by Karen McCullah, Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith (writer), Kirsten Smith from ...

'', which also feature her ''Wicked'' co-stars

and David Harris as Warner Huntington III and Emmett Forrest respectively. The Australian production season began in September 2012 at the Lyric Theatre, Sydney, before opening on 4 October 2012. It then went on to play at the Lyric Theatre in Brisbane from March 2013. It opened in Melbourne at the Princess Theatre in May 2013. Lucy won the Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Musical for her work in ''Legally Blonde''. Durack completed filming the role of Katie Morgan in the film ''

Now Add Honey ''Now Add Honey'' is a 2015 Australian comedy film written by Robyn Butler and directed by Wayne Hope. The film stars Butler, Lucy Fry, Portia de Rossi, Lucy Durack, Hamish Blake, Angus Sampson and Erik Thomson. Butler was nominated for the AACT ...

'' in September 2013 playing the fiancée of

Hamish Blake Hamish Donald Blake (born 11 December 1981) is an Australian comedian, television and radio presenter, actor and author. Since 2003, he has worked with Andy Lee as part of the comedy duo Hamish and Andy. The pair have performed live and on tel ...

and sister of

Portia De Rossi Portia Lee James DeGeneres (born Amanda Lee Rogers; 31 January 1973), known professionally as Portia de Rossi, is an Australian-American former actress. She played Nelle Porter on the American drama series '' Ally McBeal'' (1998–2002), for wh ...

. Durack's debut self-titled album was released on 28 September 2012. Beginning 2017, Durack portrays Glinda the Good Witch in the Australian tour of '' The Wizard of Oz''. In 2019, Durack was announced as one of the new judges for the ninth season of ''Australia’s Got Talent'' alongside

Shane Jacobson Shane Jacobson (born 18 March 1970) is an Australian actor, director, writer, and comedian, best known as the "Dunny Man" for his performances as the eponymous character Kenny Smyth, a plumber working for a portable toilet rental company, in the ...

, Manu Feildel and

Nicole Scherzinger Nicole Scherzinger (; born Nicole Prascovia Elikolani Valiente, June 29, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, and television personality. She is best known as the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls, one of the best-selling g ...

and new host Ricki-Lee. However in 2022, it was revealed that Durack would not return to the judging panel for the tenth season. She was replaced by actress and children’s author

Kate Ritchie Katherine Leigh Ritchie is an Australian actress, radio presenter and children's author, she remains best known for her long-running role as original character Sally Fletcher on the television soap opera '' Home and Away'', for which she won tw ...

. In January 2020, Durack portrayed Princess Fiona in the Australian production of

Shrek The Musical ''Shrek The Musical'' is a musical with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. It is based on the 2001 DreamWorks Animation film ''Shrek'', along with elements of its sequels: ''Shrek 2'', ''Shrek Forever After'' a ...

in Sydney before transferring to Melbourne. However, due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

, the Melbourne run was cut short, with the final performance being on 26 March. In August 2020, Durack was revealed to be the 'Cactus' in the second season of

The Masked Singer Australia ''The Masked Singer Australia'' is an Australian reality television Reality competition, singing competition show hosted that premiered on Network Ten, Network 10 on 23 September 2019. Hosted by Osher Günsberg, the show is based on the intern ...

. She was the seventh contestant eliminated from the show, placing 6th overall.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards

Personal life

Durack married Christopher Horsey on

Rottnest Island Rottnest Island ( nys, Wadjemup), often colloquially referred to as "Rotto", is a island off the coast of Western Australia, located west of Fremantle. A sandy, low-lying island formed on a base of aeolianite limestone, Rottnest is an A-class ...

off the coast of Perth, Western Australia on 5 April 2014. They have a daughter and a son.''Perth Now article Linda Parri'' Retrieved 27 Aug 2018.
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References

External links

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Brief bio at The Australian {{DEFAULTSORT:Durack, Lucy Actresses from Perth, Western Australia Australian film actresses Australian musical theatre actresses Australian television actresses Helpmann Award winners Living people 1982 births Edith Cowan University alumni People educated at John XXIII College, Perth 21st-century Australian actresses 21st-century Australian singers 21st-century Australian women singers