2013 – Nikki Webster Press Archive

Nikki Webster’s dancing with joy

Dec 23, 2013Oct 29, 2014 2013, Headline No Comments

To many of us, Nikki Webster will always be that bright-eyed, curly-haired poppet who flew high above Olympic Stadium at the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Games. But 13 years on, the 26-year-old is taking another magical journey – starting a family with husband Matthew McMah, 33.

“It’s what everybody dreams of,” smiles Nikki, who is almost seven months pregnant. “We feel very lucky and can’t wait to be parents.”

Although the newlyweds, who tied the knot in Sydney 13 months ago, weren’t planning on having kids so soon, they’re thrilled. “We weren’t trying, so it was a beautiful surprise,” says Nikki. “I felt a bit strange, so I went to the doctor and the first thing she did was hand me a pregnancy test. I said, ‘What are you talking about?’ But it was positive!”

Nikki, who runs her own dance studios, couldn’t wait to break the news to Matt. “I took the test home, wrapped it up and gave it to him.”

“I cried,” admits Matt. “I was over the moon. I don’t think anything, apart from the wedding day, can beat that feeling.”

While many couples frantically scramble to kit out the nursery, Nikki and Matt are in no rush. “I’m just enjoying where I’m at and I think Matt can set it up while I’m in hospital, can’t he? Isn’t that what men do?” laughs Nikki, eyeing her husband. “I’m very superstitious, too. I don’t want anything set up in the house until the baby is born.”

The pair won’t find out the sex of their baby but they know just what qualities they want their bub to inherit from each other. “I hope it can cook and clean and wash like Matt, because it certainly won’t get that gene from me!” jokes Nikki. “I’m a self-confessed house-husband,” confirms Matt, who works for an airline. “If I had to pick qualities from Nikki, it’d definitely be her drive, her passion and her looks, because I don’t want it to look like me!”

“I was a really ugly baby, I just want to put that out there,” laughs Nikki.

As they argue over what other traits they want their bub to inherit, one thing is certain – it will be a talented tot. “Hopefully is has Nikki’s artistic side and my sporty side,” says Matt, a keen soccer player.

“Or who knows? It could miraculously be a genius,” giggles Nikki. “I wouldn’t know what to do if it tried to make me sit down and do maths homework!”

Either way, they know they’re in for the ride of their lives. “We’re going to make mistakes,” says Matt. “But it’s all about trying to provide the best possible life for the baby.”

“And having fun as well!” smiles Nikki.

Words: Shari Nementzik
Pictures: Yianni Aspradakis
Hair and make-up: Lores Giglio
Syling: Maia Liakos

Source: Woman’s Day
View scan of this article

Baby on board for Nikki

Dec 17, 2013Oct 29, 2014 2013 No Comments

Former child star Nikki Webster is set to become a mother. The 26-year-old singer, who tied the knot with her long-time love Matthew McMah last year, revealed to Woman’s Day magazine that the couple were expecting their first child together, due early next year.

“We weren’t trying, so it was a beautiful surprise,” Webster, above, who is seven months pregnant, told the magazine. “We feel very lucky and can’t wait to be parents.”

McMah said he burst into tears when he heard the news.

“I was oven the Moon,” he said. “I don’t think anything, apart from the wedding day, can beat that feeling.”

Since being thrust into the spotlight 13 years ago for her opening-ceremony performance at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Webster has gone on to forge a successful career.

The mum-to-be has three albums under her belt and currently runs her own dance studio.

Source: Yahoo!7

Nikki Webster Expecting First Child

Dec 17, 2013Dec 17, 2013 2013 No Comments

By Jesselle Maminta

Nikki Webster, the wide-eyed teenager who flew high above the Olympic Stadium during the 2000 Sydney Olympics, is all grown up and is now seven months pregnant.

The “Strawberry Kisses” singer tells Woman’s Day that she is expecting her first child to her husband Matthew McMah. But she also says that they did not plan to have their baby so soon.

‘We weren’t trying,’ says the former child star to the magazine. ‘So it was a beautiful surprise.’

‘I felt a bit strange so I went to the doctor and the first thing she did was hand me a pregnancy test. I said ‘what are you talking about?’ But it was positive.’

But don’t get her wrong though — she says they are now looking forward to become parents to their first born.

‘It’s what everybody dreams of,’ says a smiling Webster, who is almost seven months pregnant. ‘We feel very lucky and can’t wait to be parents.’

After her memorable performance in the Sydney Olympics, Webster released a string of albums and tracks, including “Strawberry Kisses,” “Follow Your Heart” and “Bliss.”

In 2006, she briefly relocated to the United States, supposedly to collaborate with songwriters and develop a more mature sound. But she dishes to an earlier issue of Woman’s Day that she battled deep depression and body issues alone in Los Angeles.

‘When I went to LA by myself I would call my parents constantly, sitting in a little apartment by myself sobbing and thinking I couldn’t go on any more,” recalls Webster. ‘I had so many low moments. It still gives me shivers when I think about it.’

She also ‘learned to distrust people’ after a person whom she trusted with her career and finances destroyed her.

‘I was ripped off financially – to an extreme degree – but money is money, and what you remember isn’t the money you lose, but what happened to you. People who were very close to me completely destroyed my faith in who I was…’

Webster has since moved on from that emotional phase, and after a few attempts to revive her show business career in the recent years, she now owns two dance studios and a talent and modeling agency for kids.

Webster married McMah November last year, wearing a princess-inspired gown she designed herself. Mamamia reports that she was supposed to arrive at the church in a horse carriage, but a road problem forced her to ride a bronze-colored Rolls-Royce instead.

Source: ibtimes.com

Sydney Olympics darling Nikki Webster joins Coast Sessions to help find future stars

Oct 31, 2013Oct 29, 2014 2013 No Comments

Therese Murray – Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate

At just 13, an unknown by the name of Nikki Webster became the darling of the Sydney Olympic Games when she performed at the opening ceremony.

Her career has led her to the Central Coast where she opened Dance @ Nikki Webster at Erina and she is now helping youngsters achieve the same dreams she had as a 13 year old.

It’s no wonder that Innov8Central Music snapped Webster up as part of The Coast Sessions competition which teams up-and-coming Coast performers with the seasoned ones living here.

“There is so much talent here on the Central Coast and we need to recognise it,” Webster said.

“That’s why I got on board with The Coast Sessions. I’ve been doing this sort of thing with my students for a long time so The Coast Sessions is an extension of that work and an incentive for my students.

“It’s a very exciting program and I can’t wait to hear the results.”

Entries to The Coast Sessions were scheduled to close on October 18 but Innov8Central Music has announced an extension until 9am on Friday.

Innov8Central Music chairman David Bacon said the change came in response to a huge surge of last minute entries.

“The quality and variety of entries to date has simply blown us away. We are thrilled that so many of our great local songwriters, musicians, vocalists and groups have submitted tracks for consideration,” Mr Bacon said.

“Over the last week entries have peaked and we have received feedback from studio owners and entrants that the demand has meant that studio time has been hard to come by.”

The Coast Sessions album will be released for sale early next year.

It intends to provide a platform to elevate local artists and shine a light on the whole region – putting the Central Coast music scene on the map.

Mr Bacon said the competition was part of a larger vision and long-term approach to the Central Coast music industry, seeking to establish a collaborative industry that facilitates innovative ideas, sustainable growth, jobs and pathways for aspiring artists.

“This the last chance for local musicians and artists enter a track into the competition,” he said.

WHAT: Innov8Central Music involves all elements of the music industry across the Central Coast

HOW: It aims to develop a more formal industry model to create economic and cultural opportunities on the coast for the music industry and emerging musical talent

WHO: Innov8Central Music operates under the governance structures of Innov8Central, a federal government initiative, to foster innovation across the Central Coast

FORMS: All entry forms must be provided to the competition administrator, Brilliant Logic, and all digital material must be uploaded to the competition website (BigPulse)

TO ENTER: Artists/acts must be over 16 years old, be unsigned, have an original track and live on the Central Coast

ENTRIES: Submit to www.innov8music.com.au/

thecoastsessions or Brilliant Logic, PO Box 4427, East Gosford 2250

DEADLINE: Entries close at 9am on November 1. No late entries will be received

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Teen flick ticks the bitchy boxes

Sep 7, 2013Oct 29, 2014 2013 No Comments

By Kevin Sadlier

MADE in Cronulla, Circle of Lies is a new teen drama now on selected release in NSW cinemas, although not yet in St George or Sutherland Shire.

The setting is the fictional Short Beach High School where the most popular girl student, Denise played by Hilary Caitens, finds her life turned upside-down after a night-time beach party, hosted by a character called “V” played by Nikki Webster, now 26, and who is remembered for her performance at the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games when just 13.

In Circle of Lies, V is described as a “spoiled brat”, a member of an ultra-cool group who call themselves “the exclusives” and believe they are above all the rest.

The film opens on the first day of a new school year when audiences will meet students good and bad, in particular Denise (Hilary Caitens) who is bullied and victimised by classmate Kirsty (Anna Lawrence), the leader of the ultra-cools.

Anna’s previous film and television roles include feature roles in TV series such as Underbelly: Razor, Packed to the Rafters and Tricky Business.

Source: St George & Sutherland Shire Leader

Nikki Webster chats to Sunrise

Aug 28, 2013Oct 29, 2014 2013, Headline No Comments

…but she’s come a long way since then, from dance music to Dancing with the Stars. There’s been a fashion line and a foray into her own business, and she hasn’t even turned 30 yet.

SAMANTHA ARMYTAGE: My goodness. Nikki Webster joins us now. Good morning.

NIKKI WEBSTER: Good morning guys!

SAMANTHA: Welcome!

NIKKI:Thank-you!

SAMANTHA: Nikki this is my dad Mack. Dad, Nikki.

MACK: Hi Nikki.

NIKKI: Lovely to meet you. Happy Fathers’ Day for Sunday.

MACK: Well, thank you.

SAMANTHA: Aww, that’s nice. Now look tell us about your role in this new movie Circle of Lies.

NIKKI: It’s just really exciting to be a part of an Australian film with such incredible actors. The director Matt Cerwen is just amazing, and to be on set with up-and-coming talent of Australia was so much fun. It’s my first acting, serious acting gig and you know, yeah it’s a bit of fun, but it deals with some really heavy issues, being bullying, what goes on in the schoolyard, social status at school and also the fact that friendship – building friendships and how to stay in a friendship, and stay in a little niche and a clique at school. And also the struggle of this girl who was miss popular becoming the discretion of all of the bullies at school, and her fight to I guess prove everybody wrong and come out on top.

So it’s really serious but on the other side it’s a great film about what happens at school in today’s world, and having text messages and Facebook and all those kind of social media things which, when I grew up, we didn’t have all of that. So it was really important –

SAMANTHA: Mmm, me neither.

NIKKI: Yeah! It was important to be a part of and just learn about the process of what our young teens are going through today, and the fact that it’s hard, you know, school is really tough these days!

SAMANTHA: It sure is.

MACK: The pressures are very different I’m sure.

NIKKI: It is, it is.

MACK: Nikki what made you choose this particular role?

NIKKI: I think, you know, having my dance studios, I teach a lot of 15 to 17-year-old girls and it’s really important for me to understand, when they come in and I see them being a little restrained, and they’re struggling at school, and obviously we try and create a happy environment for them to express themselves through dance and music, but a lot of them struggle at school because of bullying. So I wanted to understand it. I kinda, I didn’t really get involved in lunchtime antics at school. I was too busy worrying about, you know, my next single or what clothing range I was gonna release. So I didn’t really think about it that much. So I think that’s why I wanted to be a part of it. I also wanted to learn what being on set was about, and I always teach my children never say no to an opportunity that looks exciting, and when I was approached I thought, ‘Yeah, why not?’ Give it a go, try something different! [laughs]

SAMANTHA: You have to live by that. So what do you like best, do you pick one that you like?

NIKKI: I’m definitely a singer, I’m definitely a performer, but um, musical theatre is where I began, so – which is a bit of singing and more over-the-top acting I guess, but that’s my passion. But still pop music. I’ve just finished recording some music overseas, so hopefully we can get some stuff released in the future and you know, that’s just my – my plan is just to give everything a go and have the opportunity to do what I love doing, which is everything in this industry.

SAMANTHA: Good on you. You love musical theatre, don’t you Dad?

MACK: Oh well, I think I do, yeah. Depends what it is of course, but anyway. No, that’s great.

SAMANTHA: You got any other questions?

MACK: No, I think that’ll do me. Yeah.

NIKKI: So the premiere’s tonight, so if you’re staying in Sydney you can come along to The Ritz at Randwick.

MACK: Is it? Well I’m sorry Nikki, I’m out of town about lunchtime, but I’ll..

NIKKI: You don’t wanna see a schoolyard film?

MACK: I’ll get a copy of it from somewhere.

NIKKI: Absolutely, absolutely.

SAMANTHA: Thank-you Nikki.

NIKKI: No problems at all. Thank-you for your support. Thanks guys.

MACK: Thanks Nikki.

SAMANTHA: Great to see you. Good luck with the movie. Okay. Well done, Dad. Your first interview on national television.

MACK: Could be my last.

SAMANTHA: I’m sure it will be!

Source: Sunrise
Video: YouTube
Screencaps: Gallery

StarNow Twitter Q&A

Aug 22, 2013Oct 19, 2022 2013, Web Chats No Comments

Live Twitter Q&A with Nikki Webster (@nikkiwebster) and Anna Lawrence (@itsannalouise).

@zinkymomo: What has been your best acting experience?
@nikkiwebster: Hero girl in the sydney 2000 olympic opening ceremony
@itsannalouise: honestly it would be making #circleoflies. I met so many people and my learning curve was immense! #starnowLive

@ashsparkle: What has been your worst acting experience?
@nikkiwebster: Circle of lies is my first movie so far so good! :)
@itsannalouise: I’ve had a pretty good run but shooting the “hot summer” party scene in when it was FREEZING was a challenge ;)

@_StephCharles: What kind of acting roles did you both do before getting your roles?
@nikkiwebster: commericals when i was a kid and musical theatre is my passion and background
@itsannalouise: I shot a very small budget film straight out of acting school called Reef and Beef. Great role! Massive bogan!

@wataboutnoo: what was your best part in the making of the film?
@nikkiwebster: working with the incredible cast and director matt cerwen and learning from all their experience

@jadewritesbooks: How similar are you to the characters you play in @CircleOfLies?
@nikkiwebster: i love the colour pink but other than that not too alike never been in a girl posse
@itsannalouise: hey! I hope that I’m nothing like my character! She’s pretty nasty ;)

@zinkymomo: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
@nikkiwebster: Hopefully ill have new music out and building my studio #dancenikkiwebster providing a place for up and coming talent of australia

@j_sweden: Did you get nervous in your audition??
@nikkiwebster: auditions are always nerve racking but I was excited to be asked to be in the film so it was very exciting

@kristybrookstv: What is your favourite part about playing your character?
@nikkiwebster: getting to be apart of a popular group and hear gossip

@littlegemhere: whats your favourite tip for dealing with performance nerves?
@nikkiwebster: learning to use the nerves to give you adrenaline on stage and always making sure your prepared

@j_sweden: What did you do to get ‘beach ready’ for the shoot???
@nikkiwebster: spray tan!! :)
@itsannalouise: I didn’t! Was cast 2 days before filming so didn’t really know what I was getting myself into! Spray tan helped a lot!

@jadewritesbooks: Would you have been friends with the characters you play if you’d met them at school? :-)
@nikkiwebster: definitely wouldn’t have been friends with the exclusives at all lucky we were just playing characters

@The_Solid_State: Hi Guys. How important was the bullying message in the script to you?
@nikkiwebster: very important its what drew me to the project such an important issue [to] bring awareness to
@itsannalouise: I think the film sends a really important message – Bullying is serious and shouldn’t be tolerated

@ACCmarta: How do you learn your lines?
@nikkiwebster: going over them and rope learning is how i learn lines, and always practise with different people for different reactions

@parxe: will we hear any more music from you soon
@nikkiwebster: Absolutely i have just finished recording an album so fingers crossed

@JessicaManins: Do your characters symbolise your roles at school, or were you very different to how you’ve been cast in this film?
@nikkiwebster: i was very different i was very focused on my music and performing and really didn’t get involved in school yard antics
@itsannalouise: yes!! I hope so?! Ask my schoolmates ;) no. I wasn’t a bully and stood up for those who were bullied.

@jasminetaggart: What made you want to get into acting?
@nikkiwebster: to try something different in the entertainment industry

@ACCmarta: What’s your favourite scene in the film?
@nikkiwebster: V’s beach party even though we had to shoot throughout the night my character had the coolest beach party

@jasminetaggart: What’s it like seeing yourself up on the big screen?
@nikkiwebster: its really scary and nerve racking i didn’t like seeing myself at all
@itsannalouise: so awkward! Esp in a bikini ;) have to learn to love the way you look I guess. Flaws and all :)

@littlegemhere: do you have a favourite inspiring quote?
@nikkiwebster: live life with no regrets

@CircleOfLies: Do you have anything to say to Brissie fans thinking of going to the premier tonight?
@nikkiwebster: would love to meet you and hope you enjoy the film as much as we did filming it
@itsannalouise: don’t think, do! ;)

@j_sweden: Any audition tips??
@nikkiwebster: always be prepared , be on time and commit in the audition

@The_Solid_State: Will you both be at the Sydney premier?
@nikkiwebster: absolutely can’t wait should be a fantastic night !

Nikki Webster Empire Interview

Aug 19, 2013Oct 29, 2014 2013 No Comments

Ed Gibbs meets singer turned actress Nikki Webster to discuss her big-screen debut in the Australian teen drama Circle of Lies (Empire Magazine).

NIKKI WEBSTER: V is such a kind of, a full-on character. She’s in the background in terms of she’s a part of this “exclusive” group. She’s very vocal and she’s very strong in who she is. She also loves to throw good parties – she comes from a bit of money from her family’s side. She’s the “money” part of the group, and she doesn’t really fit in, she doesn’t really have a voice but she wants to, and she uses the money, and her mum’s kind of money, to try and buy friends.

NIKKI: It was confronting, and it kind of made me understand what teens go through today a lot more, and I teach a lot of young aspiring artists and to kind of put myself in their shoes, about what goes on at school and how individuality is sometimes crushed upon, and bullying happens, and social media – I mean that wasn’t around when I was at school.

ED GIBBS: You had to grow up in public, in a sense. What was like experience like, copping that flak, that negative reaction, and sort of how do you view that now, looking back?

NIKKI: I guess I tried to do at eighteen, run away from it all, and shut up shop and that was it, and I wanna live somewhere else and I don’t understand how you represent your country one minute – and you’re everybody’s Hero Girl and national treasure – to being slagged off for doing nothing. You know, all I’m doing is making kids’ music. That’s really all I was doing. It was pop, fresh, kiddie music – it was nothing insulting, it was nothing… So it was very hard for me to kinda go, ‘What did I do?’ You know. If we were a little bit more prepared for it then it wouldn’t have hurt so much, but it kind of happened overnight, you know? Everything was good and then it just went bang, and it was like a big shock.

But yeah, it just, I guess it makes me stronger, it makes me more driven to protect Australian talent and to keep everything on home soil. And it makes me driven to, you know make music and – people have opinions, that doesn’t bother me at all. Opinions I don’t care about. People are gonna love it, hate it – it is what it is. But I just wanna keep doing what I’m doing and have that opportunity.

Source: Empire Online

DAFFODIL DAY BLOOMS

Aug 14, 2013Sep 27, 2019 2013 No Comments

NIKKI WEBSTER LEADS CANCER COUNCIL EVENT

By Denice Barnes

Nikki Webster with Heidi Hill, 3, from East Gosford and Bonnie Brown, 5, from East Gosford at the Daffodil Day launch. Photo by Peter Clark.

ENTERTAINER Nikki Webster is Central Coast ambassador for Daffodil Day and spent a day at Erina Fair to help launch the annual event.

Daffodil Day aims to raise money for cancer research, prevention programs and support services for patients and their families.

Webster, helped by team leaders and volunteers, guided 15 children from the Gosford Library toddler storytime group who participated in a “field of hope” event where they coloured in stencils of daffodils and glued them to paddle pop sticks.

The paper flowers were collected to make a small garden of hope which is on display at Gosford Library.

Their garden is one of dozens around the Central Coast where schoolchildren have also participated in the colour-in event and made their own gardens.

Sarah Russell from the Cancer Council’s Central Coast office said she was thrilled Webster had agreed to come on board as the ambassador.

“Nikki wanted to be part of it because of her mother and aunty’s experience with cancer,’’ Ms Russell said.

More than 10,000 volunteers are expected to staff more than 1400 Daffodil Day sites across the country including 600 in NSW.

Source: Central Coast Express Advocate

Do we delight in bringing down stars?

Jun 13, 2013Nov 1, 2014 2013 No Comments

Do we like to bring down tall poppies? Seal has backtracked on his Twitter rant. Nikki Webster, AJ Rochester and Peter Ford discuss.

[Transcript only includes Nikki’s part of the discussion.]

DAVID KOCH: Nikki, you came into the public eye at a very young age. You were a girl at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics, you starred. Do you feel as though the media then tried to tear you down?

NIKKI WEBSTER: Well, you know, in this situation I don’t think it’s tall poppy syndrome, I think what it is is what Joel did was illegal and you know, the actions were taken accordingly. I think the tall poppy syndrome is where in Australia we put artists up, they become very successful, and then we try and knock down successful artists who are trying to make a career out of it, through the media because it sells papers.

So I don’t think that this is a true representation of tall poppy syndrome at all. I think what they did to me, as a fifteen-year-old girl, is a little bit of bullying and the tall poppy syndrome. And you know, we put these artists up on a pedestal and then when they get too big, and they’re not selling papers ’cause they’re too clean-cut, we knock them down and try and hurt them, and try and affect their outcome.

DAVID: How hurtful has it been for you, and do you actually regret now doing that role in the Olympics?

NIKKI: I don’t regret anything at all. I represented my country and I’m so proud to have had that opportunity. I don’t regret anything, and what I try and teach my children that I teach at my studios is you’ve gotta be the triple threat, you’ve gotta be strong and you’ve gotta take the good and the bad – you can’t just take the good.

But it did hurt me as a young girl, to be reading things from people that I thought I had a good relationship with. But since then I’ve had a lot of media personalities come and apologize and say, you know, you were the punchline of everyone’s jokes and we thought it was appropriate at the time, but looking back, as a 15-year-old girl, it’s not. It’s a media attack. So I have had a lot of apologies which I’m very grateful for.

MELISSA DOYLE: Yeah, good!

Source: Sunrise
Video: YouTube