The little bird on the wire is soaring higher, writes Bob Hart

SHOWBIZ careers are inclined to start at ground level and, if all goes swimmingly, soar to great heights: not Nikki Webster’s. She first hit our radar screens at altitude – dangling high above Stadium Australia at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympics. On that occasion, a stadium audience of 110,000 – and billions watching her on the telly – prayed silently to the god of strong wires.

In truth, however, Nikki’s career neither began nor ended with that heart-stopping display. The little bird on the wire, then 13, had been pounding stages since she was five. And, metaphorically, she is still up there – starring in stage shows, selling records by the truckload, making commercials, flogging make-up… even causing this ancient cyber-chump to register the 314,254th hit on her website.

She has survived Sydney and Melbourne seasons of The Wizard of Oz, in which she plays Dorothy, and now she is off to Brisbane, where the show will close just before Christmas. She also has a new single, a new album, and lots of ideas . . .

Continue reading Flying colours

Fancy being on first name terms with Kylie, performing in front of millions at the Olympics or going platinum with a single in Australia? Well 15-year-old Nikki Webster has!

Hi Nikki, you are an extremely successful popstar in Australia, tell us about yourself!
When I was young I told my mum and dad that I wanted to go into show business so I started taking lessons. I have appeared in about five different musicals and took the lead in a massive production of the Wizard of Oz. I love being an all round performer from singing to dancing, it’s always been my dream.

For a 15-year-old you lead a pretty untypical life, jetting off across the world and meeting famous celebrities. What do you get up to in the day?
It’s pretty normal when I am not doing promotion. I get up have some tutoring and do some school work. Then it just depends on the day, like I may go to the movies with friends or do a few interviews.

Do you ever regret not being a normal teenager and wish that fame had come to you when you were older?
Not at all. It’s something I have always wanted to do, it doesn’t feel like work. It’s a love.

How do you feel about young popstars singing about issues that they maybe don’t know about such as relationships?
Well, I think that’s fine for everyone else but I like to sing about things that I know, like friends and family. Strawberry Kisses is about a girl and boy and how they are best friends.

What do you think about people who say pop is manufactured?
I always make sure that I have a lot of input. I don’t have a stylist; I design my own clothes and help pick the songs with the record company.

What’s this about you owning Australia’s most expensive pair of jeans?
A charity in Australia called Jeans 4 Jeans hold a charity auction every year and performers and artists give them their jeans to auction off. My jeans sold for more than Russell Crowe’s!

Now that is an achievement! How do you keep your feet on the ground?
My friends are my dancers and so some of them travel with me. They starred in the video for my song Follow Your Heart. They just treat me like normal. Also, I always have a member of my family travelling with me, my dad is staying with me at the moment.

Loads of our readers want to make it as popstars. What advice would you give them?
If it’s in your heart and dreams then give everything a go and be happy.

You Australian gals seem to be taking over the music world, from the likes of Pop Diva Kylie to newcomer Holly Valance. Why do you think this is?
I think it’s because we really enjoy life and we are happy in what we do. We are bubbly no matter what, like Kylie is just really nice and normal. I do like British music though, I’m a big fan of Craig David and Usher and I love watching TV and seeing who is hot over here!

Are you about to do a Samantha Mumba on us and go into films?
Movies would be cool, I am into all of that, performing.

Source: CBBC Newsround