Bonnie Anderson
Anderson at the 2013 Aria Awards
Born (1994-09-05) 5 September 1994 (age 29)[1]
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • actress
Years active2006–present
Spouse
Samuel Morrison
​
(m. 2023)​
Children1
Musical career
Genres
  • Pop
  • dance
Instrument(s)Vocals
Labels
Websitebonnieandersonmusic.com

Bonnie Anderson (born 5 September 1994) is an Australian singer-songwriter and actress. She was the first winner of reality TV show Australia's Got Talent in 2007 at age 12. She released her debut single "Raise the Bar" in 2013.[2] From 2018 until 2021, Anderson played Bea Nilsson in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. In September 2020, she won the second season of The Masked Singer Australia.

Career

2007–2012: Australia's Got Talent

Anderson first came to attention in 2007 when she auditioned for the first season of Australia's Got Talent at age 12. Her audition song was "Fire and Rain" and she had the entire audience standing up and applauding.[3] Anderson later said "To be honest, when I auditioned for Australia's Got Talent, I did not know what I was in for. A lady who asked me to audition for the show approached me in my hometown at Christmas Carols I sang at every year. I wasn't worried about the audience, I was more excited to sing for the people. That was my dream from a very young age, and all I wanted to do."[3] In April 2007, Anderson was declared the winner and was offered recording and management contracts soon after to which Anderson declined and returned to school.[4] Anderson said "I had labels and management approaching me, but I wasn't ready to take that next step being so young."[3] The year after she won Australia's Got Talent, Anderson's parents bought her a guitar, which she immediately started learning to play.[4]

2012–2016: Music career

In 2012, Anderson was featured on a cover of "Gonna Make You Sweat" with fellow Australia's Got Talent alumni Justice Crew. It was the theme song to short-lived dance show Everybody Dance Now. On 8 November 2013, Anderson released her debut solo single "Raise the Bar" The song was written by Anthony Egizii and David Musumeci and peaked at number 55 on the ARIA Charts.

On 13 June 2014, Anderson released a new single, titled "Blackout".[5] Anderson incorporated a highly stylised look for the imagery in its music video, working with the 2013 ARIA Award winner for Best Video Director, Christopher Frey, and celebrity photographer Peter Brew-Bevan.[6] Anderson also toured around Australia with UK singer Olly Murs. The track became her first top 40 single and was certified gold in Australia. Anderson released "Rodeo" in 2014. The single has a country pop production compared to the electronic elements on "Blackout". "Rodeo" failed to chart and was quickly removed from iTunes.[7]

In July 2015, Anderson released "Unbroken".[8] The track was produced by Matt Rad (One Direction, Demi Lovato) and it was mixed by Chris Lord-Alge.

In 2016, Anderson was featured in the "Leather Look" campaign for Maybelline.[9] The collaboration was marked by the release of Anderson's new single "The Ones I Love" in February.[10] Anderson explains, "'The Ones I Love' came from a dream I had. Dreams often trigger stories and songs for me to write about. This one in particular really shook me up, it felt so real! Losing someone you love would be the hardest thing to go through, it even hurts in your dreams, which made me realise how important it is to spend time with my loved ones. This song means so much to me and I hope it resonates with others as well. I can't wait for everyone to hear it." The song became her first charting on the US Dance chart.

Anderson in 2013

2016–2018: Musical theatre and acting

In November 2016, Anderson made her musical theatre debut in Godspell Reimagined.[11] Anderson said "I'm always trying to do different things. I thought I'd give it a shot. It's a pretty wild experience learning the script. I've done a bit of acting before, but doing it for a stage musical is a whole other thing."[12]

In early 2018, Anderson joined the cast of the television soap opera Neighbours as Bea Nilsson.[13] She signed a two-year contract and her first scenes aired on 18 May 2018.[14] In 2019, Anderson received a nomination for the Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent.[15]

2019–present: Return to music

On 14 February 2019, Anderson released five promotional cover versions recorded from Neighbours. A sixth, "Amazing Grace", was released on 7 March 2019.

In April 2019, Anderson signed a new deal with BMG Music Australia to release "Sorry", her first single in three years.[16] The song was released in association with Fremantle Australia, the production company for Neighbours and featured on the program as performed by her character.[16] Anderson wrote the song in 2016 and said, "The message throughout 'Sorry' is about standing up and saying enough is enough. It's about accepting the fact that we all experience different walks of life and we may end up in places we're not proud of, but we should never regret where we come from and what we've been through.".[17]

Anderson appeared on Britain's Got Talent: The Champions (August–September 2019), with other participants from various Got Talent shows.[18] She was eliminated in Preliminary 4 on 22 September.[19] She also released the single "Never Be the One" in August 2019, saying that it was about "not always being perfect".[20] From 25 March 2020, Anderson's version of the Neighbours theme song began airing over the serial's opening credits.[21]

In 2020, Anderson participated in the second season of The Masked Singer Australia as the "Bushranger" and she eventually went on to win the show.[22] Anderson left Neighbours in 2021, but returned for the then final episode in July 2022.[23] In mid-2022, Anderson toured Australia with The Music of James Bond, a stage show in which she and Luke Kennedy perform various theme songs from the franchise.[24]

Personal life

Anderson dated Dean Ray until 2014 and then Reece Mastin.[25] She is the goddaughter of world boxing champion Lionel Rose.[26]

Anderson announced her engagement to her partner Sam Morrison in April 2022.[27] In June 2022, Anderson announced that they were expecting their first child together,[28] and she gave birth to a son in December 2022.[29] Anderson and Morrison married in Victoria in November 2023.[30]

Charity work

Anderson is a passionate supporter of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation,[31] and is also a Tip for Change ambassador.

Discography

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Year Title Peak chart
positions 		Certifications Album
AUS
[32] 		US Dance
[33]
2012 "Gonna Make You Sweat"
(Justice Crew featuring Bonnie Anderson)
 — — Non-album singles
2013 "Raise the Bar"[34] 55 —
2014 "Blackout" 24 —
"Rodeo" — —
2015 "Unbroken" 63 —
2016 "The Ones I Love"[36] — 43
2019 "Sorry"[37] — —
"Never Be the One"[38] — —
2020 "Together Again"
(with Anthony Callea)[39] 		—[A] —

Promotional singles

List of promotional singles
Title Year
"Oh Holy Night"[41] 2019
"Just for Now"[42]
"I'll Be There"[43]
"I Say a Little Prayer"[44]
"All of Me"[45]
"Amazing Grace"[46]

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result Ref.
2019 Logie Awards Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent Neighbours Nominated [15]

Notes

  1. ^ "Together Again" did not enter the ARIA top 100 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 8 on the Australian Digital Songs Sales Chart.[40]

References

  1. ^ Anderson, Bonnie (5 September 2020). "Not much has changed... just the number! 26 TODAY!". Instagram. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Bonnie Anderson". The Music Network. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Harrigan, Davis (21 May 2014). "Raising the bar with Bonnie Anderson". upstart.net.au. Upstart.
  4. ^ a b ""I'D BE IN MATHS WRITING SONGS," COOL NEW AUSTRALIAN POP PERSON BONNIE ANDERSON TOLD US". ProjectU. 2014. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Blackout -single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  6. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Bonnie Anderson - Blackout". YouTube.
  7. ^ "HERE IS 15 SECONDS OF BONNIE ANDERSON'S NEW SINGLE 'UNBROKEN'". Project U. July 2015. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  8. ^ popmusicvideos (29 July 2015), Bonnie Anderson – Unbroken, retrieved 4 May 2018
  9. ^ Maybelline New York Australia (17 February 2016), Rock the Leather Look with Bonnie Anderson x Maybelline behind the scenes., retrieved 4 May 2018
  10. ^ bonnieandersonVEVO (25 February 2016), Bonnie Anderson – The Ones I Love, retrieved 4 May 2018
  11. ^ Arts Centre Melbourne (6 October 2016), Godspell Reimagined, Bonnie Anderson Sings Day by Day, retrieved 4 May 2018
  12. ^ "Bonnie Anderson makes her musical debut in Godspell Reimagined". The Weekly Review. 17 October 2016. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  13. ^ "Singer Bonnie Anderson joins cast of FMA's Network Ten soap Neighbours". MediaWeek. May 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  14. ^ Bryne, Fiona (5 May 2018). "Neighbours welcomes Bonnie new favourite". Herald Sun. Retrieved 5 May 2018.(subscription required)
  15. ^ a b Burke, Tina (26 May 2019). "The full list of nominees for the 2019 TV WEEK Logie Awards". TV Week. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  16. ^ a b "Bonnie Anderson inks global deal with BMG & drops new bop "Sorry"". The Music Network. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  17. ^ "Bonnie Anderson's so not "Sorry"". auspOp. 9 April 2019. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  18. ^ Knox, David (27 July 2019). "Bonnie Anderson to compete on Britain's Got Talent: The Champions". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  19. ^ Woodcock, Zara (22 September 2019). "Neighbours star Bonnie Anderson stuns viewers on BGT: The Champions". Metro News. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  20. ^ "Bonnie Anderson opens up on court fears". Herald Sun. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.(subscription required)
  21. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (21 March 2020). "Neighbours announces a big change to the soap's iconic theme tune". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  22. ^ Whitehead, Mat (14 September 2020). "Bonnie Anderson's Bushranger Wins The Masked Singer Australia 2020". 10 Play. ViacomCBS ANZ. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  23. ^ Anderton, Joe (24 May 2022). "Neighbours confirms Bonnie Anderson's return for final episode". Digital Spy. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  24. ^ Patrick, Michael (29 June 2022). "Singer and mum-to-be Bonnie Anderson set to take on the classic songs from James Bond in a new stage show". The Morning Show. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  25. ^ Vought, Yasmin (10 December 2015). "Finally moving on. Reece Mastin confirms romance with pop star Bonnie Anderson". Nine.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  26. ^ "Lionel Rose an 'inspiration for many'". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  27. ^ Alexander, Susannah (17 April 2022). "Former Neighbours star Bonnie Anderson confirms engagement to partner Sam Morrison". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  28. ^ Seddon, Dan (3 June 2022). "Neighbours star Bonnie Anderson announces pregnancy". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  29. ^ Haigh, Josh (21 December 2022). "Neighbours star Bonnie Anderson gives birth to baby boy – and shares name". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  30. ^ Anderton, Joe (27 November 2023). "Former Neighbours star Bonnie Anderson marries partner Sam Morrison". Digital Spy. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  31. ^ "Starry Starry Night 2016". www.amf.org.au. Archived from the original on 4 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  32. ^ "Discography Bonnie Anderson". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  33. ^ "Discography Bonnie Anderson US". Billboard. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  34. ^ [1] Archived 12 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Bigpond Music
  35. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  36. ^ "The Ones I Love – single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  37. ^ "Sorry – single". iTunes Australia. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  38. ^ "Never Be the One – single". iTunes Australia. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  39. ^ "Together Again - Single". Apple Music. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  40. ^ "the Australian Digital Songs Sales Chart". Billboard. 26 December 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  41. ^ "Oh Holy Night from the TV Show Neighbours". iTunes Australia. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  42. ^ "Just for Now from the TV Show Neighbours". iTunes Australia. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  43. ^ "I'll Be There from the TV Show Neighbours". iTunes Australia. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  44. ^ "I Saw a Little Prayer from the TV Show Neighbours". iTunes Australia. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  45. ^ "All of Me – Live at Lassiters". iTunes Australia. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  46. ^ "Amazing Grace from the TV Show Neighbours". iTunes Australia. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.

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