SOPHIE MONK
SINGER, ACTOR, RADIO & TV PERSONALITY
Music
Bardot
Monk’s professional music career began in 1999 when she responded to an advertisement at the recommendation of her mother which requested girls with vocal and dance experience. The advertisement was for an Australianreality television series, Popstars, a TV talent show which aimed to create a successful new girl group. In one audition, she performed a rendition of Marilyn Monroe’s famous “Happy Birthday, Mr. President”, working on her previous experience as a Monroe impersonator. After numerous rounds of singing and dancing workshops, Sophie Monk was selected as a member of the group, which was named Bardot.
Bardot became the first Australian act to debut at the No. 1 position with both its debut single, “Poison”, and self-titled debut album. Further singles “I Should’ve Never Let You Go” and “These Days” followed and in August, the group embarked on its first national tour. Bardot performed at the 2000 ARIA Awards at which they were nominated in three categories. In July 2001, the group released “ASAP”, the first single from their second album. Bardot now had more control over their music and image. The single peaked Top 5, as did follow-up single, “I Need Somebody”, their most successful single since “Poison”. The second album, Play It Like That debuted at No. 16, achieving gold status. Monk co-wrote the album track “Feel Right” with bandmate Sally Polihronas. In 2002, final single, “Love Will Find A Way” completed Bardot’s string of consecutive Top 20 hits and the group embarked on its second national tour. In May, the group disbanded.
Solo album
In 2002, Sophie Monk signed a recording contract with Warner Music Australia and started working on a solo album. The first single “Inside Outside” was released in October 2002 and was produced by Grammy Award winning music producer Rob Davis. Monk performed the song at the 2002 The Footy Show Grand Finale to promote the single. The track peaked at No. 5 on the ARIA Singles Chart and went on to sell over 35,000 copies worldwide. Her next single, “Get the Music On”, peaked at No. 10 on the ARIA Singles Chart. On 5 May 2003 Monk released her debut album Calendar Girl which peaked at No. 35 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album received mixed reviews from critics with Monk co-writing four of the album’s tracks. Following the release of the album Monk released her third and final single, “One Breath Away”, which peaked at No. 23 on the ARIA Singles Chart. In 2004, Monk parted ways with Warner Music Group.
Other projects
In June 2007, Sophie Monk recorded a cover of “Push It” by Hip-Hop trio Salt-n-Pepa. The cover was recorded to promote Biofit Bra by Pleasure State which she is a spokeswoman for and was produced by her then boyfriend Benji Madden. Monk performed the song at a Biofit Bra launch in Catalina, Rose Bay. A promotional video was filmed and premiered as part of the ad campaign.
In December 2015, Monk released a cover of ‘Drummer Boy’
Acting
In 2004, Sophie Monk made her acting debut in a bit role on the Nine Network made-for-television film The Mystery of Natalie Wood portraying the role of Marilyn Monroe. That same year, Monk appeared in the music video Always by Pop Punk band Blink-182. Monk has had small roles in films such as Click, Murder World and Spring Break ’83.
In 2005, Sophie Monk relocated to Los Angeles, California to pursue a career in acting. Monk quickly landed her break-out role in the spoof comedy film Date Movie. In July 2007, Monk made her American television debut in the HBO Comedy series Entourage. That same year she appeared in the dark comedy Sex and Death 101.
Sophie Monk starred in the Warner Premiere comedy film Spring Breakdown alongside Parker Posey and Amy Poehler. Filming took place inSouth Padre in 2006. Monk portrayed the role of the film’s antagonist a bimbo sorority girl named Mason. The film underwent a long post-production period suffering distribution problems. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to negative reviews. The film was released straight-to-DVD in June 2009.
In September 2008, Dark Castle Entertainment announced Monk was cast in the slasher horror film The Hills Run Red. Filming began at the start of 2009 in Sofia, Bulgaria and premiered at UK Frightfest. The film was released straight-to-DVD in September 2009 to mixed reviews from critics with some praising Monk’s performance. In September 2008, Monk announced she was developing her own reality television series titled Bigger Than Paris. Monk filmed the pilot in January 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
In April 2010, Nine Network announced Monk would be a special guest presenter on the travel television program Getaway. Following her first appearance Nine announced Monk would continue appearing on the series in a recurring form from then on. As part of her role Monk has visited Hawaii, Las Vegas, Mexico.
In May 2012, Sophie Monk was announced to be one of the celebrities to have signed up for the FOX dating-show The Choice. The series is a spin-off to The Voice and sees celebrity judges sitting with their backs turned to a pool of “sexy singles” hoping to score a date with a celebrity. Celebrities such as Carmen Electra, Joe Jonas and Pauly D have appeared on the show. The series premiered on 7 June 2012.
In April 2013, Monk was working on a sitcom with actor Sam Worthington. Monk talked about her struggles as an actress and revealed that she has produced five television pilots for major networks, but they haven’t been picked up. “Shows that were meant to get the green light, didn’t, and movies that were meant to be massive, weren’t, but I just keep going and going,” she said. In 2015, Monk was added to the cast for the remake movie of Blood Feast.
Radio
In 2013, Sophie Monk filled in for Fifi Box on Fifi and Jules whilst Box was on maternity leave.
In December 2013, Sophie along with Jules Lund, Merrick Watts and Mel B were announced as the new hosts of the 2Day FM breakfast show replacing Kyle and Jackie O Show.
In October 2014, Southern Cross Austereo announced that Jules, Merrick & Sophie on 2Day FM would be axed due to poor ratings throughout the year and replaced by The Dan & Maz Show.
Since then, Sophie Monk has been a regular fixture on KIIS 1065’s Kyle and Jackie O Show and has hosted “The Summer Fling” breakfast show with Matty Acton on KIIS 1065 and KIIS 101.1.
Australia’s Got Talent
On 28 October 2015, it was confirmed that Sophie Monk would be a new judge on Australia’s Got Talent for its eighth season alongside Kelly Osbourne, Eddie Perfect and Ian “Dicko” Dickson