‘Ding Dong the Bells are Gonna Chime!’ - Actor and Television Pioneer; Denise Drysdale

Denise Drysdale began her career at GTV-9 when she was 10 years old, performing in the Tarax Happy Show. She has worked in and around television ever since, providing a host of magical moments through the live medium. The longevity and brilliance of her career in television confirms she is one of the best and few have replicated her golden talent. Her life has paralleled the growth of television. In the 1960’s Denise appeared regularly on Graham Kennedy’s In Melbourne Tonight as a dancer, and performed many comedy sketches on that popular late night show. Denise worked on The Ernie Sigley Show in the 1970’s and won Gold Logies in 1974 and 1975 for the Most Popular Female Personality on Australian television. She is affectionately known as ‘Ding Dong’, a moniker given to her by Sigley.  As well as appearing on The Ernie Sigley Show twice weekly throughout 1975, Denise also appeared on Celebrity Squares, Young Talent Time, Countdown, the Norman Gunston Show.Denise has worked all over Australia in radio, commercials and television, as well as various club work. From 1983-84 she worked in Sydney, appearing on Weekend Magazine and Beauty and the Beast.  In 1989 she teamed up once more with long-time friend Ernie Sigley, hosting a top rating national morning television show.She has also worked in regional television in Victoria with guest appearances on BTV-6 Ballarat and hosting a morning magazine show on GLV-8. Denise joined the cast of Hey Hey it’s Saturday for a season and presented her own show, Denise, for channel seven. She was seen on The Circle for channel ten and can be seen as a guest host on Studio 10.She has also had extensive experience as an actress, appearing in the television stalwarts Division Four, Homicide and Bellbird. Most recently, she was seen as Ginger in Josh Thomas’  Please Like Me and the iconic soap, Neighbours. Her film work includes The Last of the Knucklemen, Snapshot and Blowing Hot and Cold.Her professional life began in the theatre with credits that include Dimboola, Grease (for Harry M. Miller),  A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (JCW), Two Gentlemen of Verona (Aztec productions), Salad Days (St Martin’s Youth Theatre) and Hello Dolly! (GFO).The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au