In October a documentary, White Diamond, was released, charting Kylie’s progress over the previous year. There were reports that it had previously been planned as a ‘warts and all’ documentary, but, when it came down to it, some scenes were said to have been cut. Will Baker, Kylie’s ‘gay husband’, had been behind the film, and so had obviously had far greater access to Kylie than anyone else would have done – but there were still some things she did not want to be seen.
Even without such intimacy, though, it still showed a close-up of Kylie during a very difficult year, something she herself accepted. ‘There are many funny and tearful moments,’ she said. ‘I was a little nervous to work on such a revealing project.’
And revealing it was. The film opened with Kylie announcing that she had been looking forward to her comeback from the moment she’d been lying in a hospital bed: at the premiere Kylie told the audience how it had come about. ‘I was convinced, pretty much against my will initially, but then I came round to the idea, it was a good way to show the fans and to thank them for their support and see where all their good wishes went, and how we managed to get the show back on stage … to see the emotion, to see people caring, to see the hard times back stage,’ she said. ‘I mean I do also say in the documentary, “It’s a show, we’re not saving the world, we’re doing a show.” But in that moment it seemed so important. So I just wanted to share it. Initially I was like, “Um get out of the dressing room,” and then I kind of got used to him [Will Baker] being there. I think through the film you see me get more relaxed with the camera crew being there and more relaxed because I actually managed to get the show back and running. This started as quite a humble little project and in many ways it still is. It’s got shonky camera work but you get the gist. Don’t think we’re totally barking mad by the end of it.’
Kylie continued to be honest about the ordeal she had gone through and what was to happen in the rest of her life. Kylie was now approaching 40, working harder than ever and that much-vaunted wish to be a mother was no closer than ever to fruition. She was beginning to accept that it might never be so. ‘I want to keep working on finding perfect harmony within my life and my work,’ she said in an interview with Glamour magazine. ‘And a family, yeah, that’s still something I would love to happen. There have been times when we were getting ready for a big event, like the opening of my exhibition at the V&A, and there’s a last minute hoo-has and we’re all running around like headless chickens and I’ve said, “Imagine if we were getting ready for my wedding.”We’ll see. I honestly don’t have a feeling one way or the other if I will walk down the aisle. As far as body image goes, I’ve shrunk to nothing, I’ve ballooned … my body is not what it used to be but it’s the body I’m in.’
And she was very aware that the last few years had changed her completely, forcing her to evaluate herself and her life in a way she hadn’t had to do so before. ‘I’ve decided that from now on, I’d like to do working days,’ she said. ‘Like nine-to-five hours. No more working from 5am till 2am. Those are the main changes I’ve tried to make because I can be my own worst enemy. When you are stripped of everything and you have to grow your eyelashes back, grow your hair back, it’s astonishing. It’s hard to express what I’ve learnt from that, but a deep psychological and emotional shift has obviously taken place. I guess I’ve given myself challenges, like the swimwear campaign for H&M. That’s my way of dealing with it.’
But she was as loved as ever. She was given a massively warm welcome when she was honoured as a music idol at the Q Awards in London in February, wowing the room in a tight fitting black dress and Marilyn Monroe-style hairdo. ‘I would like to thank those of you who continue to support me – including my dress,’ she joked as she accepted the award. ‘It’s my first day back at work like this so it’s very exciting and slightly nerve-wracking. Just don’t ask me what it means, but I’m very grateful and honoured to be receiving this.’
Late October, she was on the receiving end of yet more acclaim when the ceremony when the Music Industry Trust Award ceremony was held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel. The great and good were well and truly on her side: ‘I have a great deal of respect for you as an artist – and, like most men on the planet, I’m certainly not immune to your iconic beauty – but more than this, you have become a symbol of courage and of grace under pressure,’ said Sting in a video message.
Dannii also sent in her thoughts. ‘I am so proud of you,’ she said. ‘It’s been an amazing journey and there’s still so much more to come. It’s been great to be there from the beginning.’
Even Barry Humphries (aka Dame Edna Everage) had his say: ‘Kylie, you are a triumphant artist. You’ve managed to have this tremendous career which goes on and on, and which began with Neighbours – my friend Dame Edna always wanted to be in that show.’ Others leaving messages included U2, the designers Dolce & Gabbana, film director Baz Luhrmann, Nick Cave, Chanel designer Karl Lagerfield, Chris Martin and Stock, Aitken and Waterman – to whom, it could be said, Kylie owed her career.
Kylie, who was also the youngest person ever to receive the honour, seemed overwhelmed. ‘I’m just trying to take in this moment. It’s absolutely surreal,’ she said. ‘It’s like my birthday and Christmas and everything all at once. To be recognised in this way and to be the first woman to receive this honour makes me immensely proud. It’s absolutely fitting that my little sister Dannii can give me this award as family is the most important thing to me, and I’m so very pleased that my gorgeous parents are here – they flew especially from Australia to share this with me tonight. I’m going to go and give my mum and dad a big cuddle.’
The Kylie exhibition was now touring the UK, and the latest album was ready to launch. The whirlpool that was Kylie’s life continued to be as frenetic as ever, but still she didn’t slow down. If anything, she was doing more than ever, leading to constant fretting that she was taking on too much. ‘I feel good,’ she said in an interview with the Daily Record. ‘It’s strange to think that the album is about to be released, the first people will be listening to it and I’ll be getting responses to the documentary. They were my little projects for so long, and now the moment has finally arrived that I’ve been anticipating for so long. I’m trying to get a grip on myself and adapt to the situation. The documentary was shot during my tour and I’m glad it is finally being released. The album is brand new, but the film shows a difficult time. First the Showgirl Tour, then my illness, then the Showgirl Homecoming Tour. All of this is still very present for me and I’m glad to be able to let go now the film is being released. I’m constantly being reminded of those experiences [her illness], not only because people ask me about them, but also because they’re a part of my life. They’re a part of the experiences that make up who I am. I also have to go to my check-ups, things like that. It would be great if I could put all these experiences in a box and tie a ribbon around it. But it’s not as simple as that, much as I want to believe everything is over.’
Quite how big a shock it had all been was now becoming clear. Kylie, the workaholic, had been stopped mid-flow, something that almost seemed to be as big a shock as the cancer itself. It was clearly desperately important to her to be able to take up where she’d left off again. ‘I had the feeling I’d been stopped in the middle of a flight,’ she continued. ‘A tour needs to gain momentum. It’s just like riding a bike: you need to pedal to gather speed. Suddenly I was torn off the seat, aside from all the other things that happened to me. Anyway, you always need a little time to find some inner peace after a concert tour. It’s a medical condition – post-tour depression. This depression suddenly came over me, but I had the goal of continuing the tour, and in retrospect it was a blessing in disguise. I was absolutely determined to go on. Looking back can be wonderful and slightly unpleasant. When I see some of the scenes shot backstage in the documentary, when I see excerpts from my performance, I wonder, “How did you manage that?” I just put on blinkers. I didn’t know how well I would
manage, but I had to do it to remain true to my word. I had to prove I had what it takes to continue doing what I had done in the past.’
Rumours continued to circle that Kylie and Olivier would get back together, but the lady herself was determined to quash them now. Although he had been linked to a number of women since their break-up, he didn’t appear to have a steady partner, and nor, of course, did his ex. Kylie was adamant that they were not going to get back together, though, showing at the same time just a hint of irritation at the image of herself as one of love’s losers. ‘Ollie brought me love, understanding, patience, laughter – all great things,’ she said, displaying a degree of graciousness that was some going, even for her. ‘I couldn’t have asked for more support. And I’ll be forever grateful. Relationships have their time. I don’t agree with unlucky-in-love. My life is full because of love.’
Those who thought she might still be harbouring feelings for him were also quietly put down. She was, said Kylie – but not in that way. ‘As far as Ollie and I go, we have a mutual respect for each other and love that will always be there,’ she said in an interview with a French magazine. ‘We separated and that was that. Getting back with him is not even something I’ve thought about. Being a fatalist, I always felt that a relationship runs for the duration that it’s meant to run. We did have a lovely time, though, we definitely did. I don’t want to think about finding someone else. I’ve been a serial monogamist for a long time. I’ve not given myself the space just to be me, to not feel the pressure. I feel quite fulfilled. I’ve had good relationships.’
The new album was released: it split the critics, as Kylie’s CD’s so often have done, between those who thought it was perfect, party girl pop, and those who sniffily deemed Kylie not to be a real artist, not least because she didn’t write the songs herself. But on the whole, X was well received, along with all the palpable goodwill that Kylie had been building up over the years. She had suffered, it was widely acknowledged, and now she was genuinely back on track.
There was also excitement when details of Kylie’s forthcoming appearance on Doctor Who were announced. Her character was to be a waitress called Astrid Perth (as in Perth, Australia) in the special, which was to be shown on Christmas Day. The good Doctor, aka David Tennant, entered into the spirit of things by offering teasing hints about what was to come: they would, he said, be sharing a kiss. ‘Well, if you had Kylie in the Christmas special, would you have her kiss The Doctor?’ he asked rather coyly. ‘He helps her out and she ends up helping him out, and very quickly they become inseparable.’
Shortly afterwards, details of a new tour were announced. Kicking off just before her 40th birthday in Paris, the show was to be called KylieX2008. ‘I am putting together a show that is going to be a new and exciting experience for both the audience and myself,’ said Kylie. ‘The eclectic mix of sounds on X is affording me an opportunity to explore and develop a new live show that will be fresh, exhilarating and innovative. After two celebratory tours, X will be a look to the future but will definitely include favourites alongside the new. I can’t wait to share it with you next year.’
The Kylie golden touch was not just affecting her; it seemed to be rubbing off on everyone she had contacts with as well. Dannii, as a judge on The X Factor, managed to persuade her sister to don a black catsuit and come on the programme to sing with contestant Leon Jackson. The crowd went absolutely wild, as did the reviews afterwards. Kylie seemed to have enjoyed it as much as anyone: ‘Kylie knew Leon was good but she didn’t appreciate how good until she sang with him,’ said an insider on the show. ‘She told everyone that she’s amazed at his performance and is going to be one of his biggest champions in the business. Kylie is certain that Leon has got what it takes to be an absolute star.’ Singlehandedly, she had assured his future.
Kylie was much in evidence over the Christmas period, not only in Doctor Who, a performance that garnered her some acclaim, but also on New Year’s Eve with Jools Holland, and a great deal else. As ever, she only needed to leave the house to attract attention: every move she made, every dress she wore and, above all else, every man she spoke to came in for intense examination.
And so, in 2008, Kylie’s popularity is as great as ever, if not more so. She has shown herself to be not only a showgirl, but also a survivor, and one who simply got on with it without complaining. At the time of writing reports continue to arise saying that she and Olivier have got back together. At the time of writing, they have not. But Kylie has transcended mere celebrity – she has established a two decade long international career, and seen her popularity continue to grow as she’s done so. She’s a huge star by any reckoning – and one who in the future looks likely to shine brighter still.
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Julie Aspinall has written for a host of national newspapers and magazines and has an array of celebrity connections, giving her a unique insight into the lives of the stars. She lives in West London.
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Kylie Queen of the World Page 23