37 Facts About Christine Anu

Christine Anu gained popularity with the cover song release of the Warumpi Band's song "My Island Home" in 1995.

Christine Anu started her career as a dancer, and has had an acting career in film, stage, and television, as well as hosting the Weekend Evenings radio show on ABC Radio.

Maia Christine Anu, was born in Cairns, Queensland, on 15 March 1970.

Christine Anu did not know who her biological father was, and grew up with her Torres Strait Islander mother and stepfather all over Queensland.

Christine Anu's mother is from Saibai Island, and her stepfather was a respected songman on Saibai, originally from Mabuiag Island.

Christine Anu sang traditional songs of the islands, and encouraged family singalongs.

Christine Anu died in 1979 when Christine was 10 years old.

Christine Anu attended Emmaus College in Rockhampton, from which she graduated in 1987.

Christine Anu earned an Associate degree in dance in 1992.

Christine Anu began performing as a dancer while at college, and became a member of the Bangarra Dance Theatre and the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre troupes.

Christine Anu went on to sing back-up vocals for the Rainmakers, which included Neil Murray, formerly founder-member of the Warumpi Band, for a year.

Christine Anu's first recording was in 1993 with "Last Train", a dance remake of a Paul Kelly song.

Christine Anu covered the song, which gained immediate popularity, causing her to be remembered as the principal singer of the song.

Christine Anu released her first album, Stylin' Up, which went platinum, in 1995.

In January 1998, Christine Anu teamed up with Archie Roach, Paul Kelly, Judith Durham, Renee Geyer, Kutcha Edwards and Tiddas and formed Singers for the Red Black and Gold.

In 2000, Christine Anu released Come My Way which peaked at number 18 on the ARIA albums chart and went gold.

Christine Anu released the hit single "Sunshine on a Rainy Day", for which she won the ARIA Awards for both Best Female Artist and Engineer of the Year.

In 2003, Christine Anu released her third studio album, 45 Degrees, and in 2005 released Acoustically.

In February and March 2007, Christine Anu toured New South Wales with a new stage show, Black is Blue, singing the songs of blues legends such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Marlene Cummins, and Ella Fitzgerald.

On 7 November 2014, Christine Anu released a Christmas album, titled Island Christmas, and the following year released ReStylin' Up 20 Years.

In March 2018, Christine Anu released a duet version of "Without You" from the musical Rent with Greg Gould.

Christine Anu has had an acting career in film, stage, and television.

Christine Anu appeared in Dating the Enemy, a 1996 Australian film starring Guy Pearce and Claudia Karvan.

Christine Anu appeared in an Australian production of the stage musical Little Shop of Horrors, and her stage career developed with a starring role as Mimi in the original Australian production of Rent in 1998 and 1999, which played to glowing reviews.

Christine Anu was offered a role in a Broadway production of this musical but had to decline due to commitments in recording her second album.

Christine Anu played Kali on the video game Enter the Matrix.

Christine Anu plays wheelchair-using Rae, the sole female member of the group.

Christine Anu refused to offer harsher criticism, saying that she wished to be a role model, leading to her resignation as a judge in April 2004.

In 2009, Christine Anu participated in Who Do You Think You Are.

Christine Anu performed "Waltzing Matilda" at the 2003 AFL Grand Final and performed at the 2024 AFL Grand Final.

Christine Anu shared the role with Dominic Knight, then took over full-time in April 2016 after Knight's resignation.

Christine Anu is a mother of a son, Kuiam, and daughter, Zipporah Corser Christine Anu.

Christine Anu is not the father of either of her children.

In June 2016, Christine Anu announced that she and Deutrom were separating after six years of marriage, and they later divorced.

Christine Anu revealed in 2012 that she had struggled with weight gain, after suffering from depression, and appeared on the Nine Network's reality show Excess Baggage.

In February 2020, Christine Anu pleaded guilty in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court to mid-range drunk driving, after having been pulled over by police in Rockhampton on New Year's Eve.

Christine Anu was fined A$650 and had her driver's license suspended for three months.