Christine Anu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Christine Anu
Anu in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Maia Christine Anu
Born	(1970-03-15) 15 March 1970 (age 55) Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Origin	Torres Strait Islands, Queensland, Australia
Genres	Pop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter actress
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1987–present
Labels	Mushroom Records Liberation Music ABC Music Independent Social Family Records

Maia Christine Anu (born on 15 March 1970) is an Australian singer, songwriter, and actress. She comes from the Torres Strait Islander people. Christine became very well known in 1995 when she released her version of the Warumpi Band's song "My Island Home".

She has won many awards, including several ARIA Awards and five Deadly Awards. In August 2024, she released a new album called Waku: Minaral a Minalay.

Christine started her career as a dancer. She has also acted in movies, on stage (including musical theatre), and on TV. She even hosted a radio show called Weekend Evenings on ABC Radio.

Early Life and Dance Training

Christine Anu was born in Cairns, Queensland, on 15 March 1970. She grew up in different parts of Queensland with her mother and stepfather. Her mother is from Saibai Island. Her stepfather was a respected songman from Mabuiag Island. He sang traditional island songs and encouraged the family to sing together. He passed away when Christine was 10 years old.

Christine went to Emmaus College in Rockhampton and finished school in 1987. She loved dancing the most. So, she moved to Sydney to study at the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA Dance College). She earned a special degree in dance in 1992.

Music Career Highlights

Starting in Music

Christine Anu performing at the 2000 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony

While at college, Christine began performing as a dancer. She joined famous dance groups like the Bangarra Dance Theatre and the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre. She toured with Bangarra in 1992 and 1993.

Later, she sang backup for a group called the Rainmakers for a year. Her first song recording was in 1993. It was a dance version of a Paul Kelly song called "Last Train". Her next song, "Monkey and the Turtle", was based on a traditional nursery rhyme from the Torres Strait Islands.

Breakthrough with "My Island Home"

In 1995, Christine covered the song "My Island Home". This song became very popular right away. Many people now remember her as the main singer of this song. She released her first album, Stylin' Up, in 1995. It sold so well that it became a platinum album.

The song "Come On" was released from Stylin' Up. It reached number 94 on the Australian music charts. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1996, "Come On" won two awards. These included Best Female Artist and Best Indigenous Release. In the same year, she also won a Deadly Award for best female artist.

Collaborations and More Success

The famous director Baz Luhrmann asked Christine to sing on his 1997 album Something for Everybody. The song was "Now Until the Break of Day". The music video for this song won another ARIA award in 1999. This led to her acting in the movie Moulin Rouge!.

In 1998, Christine joined other artists like Archie Roach and Paul Kelly. They formed a group called Singers for the Red Black and Gold. They released a cover of the song "Yil Lull". That year, she won the Female Artist of The Year Deadly Award again.

In 2000, Christine released her second album, Come My Way. It reached number 18 on the ARIA albums chart and sold enough to go gold. She released the popular song "Sunshine on a Rainy Day". For this song, she won ARIA Awards for Best Female Artist and Engineer of the Year. Also in 2000, she sang "My Island Home" at the Sydney 2000 Olympics Closing Ceremony.

Christine released her third album, 45 Degrees, in 2003. In 2005, she released Acoustically. She won the Deadly Award for Female Artist of the Year again in 2005. In 2004, she won Single of the Year for "Talk About Love".

In 2007, Christine toured with a new show called Black is Blue. She sang songs by famous blues singers like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. That year, she also toured a children's show and released an album called Chrissy's Island Family. This album was nominated for an ARIA Award.

She released a new song, "Come Home", in 2010. In 2012, she released the album Rewind: The Aretha Franklin Songbook.

On 7 November 2014, Christine released a Christmas album called Island Christmas. The next year, she released ReStylin' Up 20 Years.

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

Christine worked on a new album through 2023. This album, Waku: Minaral a Minalay, was released on 2 August 2024. Her daughter, Zipporah, wrote one of the songs on the album.

Acting Career

Christine Anu has had a busy acting career in movies, on stage, and on television.

She appeared in the 1996 Australian film Dating the Enemy. She also hosted the children's TV show Play School.

Christine acted in an Australian production of the musical Little Shop of Horrors. Her stage career grew when she played Mimi in the original Australian production of Rent in 1998 and 1999. She was offered a role in the Broadway version of this musical but could not take it because she was busy recording her second album.

She had roles in the movies Moulin Rouge! (2001) and The Matrix Reloaded (2003), where she played a character named Kali. She also voiced Kali in the video game Enter the Matrix.

From October 2004 to 2005, she toured Australia with a stage show called Intimate and Deadly. This show was based on her life story.

In 2012, she played the main role of Rae in the Australian sci-fi TV series Outland. Rae was the only female member of a gay sci-fi fan club.

On 21 October 2024, it was announced that she would play the role of Hermes in the Australian tour of Hadestown.

Other Television Appearances

In 2004, Christine became a judge on Popstars Live, a TV talent show. She wanted to be a good role model and refused to give harsh criticism to the contestants. Because of this, she resigned as a judge in April 2004.

In 2009, Christine took part in Who Do You Think You Are, a show about finding out about your family history.

In August 2020, Christine was revealed as "the Goldfish" on the second season of The Masked Singer Australia. She was the third contestant to be unmasked.

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

Radio Work

In December 2015, ABC announced that Christine would host the Evenings radio program. She shared the role at first, then took over full-time in April 2016.

In November 2016, ABC announced that Christine would host a national Evenings program on Friday and Saturday nights.

After a break, Christine started presenting Weekend Evenings again in January 2023. As of February 2025, Christine presents Weekend Evenings on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings.

Personal Life

Christine Anu is a mother to a son named Kuiam and a daughter named Zipporah Corser Anu. Zipporah's father is actor Rodger Corser, and she is also very talented in music.

Christine married her childhood sweetheart, Simon Deutrom, in 2010. They separated in June 2016 and later divorced.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Stylin' Up (1995)
• Come My Way (2000)
• 45 Degrees (2003)
• Acoustically (2005)
• Chrissy's Island Family (2007)
• Rewind: The Aretha Franklin Songbook (2012)
• Island Christmas (2014)
• Waku: Minaral a Minalay (2024)

Live Albums

• Intimate and Deadly (2010)
• ReStylin' Up 20 Years (2015)

Filmography

Films and Television Shows

Theatre and Stage Performances

Awards and Recognition

At the 2025 NAIDOC Awards, Christine Anu received the Creative Talent Award.

ARIA Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are yearly awards that celebrate great music in Australia.

Australian Women in Music Awards

These awards celebrate amazing women in the Australian music industry.

Deadly Awards

The Deadly Awards celebrated achievements by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in music, sport, and entertainment.

Green Room Awards

National Indigenous Music Awards

These awards recognize the achievements of Indigenous Australians in music.

Queensland Music Awards

These awards celebrate new artists from Queensland, Australia.