Kylie on entertainment industry: ‘Would be nice not to be asked about your age’
By Lauren Del Fabbro, Press Association Entertainment Reporter
Australian popstar Kylie Minogue has said it would be “nice” not to be asked about her age adding that the industry still has “a way to go”.
The 57-year-old stars in the upcoming three-part Netflix series, titled Kylie, which documents the singer’s rise to fame.
During the series, Minogue opens up about the misogyny and criticism she faced as a young star, adding that despite people being more open-minded these days there is still more to be done.
Speaking to the Press Association, Minogue said: “I think it has changed, but it can still do with more change.
“It’s in motion.
“It would be nice not to be asked about your age, I’m still asked about it. I don’t know that Mick Jagger gets asked about it.”
She explained how one of her best friends wanted to be a sports presenter in the 90s, however, was never considered at the time.
Minogue continued: “I think as a whole we’re much more open-minded. But there’ll always be a way to go.”
The docuseries features footage from her childhood and her early days starring in Australian soap Neighbours, as well interviews with friends and family including her former co-star, Jason Donovan, sister Dannii and musician Nick Cave.
It comes nearly two decades after Minogue was given the all-clear after being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in May 2005, aged 36.
Minogue, who was on tour at the time, had to put her pop career on hold and underwent a lumpectomy and chemotherapy in Paris.
Coverage of her diagnosis caused an unprecedented increase in bookings for mammograms, referred to as the “Kylie effect”.
Speaking about the phenomenon and if she felt a personal sense of responsibility, she said: “I didn’t feel a pressure. I don’t think I could have asked more of myself than I did in that time.
“I am a people person, even if my natural default, and you will see why when you watch the documentary, (that) you need to keep a lot to yourself for your sanity.
“I did not feel pressure. I wouldn’t say that.
“I was doing my best to get through and be well but to know that that was a benefit to anyone was a beautiful thing.”
The docuseries was created by the team behind Netflix’s David Beckham documentary, Beckham, and explores how the Australian singer became one of pop’s biggest stars.
She added: “I think what was interesting for me to see is where I haven’t changed, and I still feel the same way I do about life and why I’m doing this and how I interact with people around me and that’s moving, because I can kind of see myself, which is hard for us to ever really see ourselves, so I can see what my DNA is.
“Of course, it gets coloured with time and experience and age and life, but I think seeing who I know I am deep inside me be that person as a young person was really moving.”
Minogue has gone on to secure eight number one singles in the UK including Spinning Around, Can’t Get You Out Of My Head and I Should Be So Lucky as well as 11 number one albums.
Kylie premieres on Netflix on May 20th.
