Sophie Monk, - biography; actress: born December 14, 1979, is an Australian pop
singer-songwriter, actress and occasional model. She was a member of
the female pop group Bardot and has since become a solo recording
artist releasing one album, Calendar Girl. More recently, she turned her hand to acting, starring in comedies such as Date Movie and Click. Monk's professional music career began in 1999 when she responded to an advertisement requesting girls
with vocal and dance experience. Monk, who had been performing since
she was eight years old, drove all night to audition for the first
series of Popstars, a TV talent show which promised to create
"Australia's very own Spice girls". In one audition, she performed a
rendition of Marilyn Monroe's famous "Happy Birthday, Mr. President",
working on her previous experience as a Monroe impersonator at Warner
Bros. Movie World. After numerous rounds of singing and dancing
workshops, Monk was selected as a member of the group, which was named
Bardot. Popstars was one of the most successful and high-rating
programs of 2000. Bardot became the first Australian act to debut at
the #1 position with both its debut single, "Poison", and self-titled
debut album. Further singles "I Should've Never Let You Go" and "These
Days" followed and in August, the group embarked on its first national
tour. Bardot performed at the 2000 ARIA Awards at which they were
nominated in three categories.