Gayle & Gillian Blakeney
Encyclopedia
Gayle and Gillian Blakeney are Australian identical twins who performed together as actresses and as a dance
/pop duo
in the 1990s. Born in Brisbane
on 9 July 1966. Gayle is older by nine minutes. They are most widely known for their stint in the soap opera Neighbours
.
Gayle and Gillian then starred in numerous television commercials around Australia – including a series of Kelloggs
' Corn Flakes
commercials. They then decided to take the next step and auditioned for a lead role in a children's telemovie pilot called "Earth Patrol" starring Spike Milligan
. Gillian won the lead children's role of Cassie. However, the producers were delighted with both twins auditions and planned to write Gayle into the series as her twin sister if the pilot was successful. The pilot was not accepted.
The sisters continued their career in 1979 when they appeared in a video
clip for the Australian group, The Monitors, "Singin' In The '80s", wearing make-up in the style of rock band Kiss
. They also appeared in other music videos by The Monitors between 1980 and 1982, most notably "Nobody Told Me" (dressed as schoolgirls in a jail) and "Having You Around Me" (dressed as 'beach babes').
The sisters have contrasting personalities. When sharing a flat together, Gillian did the man-about-the-house DIY work, while Gayle did the cooking and housework.
, along with the puppet Agro. They enjoyed their roles as reporters for the next seven years. The program also included an on-going mock soap opera segment.
Another advertising appearance was in the mid-1980s, in a series of futuristic commercials for Coca-Cola, featuring Max Headroom
.
In 1990 they joined the cast of the soap opera Neighbours
as Caroline (played by Gillian) and Christina (played by Gayle) Alessi. Gillian and Gayle left the show at different stages during 1992.
Following the success of former Neighbours actors Kylie Minogue
and Jason Donovan
as recording artists, the Blakeneys went to England in 1991 to record with Stock Aitken Waterman
originally as 'The Twins'. The resulting single, "All Mixed Up", became a modest club
hit
that year, and peaked at #74 in Australia.
After parting with Stock Aitken Waterman the Blakeneys made a brief return to Neighbours, eventually leaving the show in 1992. In 1993/1994 they released two singles in the United Kingdom as 'Gayle & Gillian', "Mad If Ya Don't" (number 75 in the UK Singles Chart
in 1993) and a cover version
of Prince's "I Wanna Be Your Lover
" re-titled "Wanna Be Your Lover" (number 62 in 1994).
Afterwards the two made a brief return to television, this time as co-hosts on the UK game show Take Your Pick
. While working in the UK, they also acted on stage.
In 1994 the sisters moved to the United States (where they still reside today) to pursue acting roles, landing guest spots on various film and TV projects, such as playing ballerinas in Silk Stalkings
.
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
/pop duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
in the 1990s. Born in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
on 9 July 1966. Gayle is older by nine minutes. They are most widely known for their stint in the soap opera Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
.
Early career
The girls knew from a young age that they wanted to be on television. After begging their mother to take them to singing lessons, she finally agreed and this led them to various talent quests around South East Queensland. As first prize at one event on the Gold Coast the girls won entry into a televised talent show on the Nine Network.Gayle and Gillian then starred in numerous television commercials around Australia – including a series of Kelloggs
Kellogg Company
Kellogg Company , is a producer of cereal and convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit-flavored snacks, frozen waffles, and vegetarian foods...
' Corn Flakes
Corn flakes
Corn flakes are a popular breakfast cereal originally manufactured by Kellogg's through the treatment of maize. A patent for the product was filed on May 31, 1895, and issued on April 14, 1896.-History:...
commercials. They then decided to take the next step and auditioned for a lead role in a children's telemovie pilot called "Earth Patrol" starring Spike Milligan
Spike Milligan
Terence Alan Patrick Seán "Spike" Milligan Hon. KBE was a comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright, soldier and actor. His early life was spent in India, where he was born, but the majority of his working life was spent in the United Kingdom. He became an Irish citizen in 1962 after the...
. Gillian won the lead children's role of Cassie. However, the producers were delighted with both twins auditions and planned to write Gayle into the series as her twin sister if the pilot was successful. The pilot was not accepted.
The sisters continued their career in 1979 when they appeared in a video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
clip for the Australian group, The Monitors, "Singin' In The '80s", wearing make-up in the style of rock band Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
. They also appeared in other music videos by The Monitors between 1980 and 1982, most notably "Nobody Told Me" (dressed as schoolgirls in a jail) and "Having You Around Me" (dressed as 'beach babes').
The sisters have contrasting personalities. When sharing a flat together, Gillian did the man-about-the-house DIY work, while Gayle did the cooking and housework.
Fame
In 1983 they joined the team on the successful national children's programme WombatWombat (TV series)
Wombat was an award-winning Australian children's TV show produced at BTQ Channel 7 in Brisbane from 1979 to 1990. It was aired on weekday afternoons, and later Saturday and Sunday mornings, across Australia....
, along with the puppet Agro. They enjoyed their roles as reporters for the next seven years. The program also included an on-going mock soap opera segment.
Another advertising appearance was in the mid-1980s, in a series of futuristic commercials for Coca-Cola, featuring Max Headroom
Max Headroom (character)
Max Headroom is a fictional British artificial intelligence, known for his wit and stuttering, distorted, electronically sampled voice. The character was created by George Stone, Annabel Jankel, and Rocky Morton in the mid nineteen eighties, and portrayed by Matt Frewer as "The World's first...
.
In 1990 they joined the cast of the soap opera Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
as Caroline (played by Gillian) and Christina (played by Gayle) Alessi. Gillian and Gayle left the show at different stages during 1992.
Following the success of former Neighbours actors Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
and Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989...
as recording artists, the Blakeneys went to England in 1991 to record with Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
originally as 'The Twins'. The resulting single, "All Mixed Up", became a modest club
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
that year, and peaked at #74 in Australia.
After parting with Stock Aitken Waterman the Blakeneys made a brief return to Neighbours, eventually leaving the show in 1992. In 1993/1994 they released two singles in the United Kingdom as 'Gayle & Gillian', "Mad If Ya Don't" (number 75 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1993) and a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Prince's "I Wanna Be Your Lover
I Wanna Be Your Lover
"I Wanna Be Your Lover" is a song by Prince from his second album Prince, released in 1979. It was his first successful single, gaining radio airplay and chart success: the song scored two weeks at number one on the R&B singles chart during December 1979, and peaked at number eleven on the...
" re-titled "Wanna Be Your Lover" (number 62 in 1994).
Afterwards the two made a brief return to television, this time as co-hosts on the UK game show Take Your Pick
Take Your Pick
Take Your Pick was a UK game show originally broadcast by Radio Luxembourg in the early 1950s. The show transferred to television in 1955 with the launch of ITV, where it continued until 1968...
. While working in the UK, they also acted on stage.
In 1994 the sisters moved to the United States (where they still reside today) to pursue acting roles, landing guest spots on various film and TV projects, such as playing ballerinas in Silk Stalkings
Silk Stalkings
Silk Stalkings is a TV crime drama originally shown on CBS in 1991 as part of the network's late-night Crimetime After Primetime programming package, and rebroadcast on the USA Network. After CBS ended the Crimetime experiment in 1993, the series ran exclusively on USA until its finale in the...
.