At just 16 years old, Casey Donovan found herself propelled to overnight fame when she won the second season of Australian Idol.
That was 2004 and in the 17 years since, Donovan has enjoyed a career across song, stage and screen. This month she returns to Australian TV to host What Does Australia Really Think About … a new SBS program premiering 18 August at 8.30pm. Donovan’s episode of the docu-series, which explores how stigma and prejudice affect the lives of Australians, focuses on obesity. It’s a topic of personal importance to the performer, who has had to contend with comments about her weight ever since she appeared on Idol.
Music is still an important part of Donovan’s life, which is why she rates an acoustic guitar as her most prized possession. Here, she tells us about that beloved instrument, as well as the story of two other important items.
What I’d save from my house in a fire
I think I’d have to save my guitar. It’s a Cole Clark guitar called a ‘Fat Lady’. I got it from a guitar shop up in Sydney about four or five years ago, when I was living there. It was a great investment – they’re not cheap. But they’re an Australian-made guitar company, which is pretty bloody awesome.
She’s a great guitar; she’s got me through many a tough time and helped me through lockdown. And life’s pretty boring without music.
My most useful object
I think my most useful object would be, good god, my frypan. It scrambles my eggs, it cooks my mince, it keeps me well fed. I think there’s not a day that goes by that I haven’t used it. I do cook a fair bit, so it’s nice to have a good frypan.
This one isn’t anything fancy, but nothing is more exciting than a new nonstick pan. It feels great. And you make promises to yourself – like this time I’m only going to use wooden utensils, I’m not gonna flick my eggs with my fork.
I probably should have spent a bit more than what I did on this little thing – I think I got it from Coles, if I’m being honest – but that comes at a later age.
I’m thinking once I hit maybe 36 it’s time to really settle down with a good frypan. I’m 33 now, so I’ve got a good few years up my sleeve yet.
The item I most regret losing
I don’t know if I’ve lost anything, but I did have to part ways with my favourite pair of slippers. I got them in a shop in Melbourne when I was travelling, doing We Will Rock You, many years ago. They were great.
They hadn’t been worn out to their full potential, but my cat peed on them, I put them in the wash and they shrunk. So I had to chuck them out. The loss is still pretty raw so I haven’t got a replacement pair yet.
We’ll be changing seasons soon so I feel like I’ve missed out on the chance to get a full-leg ugg boot this winter. Maybe next year, we’ll see how we go. My lockdown life is pretty sad right now!
