Meet the Silver Swans Australian Ambassador

Caroline O’Connor AM tells us why the she’s still dancing…

Fresh from starring in the Melbourne production of The Boys From Oz, we are very proud to announce that musical theatre royalty Caroline O’Connor AM is our Australian Silver SwansTM Ambassador

“I have been a dancer all my life and see no reason why I shouldn’t keep enjoying dance for many years to come! That is why I am so delighted and honoured to be the Patron for the Silver Swans here in Australia.  This wonderful organisation encourages people to continue dancing whatever age you may be. Dance is a beautiful form of human expression and a wonderful way to maintain a social connection. In my opinion, there is nothing that compares to the joy you feel when you hear music and you begin to dance.”

About Caroline O’Connor AM

Caroline O’Connor began her professional career after studying at the esteemed Royal Ballet School in London. She went on to perform extensively throughout the UK and Europe, most notably making her West End leading lady debut in 1995 as Mabel Normand in Jerry Herman’s Mack and Mabel, earning her first Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical.

Caroline came to world attention in 2001 as tango dancing ‘Nini Legs in the Air’ in Baz Luhrmann’s Academy Award winning film Moulin Rouge. In 2002, Caroline made her Broadway debut as Velma Kelly in Chicago at the Shubert Theatre.

Back in the UK, Caroline has starred in The Rink, Gypsy, Assassins and in the English National Opera’s production of On the Town in the West End and Paris. She also had the honour of headlining both the BBC Proms’ Hooray for Hollywood concert, and Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday celebration at the Royal Albert Hall. Stepping into 2011 Paris production of Sweeney Todd with less than a month’s rehearsal, Stephen Sondheim declared Caroline the best ‘Mrs. Lovett’ he had ever heard…

The one-woman play Bombshells, written for Caroline by award-winning playwright Joanna Murray-Smith, played seasons in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Toronto, before touring to sell-out performances at the Edinburgh Festival, where Caroline won the coveted Fringe First Award. It also played at the Arts Centre in the West End, where Caroline received her second Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play.

In a role she seemed destined to play, Caroline was cast as Ethel Merman in the Cole Porter biopic De-Lovely (2004), and starred in the Australian film Surviving Georgia. Caroline has recorded four solo CDs and appeared on numerous cast recordings and television variety programs. She has delighted audiences worldwide with her solo concerts and cabarets.

Caroline was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2020 Australia Day Honours for significant service to the performing arts, particularly to musical theatre.

See Caroline below in ‘Anything Goes’ – Princess Theatre, Melbourne 2015

Video courtesy of Theatre People

Caroline's Website