You meet some cool people through your kids, but they don’t often turn out to be internationally acclaimed movie stars, seasoned stage and TV actors or accomplished jazz singers. Not unless your kids know Justine Clarke. Which, after her second album, “Songs To Make You Smile”, is actually pretty likely.

Justine has forged a unique bond with Australian audiences over 25 years. As a child herself, she rode shotgun with Mel Gibson in “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome”. Now she’s a firm favourite with our own kids, as a key presenter on preschool TV institution, “Play School”.

In between came “Home & Away” and “All Saints” on telly; and “Cyrano de Bergerac” and “Hedda Gabler” on stage. On the big screen, you may have caught her in “Japanese Story”, or her award-winning performance in “Look Both Ways”. If you’re into live rock, country or jazz, you could have heard her exquisite voice in any number of clubs these last 15 years.

Small wonder she already felt like a family friend when she dropped her first album of children’s songs, “I Like To Sing”, in 2005.

“Songs to Make You Smile” is an affirmation of that album’s wide appeal. Justine’s voice is an instrument of ageless charm, her songs are impeccably crafted and her band rocks – and swings, and glides, and grooves and boot-scoots and shimmies and a dozen other variations of style and colour to make those inevitable repeat-plays a pleasure.

“Songs to Make You Smile” finds Justine and her key collaborator, jazz pianist/ writer/ producer Peter Dasent (The Umbrellas), broadening the horizons of the singalong children’s song, from the exhilarating car-radio pop of “Doin’ It” to the gentle islander lullaby of “Why Does The Baby Cry” to the boisterous riff rock of “Jelly Jelly Jelly”.

“Peter is incredibly good at adapting any style,” she says. “He understands music on every level – this one is country swing, this can be an AC/DC song – and he has this instinct for getting inside a three-year-old’s brain.

“I’m the voice, so I’m their friend I suppose. I have a good idea of what engages them, and physically how to do it.”

That point is illustrated by the likes of “Dinosaur Roar”, “I Can Tickle Myself”, “Painting a Picture” and “Dancing Pants”, but the many and varied skills of Justine and her all-star band ensure a musical sophistication beyond the play-date workout.

It was Australian jazz icon Vince Jones who convinced Justine to seriously pursue her musical gifts after a chance encounter in ’91. By that time she’d danced and sang her way across a hundred shopping mall stages as a child, graduated from the school choir, and played Brigitta in “The Sound Of Music”.

Over the next decade she wrote, sang and performed in a huge range of guises, from country band the Honky Tonk Angels to ’50s rock’n‘rollers The Comets. She sang pure jazz at the Starfish Club and wrote and starred in her own Doris Day tribute, “A Doris Daze”.

As an actor, Justine’s star rose simultaneously, from “Black Rock” with Heath Ledger to “Danny Deckchair” with Miranda Otto, and acclaimed TV dramas “The Surgeon” and “Love My Way”. Her role in “Look Both Ways” was AFI-nominated, and won Best Actress at the Mar del Plata International Film Festival.

But for all the red carpet acclaim, with two small children of her own, Justine remains firmly attuned to the hearts and minds of Australian kids, and to the thrilling immediacy of live performance.

“Whether it’s singing or acting on stage, performing live is where I get my kicks,” she says. “Music-related live performance with little kids is incredibly satisfying because they are so willing to participate and have a good time. Everybody’s there to join in, parents included.

“I think I just love a singalong. It’s one of the best things you can do.”

“Songs To Make You Smile” is out now through ABC Music.

The full Justine Clarke career history

CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT

2005 CD: I Like To sing
2007 DVD: I Like To Sing
2008 CD & DVD: Songs To Make You Smile

FILM

2007 IN HER SKIN
Liberty Films.

2005 THE WATER DIARY
Big Shell Publishing. Dir. Jane Campion.
Role – Liz.

2004 LOOK BOTH WAYS
Hibiscus Films. Dir. Sarah Watt.
Role – Meryl.

2003 JAPANESE STORY
Gecko Films. Dir. Sue Brooks.
Role –Jane.

2002 DANNY DECKCHAIR
Deckchair Productions. Dir. Jeff Balsmeyer.
Role – Trudy.

1999 BOOTMEN
Bootmen Productions. Dir. Dein Perry.
Role – Kim.

1996 BLACKROCK
Palm Beach Pictures. Dir. Steven Vidler.
Role – Tiffany.

1995 TURNING APRIL
Total Films. Dir. Geoff Bennett.
Role – Rose.

1984 MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME
Kennedy Miller Productions. Dirs. George Miller, George Ogilvie.
Role – Anna Goanna.

SHORT FILM

BALLOON GIRL
AFTRS. Dir. Justine Kerrigan.
Role – Balloon Girl.

TELEVISION

2008 TANGLE
John Edwards/Southern Star
Role – Ally.

2007 LOVE MY WAY Series 3
John Edwards/Southern Star
Role – Julia.

2007 BASTARD BOYS
Flying Cabbage Productions. Dir. Ray Quint
Role – Janine McSwain

2007 THE SURGEON
Southern Star. Dir. Matt Saville/Rebecca Barry.
Role – Eve.

2003 – 09 PLAYSCHOOL
ABC TV.
Presenter.

2003 THE BRUSH OFF
Murray Whelan P/L. Dir. Sam Neill.
Role – Salina.

2003 GO BIG
Go Big Films. Dir. Tony Tilse.
Role – Gina Katz.

2001 HEAD START
Gannon Television. Dir. Chris Martin-Jones.
Role – Julia.

2001 BACKBERNER
Crackerjack Productions.
Role – Susan Reece

1998 ALL SAINTS
Amalgamated TV Services.
Role – Dr Samantha O’Hara.

1998 NEVER TELL ME NEVER
Palm Beach Pictures. Dir. David Elfick.
Role – Anna. Telemovie.

1997-98 WILDSIDE
Gannon Jenkins Televsion. Dir. Peter Andrikidis.
Role – Jessie Roscoe.

1996 TWISTED TALES – The Crossing
Twisted Tales. Dir. Kate Dennis.
Role – Pip.

1991 GOLDEN FIDDLES
South Australian Film Corporation. Dir. Claude Fournier.
Role – Liddy.

1991 TRACKS OF GLORY
South Australian Film Corporation. Dir. Marcus Cole.
Role – Kate O’Brien.

1990 COME IN SPINNER
ABC TV. Dir. Robert Marchand.
Role – Monnie.

1989 PROFESSOR POOPSNAGLE’S STEAM ZEPPLELIN
Grundy Television.
Role – Carmen.

1988 PRINCESS KATE
Unthank Films. Dir. George Ogilvy.
Role – Kate McLelland.

1988 HOME & AWAY
Amalgamated Television Services.
Role – Ruth Stewart.

1984 MAESTRO’S COMPANY
Independent Productions. Dir. Bill Fitzwater.
Role – Tina.

DOWN UNDER
ABC TV. Dir. Julia Moody.
Role – Karen.

A COUNTRY PRACTICE
JNP Films.
Role – Nicky Simpson.

WILLING & ABEL
Lyn Bayonas Productions.
Role – Tina.

GP
Roadshow Coote and Carroll.
Role – Louise Barton.

THE PRIVATE WAR OF LUCINDA SMITH
Resolution Films. Dir. Ray Alchin.
Role – Nellie.

IN HOUSE
Television and Telecasters Limited.
Role – Jemima Patrick.

THEATRE

2009 THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISSOCIA
Sydney Theatre Company. Dir. Marion Potts.
Role – Lisa.

2008 TOY SYMPHONY
Belvoir St. Theatre. Dir. Neil Armfield.

2006 REUNION & A KIND OF ALASKA
Sydney Theatre Company. Dir. Cate Blanchett
Role – Carol Mindler, Pauline

2006 HEDDA GABLER
BAM Festival Brooklyn. Dir. Robyn Nevin.
Role – Mrs Elvsted.

2004 HEDDA GABLER
Sydney Theatre Company. Dir. Robyn Nevin.
Role – Mrs. Elvsted.

2003 DREAMING TRANSPORTATION
Sydney Metropolitan Opera.

2002 THE MAN WITH FIVE CHILDREN
Sydney Theatre Company. Dir George Ogilvy.
Role – Annie.

2000 TRELAWNEY OF THE WELLS
Melbourne Theatre Company & Sydney Theatre Company. Dir. Simon Phillips.
Role – Rose.

1999 CYRANO DE BERGERAC
Sydney Theatre Company. Dir. Marion Potts.
Role – Roxanne.

1997 THE HERBAL BED
Sydney Theatre Company. Dir. Marion Potts.
Role – Hester.

1996 STIFFS
Sydney Theatre Company. Dir. David Berthold.
Role – Stella.

1995 LIVE ACTS ON STAGE
Griffin Theatre. Dir. Michael Gow.

1990 MURDERER
Karnak Playhouse. Dir. Diane Cilento.
Role – Millie.

1983 THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Regent Theatre. Prod. Noel Ferrier.
Role – Brigitta.

CABARET/JAZZ

2001 A DORIS DAZE – A Doris Day Story
Written & Performed by Justine at Winebanc.

2000 FRANK SINATRA SHOW SYDNEY ALL STARS BIG BAND
With Tom Burlinson. Vocalist. Support Band.

2000 WINE BANC
Regular Guest Vocalist.

1999 STARFISH CLUB
Guest Vocalist.

1999 VIENNAWORLD
Vocalist, Songwriter, percussionist.
4 Piece Band – Originals.

1997/99 THE COMETS
Lead Vocalist. 50’s & 60’s Rock & Roll Band.

1994/98 AUTOMATIC CHERRY
Backing Vocalist, Song Writer. 8 Piece Band– Originals.

1993/95 WHITE TRASH MAMA’S
Vocalist, Song Writer.

1992 HONKY TONK ANGELS
Vocalist, Song Writer. 12 Piece Country & Western Show Band. Originals / Covers.

NARRATION

2007 “4” Vast Productions.

AWARDS & NOMINATIONS

2008 Aria nomination for Best Children’s Album for SONGS TO MAKE YOU SMILE.

2006 ARIA nomination for Best Children’s Album for I LIKE TO SING.

2006 Vladivostock Film Festival Award for Best Actress for LOOK BOTH WAYS.

2006 Australian Film Institute Award nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama for THE SURGEON.

2006 Mar Del Plata Film Festival Award. Best Actress in a Lead Role for LOOK BOTH WAYS.

2005 AFI Award nomination. Best Lead Actress for LOOK BOTH WAYS.

2005 IF Award nomination. Best Actress in a Lead Role for LOOK BOTH WAYS.

2005 Film Critics Circle of Australia Award nomination. Best Actress in a Lead Role for LOOK BOTH WAYS.

2005 Helpmann Award nomination for “Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play” for HEDDA GABLER

2003 Film Critics Circle of Australia Award nomination. Actress in a supporting role.

1998 Penguin Award nomination for “Best Juvenile Actress” for PRINCESS KATE.