What is a day in the life of Marcia Hines? Every day is different, it all depends on if I'm doing a show or if I'm doing publicity for a show or if I'm on downtime. Downtime, I sort of just hang with my friends and do very little and watch bad movies.
Tell me about Velvet. Velvet is based loosely on Studio 54. It's music from the disco era. The story starts with this boy who innocently walks into this club and he doesn't know quite what he has walked into and I guide him and he kind of finds out who he is and there's a metamorphosis. That's all I'm going to say. And there are also some great aerial acts in the show.
How did the show come about? Velvet is an idea that was conceptualised by my manager, Peter Rix. It's something that he got together with Craig Ilott, our director, and they kind of brainchild it and here we are. So it's brand new. We took it to Adelaide Festival and won every award there was to win, and we won the Show of the Festival as well, which was great. Then we went to Edinburgh and we were able to all go, and we did it in the Spiegeltent.
What do you love most about performing? People's reactions to music. There's nothing quite like live music. I really like touching people when I perform. I think it really is a wonderful thing to do for a living.
You've been in the public eye for so many years now. What's that like? (Laughs) I only laughed because the best thing about being in Edinburgh recently, no one knew who I was. So, yeah, I kind of just walked the streets and did what normal people do.
Do you prefer that? No. I had a chat with myself one day when I was walking to work thinking, "What would you prefer – the notoriety that you have in Australia or this?" I went, "Australia".
Why? You know, because you earn it and it's a love thing. People don't ever come up to me and say anything mean or nasty. They always tell me some life experiences that they've gone through with my music or they remember their parents through my music and that's really nice.
You have been a household name for generations. Yes, it's pretty cool; it's a nice feeling. It's an interesting thing because respect is something you can't demand, you earn it. I've earned it over all these years and having such a great vehicle like Australian Idol. That was great for me and I loved doing it. Hard yakka but I loved doing it.
If the opportunity arose for you to be on Idol when you were younger, would you have auditioned? I don't know because I'm relatively shy.
Are you really? I am. Most performers are shy in their own strange way. You have to be somewhat extra ready to get on stage. It's another persona. At a party, you'd never see me around the piano, singing. Never. I'd be sitting, watching someone do it. But, no, I'm not that girl.
So how do you get yourself stage ready? I've worked out how to do it and I sort of warm up my voice and I put on the war paint – as I call the make up – and get ready to go to work, and that's what I do. I believe you have to find a quiet place to find a calm state. I'm always nervous because I'm always aware of what could go wrong. When you're not nervous or somewhat excited [to go on stage], you should give it up.
Did you always know that you wanted to be a performer? Yes, ever since I was about four.
What was the defining moment? Like most black kids in America, you learn to sing in church. So I used to sing in church in our little choir. My godmother was the lead singer. She was blind and, because she was blind, I was able to go into the choir box where the kids weren't allowed and I would sit still and just listen. So I just knew from then.
Was your first big break was Hair. How did you get that role? A friend of mine, who was already in Hair – her name was Linda Gaines – her sister was Donna Summer. So I grew up with them. Linda was doing Hair in Boston and Donna was in Germany doing Hair. Linda said, "Come and do the show in Boston." I said, "I think I'd like to try," and I did.
You moved to Australia in the 1970s. Did you ever look back? No. As a performer you stay where the work is. You build a career. I was lucky because I had great guidance and management do it all.
What has been your biggest career highlight? Winning the first Queen of Pop because I wasn't a citizen. I was just a resident and it meant that Australia had adopted me as their own, which was really a nice thing and very significant for me.
You've just had such an amazing career. How have you stayed relevant for so many years? I really think I'm blessed, I really do. And I think I've been blessed to have the people around me that I've had. I have my mother and [daughter] Deni all live together in the same house for 20-something years and you can't get away with much. They wouldn't let my feet leave the ground!
What was the best advice your mother ever gave you? Don't burn bridges.
Were you encouraging of your daughter Deni going into the entertainment industry? Absolutely not! It's really a hard business.
What advice did you give her when she decided to follow in your footsteps? None. Teenage girls don't take advice from their mums because what would I know? [Laughs.]
What is something that people wouldn't know about you? I love art. I like all art but my favourite kind of art to create is mosaics. It's a very messy hobby!
Who is currently on your playlist? Today it was Justin Timberlake. I like Daniel Johns' new album. I like Bruno Mars; I think he is really cool. I was really surprised by Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett's album. But when I go to sleep, I sleep to classical music. I can't listen to lyric because I'll be singing along.
Velvet is on until November 1 at Sydney Opera House; $35-$89.
BITE SIZE
WE WENT TO
Manta Restaurant & Bar, Woolloomooloo
WE ATE
Seared Atlantic scallops with Jerusalem artichoke puree; braised shimeji mushrooms.
WE DRANK
Sparkling water.
MARCIA WORE
China Doll top and American Wrangler jeans.
