My first job was ... deli assistant at Port Chalmers New World. I earned $15 a week ($4 an hour?). I was 14. I've also been vegetarian my whole life so there was a lot of learning involved. I touched my first dead chicken there.
It taught me … that luncheon meat is very disgusting.
My big break came … certainly not my big break, but being nominated for a Silver Scroll last year was quite a special thing. To be in such an incredible top five was quite a thrill.
The last job I quit was … two years ago, I left my job at the Careys Bay Hotel in Port Chalmers. I'd actually been working there on and off since I was 17. All the locals were becoming very proud of my achievements. My boss, Jo Kidston, used to cut out all my newspaper articles and hang them on the wall. I quit because I kept having to go on tour, plus I was not the best waitress in the world, kind of slow and in a dream-state most of the time (I'm sure Coco's Cantina can agree there too). I'm much happier working for myself now. I still love that place though and feel very much part of the furniture.
The most famous person I've ever met is … I once saw Chris O'Dowd in the LAX Koru Lounge. Then he was on my flight too. I can't say I met him but my heart was racing and I certainly stared at him for quite a while. I think we had a connection - but I will never know.
