Jane Clifton

Author, Entertainer

Jane Clifton talks for a living. Actor, broadcaster, panelist, guest speaker, M.C., writing coach and registered civil celebrant, Jane is a story-teller – even when she sings she’s telling a story. Her by-line is ‘here to help’ – with an entertaining speech, hosting an awards night, moderating a debate, writing a wedding or funeral or just inspiring you, by example, to get started on that book you’ve been meaning to write.

Where were you born?

Gibraltar. My memoir, The Address Book, begins with the line ‘Born on a rock, I was born to rock.’

What other jobs have you had?

I’ve worked behind the counter at Coles and McEwans, sorted frozen peas and scraped paint in factories, waitressed and barmaided all over the country, booked bands for a venue, run an actors’ agency, taught Social Studies at a tech in the 70s and tried really hard, but failed, to sell encyclopaedias door-to-door.

What themes are recurring in your work?

Telling a story with a mystery at its heart. Whether it be constructing a complicated plot for a crime novel or trying to get to the bottom of family secrets in a memoir, I do love a literary puzzle. Cryptic crosswords, too.

What have been the highlights of your career?

Having my first novel, Half Past Dead, published by Text Publishing in 2002.

Receiving an Australia Council Fellowship in 2007 to go and write The Address Book at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Ireland.

Playing the character Marilyn in new Australian playwright, Katy Warner’s  Spencer, in 2017.

Singing with Tom Jones on the Conversation Hour.

Where have your works been published?

Australia.

What are you passionate about?

Telling stories. Clarity of communication. Words. Creating and solving puzzles.

Haven’t I seen you before?

To paraphrase Troy McClure, ‘you may remember me from such shows as…’ – Prisoner, of course, Mum’s The Word, Menopause The Musical, and as a singer/host on Countdown. You may be old enough to have seen me perform at the Pram Factory Theatre or singing in a rock band. You may have heard me on the radio: co-hosting the Conversation Hour with Jon Faine or my long-running segment with Red Symons or even on 3TripleR. I may have married you or your son or daughter or friend – in my role as civil celebrant. I may have conducted a funeral you attended. I may even have picked you up in my car while driving for innovative, all-female, ride-sharing service, Shebah. Or maybe we just went to school together…..

Anything else you’d like to share with us?

You can follow me on Facebook at Jane Clifton Entertainer, on twitter @missjaneclifton, on Instagram as cliffotoo or you can drop by my website www.janeclifton.com.au You can download my CD The Marriage of Style at bandcamp or visit my youtube channel to see clips.

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