Camille O'Sullivan is a cabaret singer and performer born in London and raised in Cork, Ireland. Her work combines cabaret, folk, pop and rock, and she is known for dramatic, theatrical interpretations of songs by Jacques Brel, Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Kurt Weill.

Background

O'Sullivan is born in London to a French mother and Irish father, and moves to Cork as a child. She studies Fine Art painting for a year before going on to University College Dublin, where she graduates as an architect. She also wins the Architectural Association of Ireland Award in 2000 and exhibits as a painter at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Ireland.

Stage work and performance style

As a solo artist, she gives sell-out seasons in Australia, New York, the UK and Ireland, including sold-out runs at the Sydney Opera House and the State Theatre in Melbourne. Her performances are theatrical and character-led, with songs presented in English, French and German. She appears in productions such as La Clique at the Famous Spiegeltent, Murder Ballads, One Night Stand, Tonight Lola Blau, and the RTE television role of Lola Monetz in Her Name was Lola. She also performs in Sweeney Todd at the Gate Theatre in Dublin.

Screen work and collaboration

O'Sullivan co-stars in Mrs Henderson Presents, directed by Stephan Frears, alongside Dame Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins. Her other film credits include November Afternoon, On the Edge and Graham Cantwell's L'Etranger. She appears as a guest with Damien Rice and Shane McGowan, and is the former partner of The Waterboys' lead singer Mike Scott.

Awards and recognition

Her stage work receives recognition at the Melbourne Green Room Theatre Awards, where she wins Best Cabaret Artiste in 2004. She is also named Best Music at the Brighton Fringe Festival Awards in 2005, Star of the Brighton Festival in 2006, and receives the Spirit of the Fringe Award after a run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She also becomes the face of Hennessy Cognac in advertising campaigns.

Other work

In addition to performing, O'Sullivan works as an actress and painter, showing a range that spans cabaret, theatre, film and visual art. She becomes a parent in 2013.