They’re two of Australia’s biggest stars, but very few people know that Julia Morris and Tina Arena have a 30-year friendship!
Tina, a musical icon, and Julia, TV’s golden girl, have spent the last three decades relying on each other through thick and thin – offering advice on everything, including their roller-coaster ride to fame.
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As the pair sit down exclusively with New Idea, Julia, 53, jokes that “crouching tiger, hidden funbag” could be the theme to her relationship with Tina, 54. And just like the classic film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, their story is one of eternal love and support. Oh, and laughs. Lots of laughs!
“We’re social troublemakers,” says Julia, adding that she was “overwhelmed with joy” when she met Tina in the 1990s because she had been a fan of Tina’s ever since she saw her on Young Talent Time in the ’70s and ’80s.
“I always say don’t meet your idols, but this was a huge success. It was incredible. Tina has a ferocious intelligence. Every time we have a conversation I end up learning something. And I learn something that I can take into my life and apply,” Julia explains. “We keep it to girls only because we don’t want any featured exes around.”
Tina goes one step further, laughing out loud as she reveals the dynamic duo “don’t want any excess baggage” interfering with their relationship, so they tend to catch up one on one, without partners or kids.
“We sort out the woes of the world and then we get onto the laughter. We’re very good at that,” Tina says.
The ‘Chains’ singer was captivated by Julia from the first moment their paths crossed. “The thing that impressed me about Julia, and perhaps set her apart from everyone else, was this tremendous fearlessness that comes with spirit,” Tina says.
“She constantly challenges me intellectually. There is a ferocious emotional and intellectual intelligence behind the laughter and I was just always attracted to her great spirit. I love a fearless spirit and I saw that in Julia years and years ago.
“There’s a lot of honesty laughter, gratitude and shared values in the way we’ve been educated, and the fact that we both worked very hard to get to where we are today.”
While Tina opened up about their mutual girl crush, there are some secrets they share that she will never reveal.
“There are things about my friendship with Julia which I prefer to keep to myself,” she says. “There’s a lot of layers there. I think the public is used to seeing a lot of smoke and mirrors, and with Julia I can safely say we do make a very clear distinction between our work and our private lives.
“There’s a line which we both wouldn’t step over and I’m eternally grateful to have a friendship with her that is very protected.”
Julia and Tina caught up earlier this month, but this time it was to spread the love. The two stars helped launch the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal in Melbourne, where they packed hampers and helped feed the homeless.
“We had the most glorious morning down at the Salvos checking out everything they do and literally filling up the heart bucket,” Julia says.
“This year has been another crazy, nutty year … and getting back on the streets and seeing people who are so happy with a smile and a meal when their lives are pretty tough.”
Julia reveals she will be happy with a “little toasted sandwich and a bit of pudding” for her Christmas lunch this year. But Tina has no chance of a quiet day, as her big-hearted parents often invite lonely pensioners to their home for Christmas.
“I feel very grateful to have my parents here and to be with my family. I love my family. They are everything. They are the reason I’m still breathing and have the desire to do what I do,” she says.
“I do think about people who don’t have families or won’t be looking forward to Christmas Day. It’s why I would encourage anybody to do whatever they can to assist the Salvation Army in any small way because it does something great and it gives you something back. It’s a beautiful exchange.”
Read more in this week’s New Idea, on sale now.
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