Movie translates into a big break (From Knutsford Guardian)

Movie translates into a big break

12:50pm Friday 20th November 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

AN acclaimed jazz singer who appeared in the hit film Lost In Translation spoke to the Guardian last week about her roots in the town.

Catherine Lambert now lives in Adelaide in South Australia, and performs cabaret music in clubs and festivals across the world.

But the 44-year-old was born in the Cottage Hospital in Knutsford.

“I’ve had to rely on stories that I’ve heard about my birthplace,” said Catherine.

“I had a great chat to Rowan Atkinson’s stage crew while they were here on tour and they assured me that Knutsford has the best truck stop in the whole of the UK and is a beautiful place.

“I’ve been to the UK many times over the years and regret that I haven’t been back to Knutsford.

“My grandmother Irene is 104 living in Somerset and I think a visit is long overdue.”

Catherine told the Guardian she was inspired to become a singer by her mum Margaret.

“She is the quintessential musician,” she added. “She had a profound influence on myself and my two sisters Jane and Erika.

“Of the three of us I’m the one ‘cursed’ and ‘blessed’ with the double edged sword of professional musicality.

“I’ve been performing voice and clarinet since I was four and eight respectively.

“Orchestral, bands, ensembles, choirs, quartets, solo, jazz, floorshows – I’ve been a full time entertainer for 29 years.”

But it was when filmmaker Sofia Coppola, daughter of The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola, was in Catherine’s audience that she got her big break.

After the performance, Catherine was asked to appear in the award-winning film Lost In Translation.

She said: “Her producer tracked me down and called me up at 2am asking me to be in the film.

“My reply was ‘Who is this really?’ I thought it was a prank.

“Lost In Translation was a blast. I feel totally humbled to be part of such a great film even though I was the only one to get any action in the film, it was movie magic.

“Bill Murray was amazing, Scarlett Johansson was young and I was in the place I knew well having sung there for a 10-week season the previous year.

“My aspirations are to go to as many places as I can and sing my lungs off.”

• Print
• Email
• Share