Holly Sexes Up Her Act

Updated:14:14, Wednesday October 29, 2003

Holly Valance has had an incredible job done on the squeeky clean image set up for her by Australian soap Neighbours.

Holly tones up performance

The actress turned singer gets rauchier by the minute. The video to her latest release sees the 20-year-old writhing on the floors and indulging in phallic microphone waving.

During a toned down performance at a record store in London's Oxford Street, she picked herself up off and dusted herself down to have a chat with Sky News showbiz reporter Hannah Stott.

Holly Valance was one of the few stars that Britney Spears was pictured with at her recent 'welcome to London' party.

It was a coup for her PR machine as it placed the Australian singer up there with the best of them and presented her as Britney's direct competition.

Shedding her clean image

But Holly was humbled by the meeting.

"I was one of the lucky ones, I'm a massive fan so I was a bit star struck.

"The party was good, really nice. Drinks were flowing, good music, a good bunch of people - we had fun."

Appearing at the right parties and in the right photographs are essential for the 'Holly Valance' persona, but the success really lies in the incredibly sexy look that accompanies her electro pop music.

But staying true to her roots

The combination takes her firmly away from the girl next door we once knew in Neighbours. However you can take the girl out of daytime TV, but it's not so easy taking the daytime TV out of the girl.

Shooting the video to her fourth single State Of Mind was no small feat for her.

"It was horrible. Of course it's embarrassing when you're doing it in front of a crew of about 50 with lights shining everywhere.

"It is intimidating definitely. But if you're around a bunch of professionals then they tend to make it as smooth sailing as possible.

Sky News' Hannah Stott

"The fact that I've acted helps because I switch completely. It's not Holly doing it it's 'Holly Valance', it makes it a lot easier especially when you're working with camera angles and crew members, you can give them exactly what you want hopefully."

Holly has lived in the UK for a year-and-a-half. She first came to our attention playing Flick Scully in Neighbours but left the after the successful release of her first single Kiss Kiss.

Despite the time that has lapsed it seems it is not easy to leave the cast behind and she admits to still tuning into the show.

"It's really weird, if I get home on time I always watch it because I want to see my second family. It's nice to hear the accent occasionally.

"I wanted to be killed off but they wouldn't do it. Apparently I have a knew baby brother in the show and I didn't even go back for the birth... how rude is that!"

But with the release of State Of Mind and her second album due on November 10th it is fair to say Holly Valance has moved on.

State Of Mind is in shops now.