Sophie Charlene Akland Monk is an Australian pop singer, actress and occasional model. She was once a member of female pop group Bardot and has since established a solo career with the release of one album, Calendar Girl. More recently, she turned her hand to acting, starring in comedies such as Date Movie and Click.

Monk’s professional music career began in 1999 when she responded to an advertisement requesting girls with vocal and dance experience. Monk, who had been performing since she was eight years old, drove all night to audition for the first series of Popstars, a TV talent show which aimed to create a successful new girl group. In one audition, she performed a rendition of Marilyn Monroe’s famous “Happy Birthday, Mr. President”, working on her previous experience as a Monroe impersonator at Warner Bros. Movie World.

Monk during the music video for Bardot’s Top 5 hit “ASAP”After numerous rounds of singing and dancing workshops, Monk was selected as a member of the group, which was named Bardot. Popstars was one of the most successful and high-rating programs of 2000.

Bardot became the first Australian act to debut at the #1 position with both its debut single, “Poison”, and self-titled debut album. Further singles “I Should’ve Never Let You Go” and “These Days” followed and in August, the group embarked on its first national tour. Bardot performed at the 2000 ARIA Awards at which they were nominated in three categories.

In July 2001, the group released “ASAP”, the first single from their second album. Bardot now had more control over their music and image. The single peaked Top 5, as did follow-up single, “I Need Somebody”, their most successful single since “Poison”. The second album, Play It Like That debuted at #16, achieving gold status. Monk co-wrote the album track “Feel Right” with fellow bandmate Sally Polihronas. In 2002, final single, “Love Will Find A Way” completed Bardot’s string of consecutive Top 20 hits and the group embarked on its second national tour. In May, the group disbanded.

Monk during the music video for “Inside Outside”Soon after Bardot’s split, Monk began work on her solo career, re-signing a solo contract with Warner Music. She travelled oversees to work with some well-known producers including hit maker Rob Davis (famous for co-writing Kylie Minogue’s “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head”) and this resulted in two tracks, “Inside Outside”, Monk’s debut solo single and the album track “Don’t Push It”. Sophie performed her new single for the very first time in September on the grand final edition of the AFL Footy Show at Rod Laver Arena. “Inside Outside” was released October 28 and after a week of busy promotion, debuted in the Top 5, spending a total of 12 weeks in the ARIA Top 50, receiving gold status. Monk also co-wrote the b-side “Luv Me” (in dedication to her long-term boyfriend of the time) with producer Shane Monopoly. Adding to her growing profile was her role as model and spokesperson for Expozay Swimwear. Second single, “Get The Music On” became another Top 10 hit, spending 10 weeks in the Top 50. Monk also featured in humorous advertisements for Diet Vanilla Coke. The single’s b-side “Shake” was also co-written by her.

In May 2003, Monk released her debut solo album, Calendar Girl, which surprised many by mixing contemporary pop-dance and funk with classical opera interludes, Monk having been classically trained growing up. Despite heavy promotion including TV advertising and instore appearances, the album debuted at #35 which was seen as a disappointing result. The album’s final single, the ballad “One Breath Away”, was re-recorded and mixed for single release, peaking at #23 in July, spending only 9 weeks in the Top 100. Despite beginning work on new material in early 2004, including songs with dance act Rogue Traders, Monk parted ways with Warner Music. The material created during these sessions has yet to surface.

In early July 2006, Monk revealed that she has signed to Brian McKnight’s management team who have sourced some material she describes as “… a bit heavier. There’s nothing like it, I can’t compare it. I couldn’t say what artist it’s like”. She has confirmed that she is recording three songs for her upcoming film Spring Breakdown and that one of the songs “Candy” will be released as a single to coincide with the film’s release.

Monk as Andy in Date Movie, parodying Paris Hilton. Monk has since established herself in Hollywood, having played Marilyn Monroe for a high-budget telemovie The Mystery Of Natalie Wood (2004) and starred in the music video “Always” for rock group Blink 182. In February 2006, she starred in her debut feature role as the flirtatious and seductive ‘best man’ Andy in the spoof comedy Date Movie. A scene in the film sees Monk act out a parody of the infamous Paris Hilton burger advertisement. The film was a box office hit, reaching #2 in the US and #1 in Australia, UK and New Zealand.

June saw the release of the Adam Sandler film Click, a story about a universal remote control. The film debuted at #1 on both the US and Australian box office charts. Monk plays Stacey, David Hasselhoff’s flirtatious, bimbo secretary who she described in an interview as “… kind of a floozy that kind of just works there because she gets around a bit. Another serious character”.