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Barbara Ann Llewellyn
BDA
(NIDA)
Barbara Ann
Llewellyn began writing as a teenager, finding a great emotional release
in creating poems, short stories, songs and plays. However, her first
love, at the time, was acting, absorbing and bringing life to the words
of others – she felt it enabled her to have a lifetime of insight into
each different character she portrayed. At the age of 17, she auditioned
and won her way into the most prestigious drama school in Australia –
NIDA – where she gained her
Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Acting).
For many years, following her graduation, Barbara lived the life of a
creative gypsy, following her career around Australia on stage and
screen. She was already well known from a childhood of acting and
commercial work, particularly as “the girl on the swing” in the
Australian famous Aeroplane Jelly advertisement. She now became beloved
as a young adult for her lead roles in the classic ABC television
series, Seven Little Australians, commercial television classics Class
of ’74 & ’75, Young Ramsay and many more screen appearances.
After meeting and marrying her husband, Rod Kirkham, Barbara’s love of
writing went into the professional creation and development of jingles
for the advertising industry and theme songs for television. In 1981,
Rod and Barbara’s son was born and, a few years later, the small family
headed off to Los Angeles, U.S.A. and London, U.K., to sell her songs. A
few years and a broken “slave” contract later, the trio returned home to
Oz, much richer in experience and understanding of the song writing and
television industries. They returned to jingle writing but Barbara had
almost sold a television concept while in L.A. and had developed a big
thirst for telling heart-felt and uplifting stories.
Then some personal tragedies and life’s endless lessons moved Barbara
into the personal development arena where, after a massive amount of
research, she wrote, developed, and presented seminars and CDs and
journals. But, still, Barbara continued to write songs, stories, poems
and television show concepts.
After Rod and Barbara celebrated being married for 25 years, they
decided to write a “how to” book about the joys of marriage. Most of the
people they knew were in long-term relationships and all of them
bemoaned the way the media seemed to only focus on the negative side of
relationships rather than the enormous positives. They called their book
“Married and Loving It! How to have a seriously happy marriage”.
They also built and presented a seminar based on this theme to many
loving couples.
Barbara and Rod began their web presence and built their present
website, Bright Light Multimedia, in 2004, giving themselves a global
presence for their growing library of products. They also created an
online creative community, The Bright Light Café, that encouraged and
nurtured the best of emerging talents to focus on all things positive
and uplifting. At the end of 2011, Barbara and Rod released their first
anthology from this family of talent, highlighting their favourite
subject – true love.
Barbara has also written and published a fascinating novel about a
family going through the trauma and adventure of life, death and the
afterlife. Barbara is psychic and had near-death experiences as a child
leaving her with memories and a high sensitivity, often seen as unusual
by most people. As a storyteller she decided to use her intimate
knowledge of what happens after we die to tell a riveting and heartfelt
tale that has deeply affected all who have read “Letters to Michael”.
Barbara has several novels, including another book about life and death,
in various stages of completion and has also just finished writing a
stage musical which she will polish and present to the world in the next
few years.
Show Business Memories
7 Little Australians
Photos
Childhood 7 Little Australians
Young Ramsay
Class of '74/'75 The
Box
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