Secrets of Ageless Ageing: Rhonda Burchmore

Posted: Thursday 6 January 2011 01:06pm

Rhonda Burchmore never imagined that she’d be stripping off to celebrate her 50th birthday.
But the dazzling red-haired star of stage and screen is not one to shy away from a challenge, in fact she says embracing new hurdles keeps her young.

So when her role in the Australian stage production of the hit movie Calendar Girls required Rhonda to bare all in front of a theatre full of strangers last year, she didn’t think twice.

At 50, Rhonda is as energetic and youthful as she was when she burst onto the stage 22 years ago in Sugar Babies. There’s not a skerrick of cellulite on her towering trademark legs and with an enviably lineless face, she is a poster-girl for anti-ageing.

“It’s all in the placement of the props,” she laughs. “If they’re an inch off cue I’m in BIG trouble!”

After two decades in showbiz, Rhonda  knows all of the tricks of the trade for looking good. The tireless performer who became a household name with starring roles in stage hits like Hot Shoe Shuffle and Mamma Mia and appearances on shows such as Hey Hey It’s Saturday, tells Younger You that a good daily beauty routine, challenging her body both physically and mentally and keeping up with her 15-year-old daughter Lexie are the secrets of keeping age at bay.

‘‘I admire other older people who stay mentally and physically fit and fill their days with lots of activities rather than sitting in a chair and watching TV,” she says.  “I’ve always kept myself reasonably fit by exercising fairly regularly. I also have two standard poodles that require walking everyday and even when I am interstate with a show, I try to walk everywhere.”

“Lexie keeps me on my toes too! We hang out and do lots of things together; we swim, we walk, we fish and we shop!”

There are few who could match the stamina and verve of the svelte entertainer, who spent hours each day on stage rehearsing and performing Calendar Girls.

When home in Melbourne she has regular sessions with a personal trainer working with free weights for body strength and recently began Pilates to help with a niggly back problem. But when the audience is gone, it’s a good long walk she craves to keep her balanced.

“I love walking, absolutely love it and I find it particularly therapeutic,” she says. ” My favourite thing is to walk along the beach, barefoot at the edge of the sea. I can walk for hours through shopping malls too, which is a lovely distraction.”

Maintaining her good looks is an essential for life in the limelight, especially when you have one of the most recognisable faces in showbiz, so Rhonda is well aware of the need to look fresh. She happily admits that in the past she has used Botox and wouldn’t rule out cosmetic surgery, but says she is cautious of the impact Botox has had on her ability to act.

“Once or twice I have tried Botox in my forehead in the past, but not regularly and not around the eye area. I find it takes all the expression out of one’s face which I need as an actress and entertainer.

“I certainly don’t object to cosmetic surgery, if it is done well and makes the person feel better … why not? I believe the entertainment industry is so hard and judgemental and you have to look your best all the time.

“I may have something done in the future but it would mean a lot of `time out’ from the industry for recovery, which thankfully because of my busy schedule I have not had. I don’t think there is anything worse than people having a cosmetic procedure such as a facelift or eye lift and coming back to work too soon. It looks as though they’ve been caught in a wind tunnel.”

Rhonda follows a strict cleanse, tone and moisturise routine. Taking her makeup off each night is a must, as is lots of water and a good sunscreen everyday. With her hectic schedule, facials and facial treatments are at the bottom of her priority list, but she says the Christian Dior Capture range is a beauty must-have. She swears by the Capture R 60/80 xPSerum to give her skin a much needed antioxidant boost.
“I am a BIG fan of Christian Dior creams. The Capture range is wonderful especially. I use the serum, Capture 60/80 Ultimate Wrinkle Correction Creme and Tonique Magique – Dior and Dior Cleanser.”

Sleep is crucial for Rhonda to maintain her energy and she aims for a t least nine hours a day, or a little more if she’s had a late night, and she carefully watches her diet.

A darling of the social pages, Rhonda is regularly snapped out and about, but she says don’t be fooled by the cameras – when she’s not required to work, she’s tucked up home with her family or happily ensconced in her garden.

“I do seem to be out a lot but that’s what I do [for a living]! When work’s over I zip right home rather than party,” she laughs.

“I need sleep to recharge my batteries. Also, being a singer, the first thing that goes when I am tired is my voice so I need lots of rest to recharge my vocal chords.

“I am a fan of fresh fruit and vegetables and fish. But also have a regular Berrocca for an extra charge before a show.

“If I’m really tired I have been known to have a Red Bull for extra energy. I know it’s very wrong but I also eat after a show – it’s the worst time to eat but I’ve done it all my life and my body seems to cope okay with it.”

Clearly her diligence is paying beauty dividends and Rhonda has no intention of hanging up her tap shoes just yet. “Ha!” she snorts. “NO chance!”

by Sue Smethurst

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