How Neighbours star Holly Valance ditched Hollywood and became an anti-woke crusader: ‘Everyone starts as a leftie and then they wake up’

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She became well-known in the late 1990s and early 2000s for her role as Flick Scully on the TV show Neighbours. After that, she continued acting in other television programs and also pursued a career as a musician.

Thirty years after becoming famous, Holly Valance has made a significant career change, moving into the world of politics.

Recently, Valance has shifted her focus to right-wing political activism. After moving from Australia – which she felt had become overly focused on progressive social issues – she began supporting Reform UK and Tommy Robinson, a far-right figure known for his anti-Islamist views.

Valance is a highly influential figure, with some suggesting she run for Parliament in the UK. She’s also made waves internationally, meeting with Donald Trump, whom she called ‘fabulous’.

It’s quite the pivot for the former performer, who by her own admission was once a proud liberal. 

Everything changed when she claimed to have realized the flaws in progressive ideas and dramatically transformed herself into a passionate conservative advocate.

Apple temporarily removed singer Nessa Barrett’s new song, ‘Kiss Kiss (XX) My Ae,’ after it quickly rose to the top of the iTunes charts. The ban was reportedly due to the song’s controversial lyrics, which some consider to be anti-‘woke’.

The song, featured in Pauline Hanson’s new film, A Super Progressive Movie, is a remake of Valance’s 2002 song “Kiss Kiss.” Its lyrics criticize topics like transgender issues, the term ‘snowflakes,’ and ‘cancel culture’.

The song’s lyrics express a demand for respect regarding personal pronouns. They challenge traditional gender expectations by stating that not all women have ovaries, and some have penises, clarifying that the speaker identifies as female despite not having typical female anatomy (‘V’ representing vagina, ‘D’ representing penis).

I don’t worry about what others think. I identify as a naturally born woman, and that’s what matters to me.

She recently faced criticism after using an offensive term for people with learning disabilities during a discussion about the pandemic.

Valance appeared on Free Speech Nation with Josh Howie and explained that the COVID-19 pandemic served as a test of public compliance. He suggested that Australia scored particularly high on what he described as a measure of how easily people follow restrictions.

Howie immediately apologized for using the word ‘retard,’ explaining, ‘I’m sorry I said that, and while I didn’t mean any harm, I understand some people may have been offended.’

Unapologetic, Valance said: ‘Hey, are we not Free Speech Nation over here? Where am I?’.

Naomi Valance quickly gained prominence as a figure on the right and a vocal critic of ‘wokeness’ starting in 2022. This rise began when Nigel Farage shared a photo online of her meeting with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

She first met Trump thanks to Nigel Farage, who invited her and her then-husband, property billionaire Nick Candy, to Palm Beach, Florida.

The dinner meet-up sparked an angry backlash from her fans, who threatened to boycott her music.

But her views did not surprise Farage, with whom she had been discussing them for the last decade. 

He said she hadn’t spoken up for a long time, recalling his earlier warning to Valance that revealing something publicly means you can’t take it back.

He was absolutely correct. In a 2024 interview with GB News at Liz Truss’ PopCon launch, Valance explained that people often begin with left-leaning views but eventually change their perspective. He suggested this shift happens as they gain life experience – like earning money, working, starting a business, or buying a home – and realize the impracticality of some left-wing ideas, leading them to adopt more right-leaning beliefs.

During the same interview, she backed Jacob Rees-Mogg for Prime Minister.

Several months after the incident, the singer known as Kiss Kiss held a fundraiser for Donald Trump’s election campaign at a home in Chelsea.

Farage declared the evening ‘a Holly party – you can guarantee it’s going to be enormous fun’. 

Valance later claimed she was responsible for convincing the Reform Party leader to run for Parliament, saying she had been advising him for quite some time.

She said she gave the party ‘a substantial cheque’ when Farage announced he was standing. 

She has a close bond with the MP for Clacton and spoke briefly at his 60th birthday celebration, praising him as a very courageous person.

At one point, the Conservative party was actively trying to recruit her as a candidate in the 2024 election, with sources suggesting she could be a major asset to their campaign.

Valance said she wouldn’t be voting Conservative and would instead support Reform.

After hearing Nigel Farage announce his candidacy for MP, she emphasized the importance of listening to all perspectives and understanding different viewpoints to determine what you truly believe in.

I support the Reform Party and have been for some time. I’m a registered member.

Some people proposed that Valance, a mother of two, run as a Reform Party candidate in the traditionally Conservative constituency of Basildon and Billericay in Essex, but she declined the offer.

‘It’s not going to work for me – it was very difficult logistics wise,’ she said. 

Richard Holden of the Conservative party won the election, narrowly defeating the Labour candidate by just 20 votes. Stephen Conlay from the Reform party came in a close third.

Criticizing climate activist Greta Thunberg with harsh language actually increased her popularity among right-wing audiences. In 2024, she referred to Thunberg as a ‘demonic little gremlin’.

She expressed confusion about why Greta Thunberg is presented as an authority figure in schools, calling her a ‘demonic little gremlin high priestess of climatism’ during an interview with Chopper’s Political Podcast.

‘All the kids are all coming home with depression and anxiety.

If you believe the world will end in five years, what’s the point of doing anything – like going to music lessons, completing homework, or even getting up in the morning?

The actress, originally from Melbourne, Australia, was raised by her father, Rajko Vukadinovic, who is Serbian, and her British mother, Rachel Stephens.

She initially moved to Britain in 2018. After a short time in Los Angeles, she returned to the UK and lived with Mr. Candy before their relationship ended last year.

She’s stated she doesn’t plan to return to Australia, explaining she feels the country has become too focused on progressive social issues.

You know, growing up in Australia felt like a simpler time. We had so much fun, and it feels like things weren’t as complicated then. Honestly, I’ve noticed a huge shift in the culture lately – a lot more focus on what people are calling ‘woke’ issues, and it’s definitely become a big part of the conversation.

She further explained her views on what she calls “woke culture,” specifically mentioning school curricula. She believes discussions about sexuality are inappropriate for children, and that people’s personal sexual orientation is a private matter. She emphasized that everyone is entitled to their privacy in this regard, stating she doesn’t share her own and doesn’t ask about others’.

Valance appeared in several well-known American movies and television series, such as Taken, Entourage, and Prison Break.

She semi-retired from the industry in 2015, although she made a brief cameo on Neighbours in 2022.

In 2011, Valance competed on Strictly Come Dancing, making it to the semi-finals with her partner, Artem Chigvintsev.

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2026-02-04 15:07