Chris Lilley » Articles

End of term for Summer Heights
Mercury | October 19, 2007

SADLY for fans of Jonah, Ja'mie and Mr G, there's unlikely to be a new series of Summer Heights High when this one wraps up in a couple of weeks.

But if elements of Summer Heights took your breath away, stand by for its replacement, The Librarians.

Hatched in the mid-1990s by friends and actors Robyn Butler and Roz Hammond during a stint working together on the Eric Bana show, The Librarians centres on a seriously un-PC head librarian, whose catch-cry is "I don't make the rules", and the odd cast of characters that surround her.

The Librarians starts on October 31.

Hammond and Butler star.

RANDOM thoughts
Colin Vickery talks to Ja'mie about life at Summer Heights High

You have been at Summer Heights High now for a month. Have the other students accepted you?
Totally. I'm pretty much friends with everyone. Randoms are always saying "Hi" to me in the playground and I'm just faking it and waving back. Everyone was like, "Oh, my God" at first and now they're like, "Wow, she's totally down to earth". I'm just like them - but rich.

You dated a year 7 guy but that didn't work out. How have you coped with the break-up?
I was so upset that night. I made my friend Brianna come over and console me. We missed Australian Idol because I was crying so much and we lost track of time. Brianna kept reminding me of how hot I am and how so many boys still want me. So I'm OK now. But I'll never date a year 7 for as long I live. They're so immature.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
When I'm not doing charity work or excelling in sport and academia, I love going out with my friends. We get into nightclubs all the time, because I have a fake ID. I also love hanging out at the shops and bitching about all the randoms that hang out there.

Have there been any challenges in your life you've had to overcome?
Yes. My tits are below average in size because I had an eating disorder in year 8 when they were growing so they didn't develop properly. It's pretty challenging because I get judged for it. I could look hotter if they were bigger. I'm getting implants when I'm 18. Dad's paying.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I'd like to pursue my modelling. And once I get famous from that, go around to povo countries and have photos taken with starving kids on my lap. I want to have my own fashion label and design clothes for skinny people only. And I'll have like a factory, and I'll send all the damaged stock to Third World countries for them to wear.

What's your favourite quote?
My sponsor child Sonali said to me once, "Bulumbo Shamanaka". It's Sudanese and it means "You are very beautiful girl". That's my favourite quote because for me it's pretty accurate.

Ever been mistaken for someone famous?
I always get Jessica Alba. It's weird 'cos I'm way taller. But face and body are pretty similar.

What does it feel like to be so popular?
It's really hard work. Like everyone wants to be friends with me so I'm always giving out my mobile number to total randoms. And girls at my school are always fighting over who gets to sit next to me in classes and stuff. It's so embarrassing. And accepting friends on myspace takes ages 'cos everyone's trying to Add Me.

What sacrifices have your parents made to get you this far?
I was going to say money for all my school fees and activities, but my dad's totally rich so he doesn't even notice. And my mum doesn't sacrifice anything. She's a total bitch. She used to get me a present a day. Like a CD or a DVD or something and she'd leave it on the end of my bed for when I got home from school. Now she's working part-time and she never does it. And she never makes my bed any more. She's such a selfish bitch.

Did you become used to the camera crew following you or were you always conscious of it?
I love being followed around by cameras. At home I make my little sister film me all the time with Dad's handycam. And then we watch it back on the plasma to see how I look. I'm so used to it.

This is the second documentary you've been in. Any plans to pursue a career in television?
I'd love to host like a morning show. Just me and some hot guy crapping on about current affairs and stuff. It'd be really fun.

If you had three wishes, what would they be?
1) That everyone in the world would be hot, even in Third World countries; 2) That I get a massive modelling contract and get famous around the world, and; 3) That all schools could be private.

[source]