Ladies and gentlemen, we introduce the winners of the 2003 UKC Hero Awards. The first one, the British Airways International Hero, probably needs no introduction...
The title of Liza Minnelli’s latest CD, and of this piece, is an acknowledgement that times have not been easy in last few years for the star of Cabaret, New York New York and Arthur.
Liza acknowledged this herself in her words to the audience as she accepted her British Airways-sponsored International Hero Award.
“I’m so thrilled that we’re all in this together and all fighting together” might sound like a typical star claiming “I feel for you”, but in some ways Liza’s return to the celeb stratosphere of OK! Magazine and reality TV is a remarkable story of survival in itself. In her case, the empathy with people with HIV is more than just typical showbiz gush.
This is someone who already, in the late 80s and early 90s, experienced the impact of Aids as many of her showbiz acquaintances such as Michael Bennett, deviser of A Chorus Line, succumbed to the virus.
Liza Minelli, was one of the first major Hollywood stars to speak out publicly against the disease and has tirelessly supported the HIV community by donating her time performing at many Aids fundraisers around the world. This has included her work for Broadway Cares and amfAR. In 1994 at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles Minnelli, alongside Elisabeth Taylor and Barbra Streisand, helped to raise $5 million for amfAR.
Already with a publicly acknowledged history of drink and drugs problems, Liza herself fell on harder times in 2000. Diagnosed with encephalitis (brain inflammation that causes symptoms similar to strokes), Liza then also developed an addiction to the medication given for it.
Husband David Gest said in 2002: “Considering that eighteen months ago Liza was told by her doctors that she would never walk, talk, dance or sing again, the fact she has made a new CD is itself a miracle.”
Whatever her motivation, Liza declared a renewed commitment to supporting people with HIV.
She said: “I’ve watched so many people getting ill and have valued all the wonderful people I’ve known who died of Aids.
“We’re kind of not in fashion anymore,” she added, referring to the cause of HIV, “but remember: fashion dies, pain doesn’t.”
She went on to talk of the stigma against Aids: “Shame should be banished from the English language. My message this evening is, if you’ve got any guts at all, do something about HIV and don’t be ashamed.”
Rejecting a demand for yet another outing for the song Cabaret - “It’s kinda difficult when you always get asked that” - she then treated her audience to a heartfelt medley of My Funny Valentine and I’ll be Seeing You, finishing with a reference to her theme song for 1993’s World Aids Day, The Day After That.
With rumours surfacing in the British press that she is negotiating with Andrew Lloyd-Webber for the perfect part of Norma Desmond in the film version of the musical Sunset Boulevard, we might be seeing Liza demonstrating that, as David Gest has said, “she has, like a cat, nine lives.”
In many ways, the little lady with the mad hair, the big eyes and the bigger voice is as much a survivor as any of us. Thanks, Liza - good to have you back.
