When it comes to forgotten celebrity romances, fans are often left gob-smacked when they learn that actor Rodger Corser and singer Christine Anu were together for six years many moons ago.
And their meet cute is the stuff of showbiz fairytales with the performers falling in love after they worked with one another in the wildly successful 1998 musical production Rent, which toured Melbourne and Sydney.
Landing the role of a HIV-positive musician Roger Davis, the Doctor Doctor actor starred alongside Christine Anu, who played erotic dancer Mimi.
Their stage romance spilled into the real world and the musical theatre sweethearts were soon catapulted into A-list power couple territory.
“I went to an open audition for Rent and that was my first gig. That’s how it all happened for me. You get an agent after that because you’ve already got a role and then they send you to castings,” Rodger told the Herald Sun of his breakout role.
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The pair welcomed daughter Zipporah together in 2002 and while their relationship didn’t last, they have continued to harmoniously co-parent their only child together.
Following in her famous parents’ footsteps, the then 19-year-old – who is the spitting image of her mother – completed her final year 12 exams at a performing arts high school and is looking forward to pursuing her musical ambitions.
“Zipporah goes to a performing arts school and sings like her mum [Christine], so she’ll probably go into the business,” Rodger previously told TV WEEK of his eldest child.
While Christine is making sure her daughter is fully aware of just how tough the entertainment industry can be.
“She’s a rising performer herself and I guess every element of choices I’ve made throughout my career are a model for her to follow. Everything that I’m doing to prepare and every way that I present myself in the public and on television and the choices of jobs that I take, are all things that she will take, or not take from,” she told Now To Love.
“I wanted her to pave her own way as someone that’s not a performer because it’s not as glamorous as what it’s set out to be. Most of the time you get told no! It’s a hard industry and you’ve got to toughen up but I’ll always be there for her.”
Rodger also shares three children with wife Renae Berry, son Budd, daughter Cilla, and son Dustin. While Party hitmaker Christine has an older son, Kuiam, from a previous relationship.
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Young love! Christine Anu and Rodger Corser dated for six years after falling in love working on the 1998 musical Rent together.
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“I went to an open audition for Rent and that was my first gig. That’s how it all happened for me. You get an agent after that because you’ve already got a role and then they send you to castings,” Rodger told the Herald Sun of his breakout role.
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The pair welcomed their daughter Zipporah Mary Corser in 2002.
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Mum’s mini-me! With her beaming smile and ringlets, Zipporah bears an uncanny resemblance to the Party hitmaker.
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The ultimate double act: Zippy, as her family call her, has a beautiful singing voice just like her mother and the pair have performed several duets together in recent years.
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“It is intimidating. She is my mum, but there’s also the fact she’s an experienced artist. For me, I’ve never seen her as an Australian icon because she is my mum. But the more gigs I sing with her, I’m like, oh yeah, clearly this is her job and this is why people know her for this,” the 18-year-old has previously mused of her ARIA award-winning mum.
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For the My Island Home hitmaker, performing with her daughter is a dream come true.
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“I would always jokingly tell them, ‘Whenever you want to come and sing on TV with me, you’re more than welcome, no pressure!’ And they never liked it! They were always intimidated by that. I think for Zippy, she’s grown into her own skin as a performer and I think she needed to do that in her own time, and she’s at that place now,” the Masked Singer star has said.
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Rodger’s wife, actress Renae Berry, pictured with a young Zipporah, shares an incredibly close bond with her stepdaughter and calls herself a “lucky step mummy” to have her in her life. “You light up the stage and our lives,” Renae has mused of Zipporah.
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Proud mum, Christine Anu, and stepmother, Renae Berry, with Zipporah at her year 12 formal.
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Meet Zippy’s younger siblings! The 18-year-old adores her brothers and sister from Rodger’s marriage with Renae – brother, Budd (top left), sister Cilla (centre), and brother Dustin (bottom left).
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She also has an older brother called Kuiam, pictured.
Christine Anu & daughter Zipporah Corser perform together in secret trackies
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“Zipporah goes to a performing arts school and sings like her mum [Christine], so she’ll probably go into the business,” Doctor Doctor star Rodger has previously said of his oldest child.
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While Christine is making sure her daughter is fully aware of just how tough the entertainment industry can be.
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“She’s a rising performer herself and I guess every element of choices I’ve made throughout my career are a model for her to follow. Everything that I’m doing to prepare and every way that I present myself in the public and on television and the choices of jobs that I take, are all things that she will take, or not take from,” she told Now To Love in August.
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Father-daughter duo: This year, Rodger and oldest child Zipporah teamed up to campaign for Indigenous recognition.
“My eldest daughter Zippy has Torres Strait Islander heritage, so this issue is particularly close to me. Over the years I’ve noticed that Australia has done a lot for multiculturalism – which is amazing – but I believe what’s been lacking is the acknowledgement of Indigenous people, and a melding of cultures,” the Underbelly star told Marie Claire.
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“I’m a singer and a dancer and that’s how I express my culture and connect with it. It’s how my culture has been passed down, and I’m proud of it. But one of the biggest issues we face as a people in racism.I’m a lighter -skinned Indigenous person, so I’ve experienced colourism and prejudice,” the 18-year-old added.
Zipporah
Rodger was a proud father during the 2022 TV WEEK Logie awards while walking the red carpet with Zipporah.
He shared this picture from the event and captioned it, “Sharing the red carpet with my stunning eldest little girl. Look out for her tonight on stage holding the little statues @zipporraahh #dadgoals #logies2022 #trophyhostess Thanks @boss for kitting me out yet again!!”
Zipporah also handed out the Logie Awards to the presenters during the night. Rodger praised her on stage by gushing over her hard work in front of his peers and Australia.
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Watch out world, we reckon Zipporah is destined for big things.
