Oprah tells Melbourne fans: ‘I have such joy, such contentment and fulfilment in my life and I want the same for you’
Oprah Winfrey has addressed a packed crowd in Melbourne where she heaped praise on Australia for being a nation that “cares enough about our children to create a law”.
Looking and feeling better than ever visiting American superstar Oprah Winfrey delighted fans in Melbourne on Thursday night.
The former talk show host, who did a pilates class in Armadale during the day, spoke for an hour and a half with host Melissa Doyle at her sold out show at the Melbourne Convention Centre’s Plenary Theatre.
Oprah used the speech to reiterate her praise for Australia and its social media ban for those aged under 16 which came into effect on Wednesday, following the Herald Sun’s Let Them be Kids campaign.
“Applause, applause, applause for being a nation that cares enough about our children to create a law,” Oprah said.
“It’s an addiction, so the reason why I think it’s going to be challenging for a while is kids are really having to wean themselves away from it, but you mean parents are gonna be strong enough to stand together.
“That’s why I think it’s so powerful for Australia is that the parents are standing together. Congratulations on that.”
Oprah, wearing black pants and top with a white jacket, spoke of her joy at being in Australia.
“I have been, on this trip for the first time, actually experiencing each city and the people in the city in the way that I haven’t before,” she said.
“But that is a metaphor for my entire life. I am in the most wonderful stage.
“I wouldn’t have thought. First of all, I didn’t think I was going to make it to 70 or 71 as I am now. And so I would never have thought I would be 71 and stronger or vibrant than ever, going to a joyful pilates class, and experiencing joy doing it.”
Winfrey said she has a pilates machine downstairs at her home but joked she hasn’t seen it in four years.
She also shared her frustration that good friend and Aussie star Hugh Jackman had not been nominated for a Golden Globe award.
“I was so disappointed he did not get nominated for a Golden Globe,” she said of his performance alongside Kate Hudson in new film Song Sung Blue.
“I would have thought he would be nominated. We’ve got a little bit of a reason now to complain, do you think?”
Winfrey also spoke of her learnings, intentions and routine, saying “gratitude is my religion”.
“I have such joy, such contentment and fulfilment in my life and I want the same for you,” she said.
“Everyone looks at fame and attention and the money and they think that’s what did it. It’s not, I had it, and that’s what brought the fame and attention and money.
“When I was told I had hit (being) a billionaire, I didn’t know what it was.”
Oprah said her show couldn’t have been a success for 25 years without love.
“I said this show has been the great love of my life, you can’t do anything with greatness unless you have love also,” she said.
“In order to have anything really successful it comes from the greatest, purest part of yourself - you need to have love.”
‘So strong and fit’
Earlier, Winfrey had a joyful start to her Melbourne visit.
After jetting in from Brisbane and being mobbed by waiting fans, the American media identity did a class at Armadale’s Joyful pilates studio.
She was met by her friend, jewellery and homewares designer Megan Castran, whose son Max owns the studio with his wife Alice.
“Oprah, Melissa Doyle and her team made the studio so joyful and she was so strong and fit,’’ Castran said.
“Thank you Oprah, we had such fun with you.”
Oprah, 71, first met Castran and her real estate agent husband Paul, in 2006 while on holiday in Hawaii.
Megan told Oprah that if she’s ever in Australia she should have dinner with her family and she duly took up the offer and dined at her Toorak home in 2010. “We stopped by for tequila and dancing,’’ Oprah said. “This time around, we changed it up and took a pilates class … our hamstrings are on fire!”
That year she famously recorded four episodes of the final season of her hit talk show at the Sydney Opera House with the shows broadcast to 145 countries globally.
Winfrey’s ‘In Conversation’ events have so far been held across the country with Doyle as host.
Winfrey, who has an Academy Award, a Tony Award, a Golden Globe and multiple Emmy’s to her name, last visited Australia in 2015 when she brought her ‘An Evening With Oprah’ events here.
“The best thing in the world is to be underestimated,” she said, talking about her career and building a global media empire.
“It’s fantastic, I am where I am because of underestimation. I got the contract deal that I got because nobody expected it to work. And so I love being underestimated.”
Winfrey has also backed Australia’s social media ban which came into effect on Wednesday, saying it will “change lives”.
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Originally published as Oprah tells Melbourne fans: ‘I have such joy, such contentment and fulfilment in my life and I want the same for you’
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