Celebrities reveal the worst jobs they’ve ever had
From collecting poo samples to cleaning dead chicken fat off trays, these celebrities know all about crappy gigs and horrible bosses.
Confidential
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Eddie Perfect, who plays a toxic boss in Dolly Parton’s hit musical 9 To 5, has opened up his worst job in real life.
“I worked at Red Rooster on the Nepean Highway in Mentone, and my boss was an absolute psychopath,” Perfect, and actor, singer and writer, said.
“There was no health and safety regulations. I was a kitchen hand, and part of the job, apart from cutting up dead chickens, was cleaning all the fat off the trays.
“In order to do that, we had this huge trough filled with near-to-boiling water and an industrial degreaser,” Perfect said.
“My boss wouldn’t let us wear rubber gloves because it took too long to put them on, and take them off, and we had to juggle between cooking chips and cutting up dead chickens. As a result, we’d get chemical and hot water burns on our hands.
“When we complained about it, he’d say: ‘Let’s have a competition to see who can hold their hands (in the boiling water) the longest.”
Is he still triggered by the bright red chicken sign?
“Yes,” Perfect replied. “F--- those guys!”
9 To 5, starring Casey Donovan, Marina Prior, Caroline O’Connor, Erin Clare, is a feel-good comedy about women fighting sexism, misogyny and bullying in the workplace.
The musical opened at the State Theatre on Thursday.
The 9 To 5 cast, and opening night guests, also confided to Confidential about their worst jobs and bad bosses.
Celebrities worst jobs and bad bosses revealed
CAROLINE O’CONNOR, ACTOR-SINGER, 9 TO 5
I did a television special for the BBC. One of the segments was, we had to be rollerskating sperms, performing to the music of Starlight Express.
MARINA PRIOR, ACTOR-SINGER, 9 TO 5
I was a waitress at Taco Bill restaurant. I got sacked. Then I got a job at another restaurant and got sacked from there as well. I got sacked twice in two weeks. I was terrible. I gave bills of $24 to tables that had order $240 worth of meals. I was hopeless.
ERIN CLARE, ACTOR-SINGER, 9 TO 5
I was a poor student. I thought I’d been booked to roam around blowing bubbles at an event in Singapore. But it was a 15 minute dance performance involving bubbles and Lady Gaga’s song, Just Dance. We had to slop around blowing bubbles to the music. I did the splits and realised I couldn’t get up because I was covered in detergent.
CASEY DONOVAN, ACTOR-SINGER, 9 TO 5
I worked as a medical receptionist and had collect poo samples. I suppose that counts as a s----y job.
JOEL CREASEY, BROADCASTER AND COMEDIAN
I worked one at a hotel for about two hours. The boss, who was an absolute tool, said I was picking up the glasses wrong, so I literally threw them down in front of him, and stormed out. Nowadays, I work for myself as a stand up comedian, and I’m a terrible person, so I’ve been a terrible boss my whole life.
SAMMY J, BROADCASTER AND COMEDIAN
I worked at Fossey’s (department store) in Mornington, which no longer exists. I was not well equipped for the role of selling or stocking bras, particularly when my former teachers walked in to buy them. Rough times. The bosses were fine, but the work was not great. It was character building, and I saved up to buy my first video camera to start making comedy and I never looked back.
MICHALA BANAS, ACTOR
I’ve had all kinds of terrible jobs. I’ve worked at a call centre for a mortgage company, and the deli at Coles way back when there was a food and salad buffet where everyone could put their hands in. I’ve cleaned toilets. I’ve done it all, babe.
PETTIFLEUR BERENGER, FORMER REALITY STAR AND BUSINESSWOMAN
Real Housewives Of Melbourne. I’m joking. Don’t write that. I haven’t worked 9 to 5 too many times. I actually work in my own time, which is 8am to 3am.
RHONDA BURCHMORE, ACTOR-SINGER
I worked in a shoe shop when I was 15. I was terrible at it. People’s smelly feet, and all that. It wasn’t for me. I decided there and then to go to university and get an education. I’ve had plenty of bad jobs in the theatre, too.
SUSIE MCLEAN, FORMER REALITY STAR
I worked the door at a Bulgari party. I wasn’t mean enough, and I kept letting everybody in. I got growled at by the boss.
PATTI NEWTON, SHOWBIZ QUEEN
When I did Celebrity Apprentice I had a nervous breakdown, only because I’m not very technical, and I was having to do things on computers and phones that I new nothing about. Other than that, I think Bert (her late husband, and showbiz king) and I prided ourselves on doing things we loved. Even when the work was not so great, you’d find things to like.
MATT PRESTON, FOOD CRITIC
My worst job was being a tea boy. You go around an office, with a big urn, rattling around, and make tea for the workers. I dug ditches once, to. It was a 6am start, and you’d dig ditches in the rain. Once you’ve done that, nothing is ever bad.
ASH POLLARD, FORMER REALITY STAR AND BROADCASTER
For me, it’s a combination of hospitality and retail. It’s working with people. You always have to say ‘yes,’ and the customer is always right. Let’s be honest, I found being told what to do extremely difficult. I got fired from most of my jobs because I said what I thought.
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