Chantal Contouri Featured in “One Dream Ago: The Beatles’ South Australian Connections”

Santal the MC

Pan-Laconian Society of South Australia function

John Lennon called Chantal Contouri “squat”, later on she became a sex symbol.  What’s more, she was not ashamed but honoured by Lennon’s comment. She was characterised as the greatest fan of the Beatles in Australia and had the chance to work with them. Today, she refers to the kindness and warmth of John Lennon. Chantal Contouri was born in Agios Georgios in Mani of Laconia. She is a successful actor in the Australian cinema, TV and theatre. Lately, she came under the spotlight again, due to her close relationship with the British rock band “The Beatles”.

Interesting, unknown details of her life next to the Beatles can be found in the book “One Dream Ago: The Beatles’ South Australian Connections”, written by Michael Savvas and Olivia Savvas-Koopmans.

“I met with the Beatles in 1964 in Adelaide, under unusual circumstances. When I turned 19, in 1969 I decided to go to London. I arrived on my birthday and I was hosted by Bruce Welch and his girlfriend – who was to become the well-known actress Olivia Newton-John. One day, Bruce and I came across John Lennon and Yoko Ono. John Lennon was really kind. I remember, at the time, he had a white Rolls Royce, with a TV and antenna- and all that in 1969! I was astonished!”

That's was how Chantal Contouri met Lennon and got hired as a waitress at the Revolution Club. The Club is a Beatles property. It was named after the namesake song of the Beatles, which topped the charts.

Chantal Contouri Featured in “One Dream Ago: The Beatles’ South Australian Connections”


Bio
Chantal Contouri (born 1949 in Lakonia Greece) is an Australian actress.

Contouri has had starring roles in Australian films and played guest and recurring roles in various television series. Television roles including nurse Tracey Wilson in the soap opera Number 96 in 1974–1975.

She later appeared in The Sullivans as Melina Tsangarakis, who married Norm Baker before her death by firing squad. Contouri appeared in US daytime soap opera General Hospital in 1988 and played a guest role in Australian teen soap E Street in 1993.

She played a main role in sex comedy film Alvin Purple Rides Again (1974), and later had a guest role in the Alvin Purple television series produced in 1976. Contouri had starring roles in horror-suspense films Thirst (1979) and Snapshot (1979). Her most recent feature film appearance was in The Wannabes (2003).

In 2007, Contouri discussed Number 96 on an episode of Where Are They Now, and revealed that she runs a restaurant in Adelaide called The Original Barbecue Inn.
Courtesy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chantal_Contouri