When Fanny Suicide left Australia years ago she didn’t think she’d end up travelling the globe taking off her clothes with the Suicide Girls – an online community, live burlesque show, cult success story and notorious melting pot of girls and their fans who refuse to be defined. We took Fanny aside to ask her about the things that matter – burlesque, growing up in rural Australia and waking up in random toilets.

So, Marilyn Monroe. Zsa Zsa Gabor. Tina Turner. You have to fuck one, marry one and kill one. Which do you choose for each and why?
Ummm, I’d have to fuck Marilyn Monroe, as it’s unlikely you could hold onto something that beautiful for more than a night. I’d marry Zsa Zsa Gabor of course. When I was growing up I had this quote of hers on my door that said “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. And a dog is a man’s best friend. Now you know what sex is smarter.” And I’d kill Tina Turner, even though I actually love Tina, especially during her Proud Mary period.

So, how does a girl from a teeny, tiny country town in NSW wind up as one of the SuicideGirls?
C’mon… there is so much out there to rebel against. They’re all having sex with their sheep and family members and they call us perverts… But really, that all feels like another lifetime ago. I can barely remember any of the people who were a part of the first eighteen years of my life apart from my family. It’s all a blur.

How long have you been with the girls?
I toured with the SuicideGirls live show during 2005/2006. One of the owners of the site saw me perform while they were in the UK and asked me if I’d be interested in touring the US for 3 months. It’s not the kind of thing you say no to.

So you toured with SuicideGirls last year throughout Europe, America and even Australia. The response from the crowd while you were in Australia was awesome when they found out you were an Aussie. What are your memories from that time in your life?
Oh god – that was the first time I’d been home in two years. What a homecoming it was! Plus I got to see more of Australia than I’d ever seen before. I mean how many people on the east coast have been to Perth? Certainly not me.

All the tours were amazing adventures. From performing in front of 2,000 people in (what I consider to be) my home town of Sydney to waking up with my feet in the hotel toilet in San Francisco, it was definitely an adventure.

You come from a massive family. How has that impacted on your personality and drive?
Oh, I love my family. But really, distance does make the heart grow fonder. When I was in Australia in 05/06, having not seen any of my oversized family in 2 years, I invited them to come to the Brisbane instore appearance, figuring I could get the signing over and done with quickly and have a chat with them before running off for other commitments. But when I turned up, there was kids lined up around the block outside the record store.

Then half way through it, my whole family burst in and my dad starts calling out my REAL NAME in front of all these people. I nearly died. It was like being 14 all over again. It is a very weird thing to have to tell your parents to have to call you Fanny and not by the name they blessed you with (which is as equally smutty in Welsh mind you).

How much has SuicideGirls changed your life? Do you have any stalkers? Crazed fans?
SuicideGirls has been an important part of my life these last three years because of the opportunities it has bought me. Fan wise, I’m lucky. I get the nice ones – for some reasons the creepy ones don’t bother with me. I’m not exactly sure why, but it’s probably a good thing. I love having witty intelligent fans who are like “I loved that intertextual reference in your last photoset”.

One of the SuicideGirls from the First Tour DVD trailer says, “A lot of people come to our shows without knowing what the fuck they’re even coming to see.” Do you agree?
Most people don’t know what burlesque is more than anything. It’s just an umbrella term for any kind of creative, humorous, political, or stylish performance these days that involves some element of clothing removal.

As for the website part of it, SuicideGirls is just a space that helps women create something they can scare their grandkids with one day.

So now you’ve been in London for years. Deep down, do you still call Australia home?
Of course. Mr Fanny and I often talk about moving to Melbourne. It’s an amazing city. And I can’t escape my Australian accent, even if I try. I’m trash to the bone sweetheart.

Your house is burning down. What do you run in to save?
My underwear collection. And then Mr Fanny if there’s still time.

And finally – if you could wish for one thing, what would it be?
A time machine. Just for me.

Curious? Tittilated? These girls mean business. Get a new obsession. SuicideGirls is a site that empowers women and gives them control over how their sexuality is depicted. Find out why so many people can’t get enough of the Suicide Girls.