S O P H I E C L E A R Y

I spent most of my childhood dressed in my mum’s inside out nighties and too-big high heels, reenacting the final number from Grease. I’d play to the roaring crowd of my adoring grandparents. It was a time.

I followed my stage dreams and went to drama school, later becoming a professional actor. Lots of people ask what they might know me from. These days you are most likely to know me as the woman in the Toyota Hilux commerical, where the couple fight over custody of their car. (If my grandparents could see me now, they’d be ROPABLE they didn’t make more commercials. But I digress)…

At some point in my 20’s I’d started to go to friends’ weddings. The celebrants seemed so disconnected to all of us. I saw an opportunity to utilise my writing and performance skills in ways that would better support my need to eat. So driven by a desire to create ceremonies that people like me really wanted to put their backs into, I became a celebrant. A pursuit that started out as a way of making amazing, fun memories for people I loved, has evolved into a 16 year situation built entirely on referrals and word of mouth.

At some point I became curious about transferring the same sentiment of heart and humour to a funeral setting. Creating funerals and memorials in a way that looks after people in their most vulnerable moments is honestly the work I’m most proud of.

My performance background lead me to work in the corporate space. I am an executive leadership coach and facilitator. I’m passionate about creating the conditions for people to take on new behaviours to work at their optimum. (In the ultimate crossroad of skills, I’ve also been known to run some pit stop breathing exercises for couples in the week before a wedding).

I love writing. I never feel more myself than when in front of a crowd, and I’m a people pleaser at heart. I think it’s the latter that makes me a great celebrant. I’m always driven to create your moments the way you want them.

I live in The Macedon Ranges with the loves of my life, my husband Dave and our two cheeky kids - Stevie and Oscar, showing here.

I love a dirty martini and an anchovy toast and my toxic trait is adding expensive items to a cart I never buy.

Photography: https://www.kathryntollerud.com/