- Born
- Died
- Birth nameGaynor Hopkins
- Height5′ 2½″ (1.59 m)
- Born on June 8, 1951 in Skewen, Neath, Wales. She first came to prominence in 1976 with the song, "Lost in France", which made the UK top 10. Following a throat operation, she inadvertently developed her distinct singing voice. She had a transatlantic top 5 hit with "It's a Heartache" in 1978.
She hit the big time when she became the first Welsh singer to have a transatlantic #1 hit with Jim Steinman's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (1983), for which she was Grammy nominated. The accompanying album "Faster than the Speed of Night" also entered the UK Album chart at #1.
She has found it hard to repeat the success, but recorded "Holding Out for a Hero" (US #34/UK #2) in 1985 from the Footloose (1984) soundtrack. In 2004 she recorded the Total Eclipse song in French, and it went to #1 in France!
She remains active in the music industry having toured all over the world, including with the singer Meat Loaf, and performed at Michael Douglas & Catherine Zeta-Jones' wedding. Also, she has become a successful business woman.
- IMDb mini biography by: Glc19Gareth
- SpouseRobert Sullivan(July 14, 1973 - July 8, 2026) (her death)
- ChildrenNo Children
- ParentsElsie Lewis-HopkinsGlyndŵr Hopkins
- RelativesMarlene Lewis Hopkins(Sibling)Lynn Lewis Hopkins(Sibling)Avis Lewis Hopkins(Sibling)Angela Lewis Hopkins(Sibling)Paul Lewis Hopkins(Sibling)Paulene Lewis Hopkins(Sibling)
- Distinctive, husky singing voice
- In the 1970s it was found that her singing had caused nodules to develop on her vocal cords. She had an operation to remove the nodules, and was warned not to sing or even to speak for six weeks until her vocal cords had healed. During this time, she discovered that she had forgotten to bring some strawberries that she was taking to her brother, and screamed "Oh no!" in frustration that she would have to turn round to get them. This damaged her vocal cords, resulting in her trademark husky voice.
- More than just friends with Catherine, her husband is Catherine's cousin. Bonnie also sang "Total Eclipse of the Heart" at midnight at the wedding.
- Friends with Catherine Zeta-Jones and attended her wedding to Michael Douglas.
- Won her first talent competition at age 17 singing a song by folk singer Mary Hopkin.
- As a result of her vocal nodule operation in the 1970s, her voice has been likened to Kim Carnes and "the female Sir Rod Stewart", and after her collaborations with Jim Steinman, "the female Meat Loaf".
- Every time I release an album my old record company releases another one.
- Every country I've had different hit records, so we have to change the set to fit the country.
- I've never taken drugs. My drug, I suppose, is drink. I never drink before I sing, but I do make up for it when I come off!
- Fabulous place, Dublin is. The trouble is, you work hard and in Dublin you play hard as well.
- You think the Welsh are friendly, but the Irish are fabulous.
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