Late last week I was taken out of my comfort zone by an arm of government, when, like a lot of my fellow Sydneysiders, I was confronted and dazzled by the sight of my hometown city putting on possibly the greatest light show on earth. At the same time, I was also put under pressure meeting a Hollywood star who’s had her name up in lights for decades.

In recent times, those lights have shone at their brightest for Jennifer Coolidge, who lately has taken centre stage for the first two seasons of the television series White Lotus. Given my background in the media, I’m used to TV and radio stars, but when an actor makes it big in La-La Land, it’s like meeting Roger Federer or David Beckham, who are legends at the world’s highest level.

I must admit I like the pressure of getting outside my comfort zone as a means of embracing self-improvement. So when Destination NSW (the NSW Government's tourism and major events agency) not only brought Jennifer to Australia for Sydney’s Vivid light show, but also made the great US actor available for a cocktail function for our magazine Harper’s Bazaar at the Park Hyatt (which has to be one of the best locations to take in the amazing city of Sydney all lit up), I jumped at the chance of meeting this award-winning actress.

In case you’re not aware of her achievements, have a look at Jennifer’s honour-board of recognition.

Her films include Legally Blonde, Best in Show, American Pie and despite a life in the Hollywood spotlight, Jennifer came across as a real human being, who talked to everyone and made a huge effort to make all who attended our cocktail function enjoy a special evening.

But the admiration wasn’t just one way. When interviewed by Harper’s Bazaar’s publisher Maureen Jordan, Jennifer made an observation about we Aussies, that both shocked the room and made us all laugh.

In one of the exchanges between the two women, Jennifer insisted on making this point. This makes me feel like I’m in a movie…you’re not subtle people. I mean everyone has a personality. Everyone has a giant personality and what an incredible thing…you’re very alive people, that’s what I want to say, you’re the most alive people I have ever met. You’re most the alive race I’ve ever met. That’s what I want to say, so cheers to the Australians!

Video footage of Jennifer at Park Hyatt Event

This was a great night for all who attended, and it made me laugh at the old saying: “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

However, when it comes to what Destination NSW put on with Vivid and its supporting events (like our get together at the Park Hyatt with Jennifer), while the works of our late legendary artist John Olsen were projected on the ‘sails’ of the Sydney Opera House, I thought about the potential of all governments.

As I walked to the Park Hyatt before the event (because our taxi couldn’t get into the harbourside area as streets were closed for the Vivid show), the Rocks was alive with people on the streets, in cafés, pubs and shops. It was business excessively helped by government — and as a business commentator and businessowner, it was a sight to behold!

Vivid Sydney is the largest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere and showcases Sydney as a global hub of art, technology and innovation.

Covid stopped the show in 2020 and 2021, but in 2019, Vivid Sydney attracted a record-breaking 2.4 million attendees across the 23 days of the festival. And it generated over $172 million in visitor spending. As the official website says: “Vivid has an important role to play in the reactivation and promotion of Sydney to support a strong economic recovery post pandemic”.

Destination NSW and the previous NSW Governments must be congratulated for thinking outside the square in supporting this great event, which was first curated by Sydney University graduate Mary-Anne Kyriakou.

I know the new Premier Chris Minns is bound to keep supporting this first-class government assistance to business, as well as the provision of joy and wonderment for the people of Australia. And if they can keep bringing quality acts of a Jennifer Coolidge standard, we’ll all be better for the experience.