When asked about the impact of fame, Lacy dismisses any notion of a downside. “Life is just better when you’re famous, although people won’t admit that,” she says. “As someone who was incredibly insecure, it was very affirming.” However, behind the scenes of Countdown Revolution, tensions were mounting. In a notorious incident, co-host Little attempted to set a New Kids on the Block CD on fire, declaring it “shit” on air, much to the chagrin of ABC executives. Lacy reflects, “The very thing that ABC hired us to do, which was to be honest, turned out to be the exact thing they didn’t want.”
In June 1990, Lacy and Little staged an on-air strike, challenging ABC’s management. Little crumpled the runsheet, while Lacy held a placard reading “TV IS A LIE,” urging viewers to flood ABC’s switchboards. The broadcast was abruptly cut, replaced by music videos. “The irony is that it was the best show we ever did,” Lacy recalls. Yet, management saw it differently, escorting them from the building and sending termination letters.
The Aftermath of a Public Scandal
Initially, Lacy believed the controversy would pass, much like her previous antics, such as storming a newspaper office in search of Rupert Murdoch. However, as tabloids castigated her, colleagues distanced themselves, and interview requests dwindled. The show struggled on for a few months before being canceled.
At just 24, Lacy faced a unique predicament: notorious for being fired, yet with no platform to defend herself. “That’s when I noticed that my reputation began entering the room two minutes before I did,” she reflects. “When you’re no longer famous, it’s much harder to be the author of your own story.”
Struggling with depression, Lacy turned to drugs. Her first heroin experience was blissful, but soon it became a desperate escape from withdrawal agony. “I probably put a whole house up my arm,” she admits. Within months, her savings were gone. Over three months, she checked into rehab seven times, eventually confessing to her parents, which marked the end of her addiction.
Rebuilding and Reinvention
Returning home and facing industry judgment was demoralizing. “A male artist is allowed to be expressive and wild and make mistakes,” says musician Paul Kelly, a friend of Lacy’s. “But when a woman does it, she gets called ‘difficult’.” Meshel Laurie adds, “Male comedians have their little breakdowns and they’re treated like artistic geniuses.”
Producer Simon Burton offered Lacy a desk to work on her projects, expecting sporadic attendance. “But she proved me entirely wrong,” he says, praising her determination. Lacy sought work in commercial television, appearing on various networks. Yet, the industry’s demands for conformity were stifling. “The women who were doing well in commercial TV had already gone through that gentrification process,” she notes.
In the mid-1990s, Lacy turned to live theatre and films, winning awards for her roles. In 2000, she moved to Los Angeles, seeking new opportunities. However, it devolved into a painful dispute. “I refuse to talk about it,” she says. Personally, her time in LA was transformative, meeting her husband, Ole Sturm, and starting a family.
A New Chapter
In 2005, their son Per was born with a cleft lip and palate, undergoing multiple surgeries. In 2024, the family moved to Melbourne to care for Lacy’s elderly parents. Despite personal challenges, Lacy’s marriage remains strong. “We’ve had our rough patches, but we’ve stuck by each other,” Sturm says.
Lacy’s later struggles included alcohol addiction and a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. “Compared to heroin, quitting alcohol was playtime,” she remarks. Her disorder explained her intense emotions and impulsive behavior, but she received little support during her darkest moments.
In her 40s, Lacy attempted to conform, but soon embraced her true self. “I’m still me,” she realized. Now, she speaks openly about her mental health, emphasizing that while her disorder explains some behaviors, it doesn’t define her. “Sometimes, people are just arseholes,” she says.
Looking Forward
Turning away from entertainment, Lacy now works as a flight attendant while studying law. “As a lawyer, I want to fight for women who don’t get heard because I know what that feels like,” she says. She also pursues passions like cooking and gardening.
As she celebrated her 60th birthday, Lacy reflected on her life’s journey. “There’s a difference between bitterness and clarity,” she states. “All I’m saying is, ‘This happened. It hurt. And I survived anyway.’”
