Sally Boyden (singer)

Sally Boyden
Sally Boyden as Carol in The Little Dragons
Born	Sally Ann Boyden (1965-05-21) 21 May 1965 (age 51) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, actress

Sally Ann Boyden (born 21 May 1965) is an Australian singer, songwriter, and actress. Boyden commenced her performance career, at the age of seven, on TV series, Young Talent Time, in 1973. After leaving in 1976, she released her debut solo album, The Littlest Australian (early 1976), and appeared on United States TV's The Waltons (series 6, 1977) to begin her international acting career.

Sally Boyden was born on 21 May 1965 to Bradley, a car dealership owner, and Carmen Boyden. Boyden grew up in Essendon with three siblings, she attended Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School for primary education. She later attended Melbourne Girls Grammar for secondary education.

Boyden began her television career as a performer on Young Talent Time (YTT) in 1973, at the age of seven. In June 1976 Bradley described how "Television has never interfered with Sally's schooling and it never will. Even if she decides to make a career out of show business, we want her to have a full education."

While most YTT members waited until reaching age 16 to leave the show, Boyden left in 1976, aged ten, to concentrate on her solo career. While still a YTT member she had appeared on The Don Lane Show on rival TV network, Nine, after which fellow cast members made critical comments about that appearance.The Australian Women's Weekly's Wendy Cross described Boyden as "Performing both live and on television, she will broaden her horizons as Australia's youngest star. She is a 10-year-old prodigy; a whimsical mixture of seasoned sophisticate and freckle-faced kid-next-door."

After leaving YTT Boyden issued her debut album, The Littlest Australian, early in 1976, on Hammond Records, which was certified as a gold record by mid-year. Cross felt it "boasts tracks ranging from such rock 'n' roll favourites as 'Tan Shoes and Pink Shoelaces' to 'The Lord's Prayer'." In November of that year she commenced filming in the starring role of Linda in a TV film, Barnaby and Me (working title, Fuzzy, 1977), which was a co-production for Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC-TV) and United States-based Transatlantic Enterprises. Bradley and Carmen had knocked back an offer for their daughter to tour with Liberace; Bradley explained "Faced with the choice of filming in Australia or going to the US. there was no question as to what we'd do. There are not many films made here with good parts for little girls, so it's a chance that doesn't come often."