Flavia Brilli is an English actress, singer, designer, photographer, and author.
Flavia Brilli was born in Brighton, England. After completing a Foundation course at Eastbourne Art College, she undertook a Music and Fine Arts degree at the University of Brighton (then Brighton Polytechnic). Whilst studying there she met music manager Don Mousseau, and at the age of 20, made her singing debut, in 1986, at the London Hippodrome, in Leicester Square, performing the song 'The Big Fight' written by Peter Godwin (singer) who also wrote 'Criminal World' for David Bowie.
She moved to London in 1987, and first appeared on screen in the popular television series Beadle's About. Following the success of Beadle's About she met the renowned composer Michael Nyman, longtime collaborator with filmmaker Peter Greenaway, and was chosen by Nyman to sing on the film and soundtrack of Peter Greenaway's film The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover. Returning to her artistic roots, from 1991 to 1999, she designed and made original mirrors at her shop Jazz Frames in Camden, London. During this period she achieved extensive editorial coverage in various design periodicals, including Homeflair (1995) The London Magazine (1996) Essentials (1996) Elle Decoration (1996); Homes and Ideas (1996); Inspirations (1996); Time Out (1996), and News of the World (1997)'. On the 15th of December 1996, her âÂÂSunburstâ mirror design was featured on the Channel 4 Equinox documentary 'Satan's Robot' with Terry Gilliam of Monty Python. Flavia's mirrors were notable for being flamboyant, colourful, oversized, and experimental. Including upholstering 8 ft x 4 ft mirrors in Neoprene. Of her mirrors, Flavia has said:<blockquote>" All my design work is inspired and informed by my enduring love for my home town Brighton. A place forever associated in my mind with all that is fun, stylish, and elegant." </blockquote>
From 1999 to 2004, she was offered an opportunity to run her own jazz club on the first floor of the Central Bar, at 58 Old Street, London which then became known as the Central Bar jazz club. Her selective programme showcased Britain's finest jazz musicians and visiting international stars, and the venue became a fixture on London's jazz scene. British and international stars who performed at the Central Bar jazz club included award-winning British guitarist Jim Mullen, international star Gilad Atzmon, saxophonist legend Peter King (saxophonist), Mercury Nominee Sebastian Rochford, Young Jazz Musician of the Year Pete Wareham and revered trumpeter and composer Guy Barker.
The highly, respected jazz critic Jack Massarik of the Evening Standard was a regular visitor and reviewer of the venue and later wrote a letter praising her proficiency and programme choices. Because of her selective policy of high quality performers, the venue regularly appeared in national newspapers and magazines including The Guardian, Time Out, and the London Evening Standard's entertainment supplement Hot tickets.
On a return visit to her hometown Brighton, prior to the 2012 Olympics, she visited the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery which she had made regular trips to since childhood and was an important element of her life: 'the museum [was] an essential part of my life: for books, for inspiration, for humour, and for nostalgia.' Influenced by the new ceramics display, on her return to London, she was inspired to design a ceramic figure which combined the 'humour of the Toby jug format' with the character of, the then Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, as the figure's subject matter. In 2012, to commemorate the UK's Olympic Games, she designed and made a humorous ceramic sculpture of the Mayor riding his bike with the London Olympic emblem. After receiving the sculpture and a book illustrating the process of making the piece, Johnson sent both a handwritten and formal thank you letter.
In 2015, she moved to the Bay of Kotor and inspired by the dramatic and beautiful landscape purchased her first camera, a Nikon D7000. Her love of the Bay inspired her to photograph many overlooked villages, as well as, the iconic Perast islands. She has since published a book on Kotor Bay.