Michele Bennett

Michele Rosemary Bennett is an Australian film and television producer. She is the founder of Cherub Pictures and Pariah Productions and has produced films such as Chopper, The Magician (2005), Drift (2013), and Judy and Punch (2019), as well as the television series Mr Inbetween (2018–2021), NCIS: Sydney (2023) and Queen of Oz (2023). Bennett has also produced music videos for artists such as INXS, U2, Prince, Silverchair and Foo Fighters.

Bennett's relationship with INXS lead vocalist, Michael Hutchence, inspired the band's 1988 hit single "Never Tear Us Apart".

Career In the early 1980s, Bennett had four jobs while she was studying at University in Melbourne, including a brief career as a model, and then started working as a photographer's agent.

In 1982, Bennett appeared on the music video for "The One Thing" by INXS, as one of the women at the banquet table.

In the late 1980s, Bennett started working with Australian filmmaker Richard Lowenstein on several music videos. "By My Side" and "Bitter Tears". She also produced music videos for artists such as U2, and Foo Fighters.

In 1991, Bennett founded her own production company, Cherub Pictures.

From 2018 to 2021, Bennett produced the television series Mr Inbetween.

In 2023, Bennett produced the television series NCIS: Sydney and Queen of Oz.

Personal life Bennett speaks Mandarin.

From 1982 to 1987, Bennett was in a relationship with INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence. They shared a flat in Paddington with New Zealand-Australian singer Jenny Morris, who was INXS's backing vocalist. Bennett inspired INXS's 1988 hit song "Never Tear Us Apart". Bennett introduced Hutchence to Australian filmmaker Richard Lowenstein, who directed several music videos for INXS, According to Hutchence's sister, Tina, Bennett was the only woman her brother said he had considered marrying. Lowenstein, who was close friends with Hutchence, also said that he believed that Bennett was the only woman that Hutchence would marry; "I always felt that, after everything, he'd go back and marry Michele and have a baby with her," he told The Independent in 1998.

Bennett and Hutchence remained close friends after the end of their relationship and she was described as Hutchence's "first real love", his "closest friend and confidante". According to Bennett, Hutchence called her two times that morning; first he left a message in her answering machine, then he called her again at 9:54 am and she answered the phone. Bennett said that Hutchence was crying, sounded upset, and told her he needed to see her. Bennett arrived at his hotel room door at about 10:40 am, but there was no response, so she wrote him a note and left it at reception. Hutchence's body was discovered by a hotel maid at 11:50 am. His death was ruled as suicide while depressed and under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. directed by Richard Lowenstein, a close friend of both Bennett and Hutchence's.

In popular culture Bennett was portrayed by actress Jane Harber in the 2014 Australian biographical miniseries INXS: Never Tear Us Apart. Bennett claimed that the miniseries was not accurate and that she was not contacted by the filmmakers. 2004 INXS: Welcome to Wherever You Are Richard Lowenstein Documentary 2009 Apricot Ben Briand Short film 2013 Drift Morgan O'Neill and Ben Nott

2023 Queen of Oz Christiaan Van Vuuren Television series 2005 Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man Lian Lunson Documentary; executive in charge of production for Cherub Pictures 2014 The Mule Tony Mahony and Angus Sampson Feature film 2018–2021 Mr Inbetween Nash Edgerton Television series 2023 NCIS: Sydney Shawn Seet, David Caesar, Kriv Stenders and Catherine Millar Television series

Screen Producers Australia Awards Drama Series Production of the Year

Best Drama Series

Best Film Judy and Punch

Best Drama Series Mr Inbetween

Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Best Film Judy and Punch

Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Best Drama Series Mr Inbetween