WHEN I was on Young Talent Time, I was too young to understand what it meant.
I was seven when I started; everything felt natural and fun. It was just part of my life. I grew up in a loud Italian household. I still had a normal childhood - three girls fighting, laughing and telling jokes. [Arena has an older sister, Nancy, and a younger sister, Silvana.]
A lot of commitments had to be made so I could be on TV every week.
Mum and Dad were busy taking me to rehearsals, so Nancy had a lot of responsibility to care for Silvana at an early age.
After YTT, I moved to LA.
That journey was important - I grew up and learnt a lot. I liked that no one there knew anything about me.
My second album, Don't Ask, catapulted me to a different level of fame [in the '90s].
Young Talent Time didn't have a great deal of credibility, so when the accolades started rolling in, I thought, what's happening?
Of course, there are periods when you wish you weren't in the music industry.
There are always low times in life, but they're necessary in order to live. I consider myself very fortunate to still have creative freedom.
I met Vincent [Mancini, Arena's partner] in London in 2000.
I was doing Notre-Dame de Paris in the West End and still living in the US, so there was a lot of commuting to Europe. I think we'll marry one day - I never say never.
Becoming a mum changed me for the better.
[Arena and Mancini have a son, Gabriel, 6.] That little bundle of joy is the best gift in life.
Motherhood puts everything into perspective.
Living in Paris feels natural. When your partner is French and your child was born there, it makes sense to spend part of your life there.
Being awarded the French National Order of Merit was surreal.
The evening was beautiful - not because of the recognition, but because I was surrounded by friends and family.
I couldn't think of any reason not to participate in the new Young Talent Time.
[Arena is a judge on the show, which airs 7pm Fridays on Network Ten.] If there's anyone who can speak from experience, it's me. I was lucky to have great support when I was on the show. I don't think anyone could do it without that, particularly a child.
I've realised what I do makes me happy, and it makes other people happy, too.
It's rare to continue to love your work. There are still things I want to do, but I'm a great believer in fate; I'll let it do whatever it needs to.
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Catch Tina Arena live in Sydney in June and in Melbourne from July. Visit www.tinaarena.com.
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