The last time Melburnians saw one of their favourite exports Holly Valance, she was in a skin tight black leather and fishnet outfit, kicking some major butt in a mysterious island in the video game-to-movie DOA: Dead or Alive. Released in September 2006, Holly played a assassin with a mission.

In real life, Holly’s mission includes a globetrotting acting and singing career spanning three continents. She has appeared in several television series such as the New York and Miami spinoffs of CSI, a recurrent character in Prison Break, and is also the face of hair products company Schwarzkopf Live. Based in Los Angeles these days, Holly can be next seen in Balkan war movie ‘The Tourist’ alongside Hollywood heavyweight Ewan MacGregor.

So what is Holly up to these days? And what is she really like? CNN’s The Scene catches up with Holly in her favourite city, Melbourne to talk about shopping, nightlife and living the good life.

The Scene: Describe your relationship with Melbourne.

Holly Valance: I grew up here and I have a great love for the city. Even though I’ve been living overseas for many years, Melbourne will always be my home.

The Scene: What do you miss most?

Holly Valance: I miss our wonderful boutiques — Chapel Street is fantastic for the most unique, gorgeous feminine clothing. There are clothes for men as well, they don’t score too badly either. Reasonably priced, also. Our beautiful beaches, our great food, everything’s close by, we love our arts and music, and it’s just great to be able to go into any little dark alley and find some romantic jazz bar or fantastic little cafe where you can get the best coffee in Australia.

The Scene: What’s the best and worst thing about Melbourne?

Holly Valance: I love the nightlife. You have great bars, wonderful food in all our restaurants, great nightclubs as well if you like a dance. And it’s not really that bad, but I’m a bit of a summer girl and the winter can get a bit cold. But it’s not too bad.

The Scene: How did growing up in Melbourne influence your career?

Holly Valance: I come from a very grounded, very chilled out, relaxed people which keeps you in good stead when things get mental. In the entertainment industry, it can get pretty crazy but I think being an Australian helps. Our laid-back, down to earth culture.

The Scene: How does Melbourne compare to some of the other cities you’ve lived in, like LA and London?

Holly Valance: Well, I’ve been around the world and seen a lot of cities now, and Melbourne rates pretty damn high in terms of being an incredibly livable city and great value for money — you can live the good life in Melbourne.

The Scene: If Melbourne were a person how would you describe them?

Holly Valance: They would be good humored, artistic, down to earth and incredibly good looking.

The Scene: What is unique about Melbourne?

Holly Valance: It’s got its very own Australian culture but it’s heavily influenced by Europe. We’ve got a great passion for food and nightlife and love, and all sorts of exciting things that make it a very romantic city that’s great to be around. To grow up in and live in Melbourne is pretty blissful. Once you travel around the world you realize how good you’ve got it, coming from Melbourne.

The Scene: How would you describe the people of Melbourne?

Holly Valance: The people of Melbourne have a great sense of humor, very dry, very playful. We like a drink, we like good food, we laugh a lot and we love our sport. Sports crazed, actually. Melbourne is the home of Aussie Rules Football, and that’s something that I’ve been going to since I was a young girl. Huge crowds of 100,000 people all barracking for different teams and having a great day — it’s something that we take very, very seriously.

The Scene: What and where in Melbourne inspires you?

Holly Valance: Something that I find incredibly inspirational is our arts center. You can go and watch Madame Butterfly, see a beautiful play, watch great cinema — we’re very much into high-quality film in this country so it’s great to be a part of that now.

The interview (albeit much shorter) can also be watched on CNN.com Video here.

Thanks to Jim from CNN Marketing in London for the pictures, press materials and interview.

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