Jennifer Ward-Lealand
Jennifer Ward-Lealand | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ward-Lealand in 2019 | |
| Born | Jennifer Cecily Ward-Lealand 8 November 1962 Wellington, New Zealand |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Spouse | Michael Hurst (1988–present) |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | jenniferwardlealand |
Jennifer Cecily Ward-Lealand CNZM (born 8 November 1962) is a New Zealand actor and director[1] whose screen credits includes the in 1993 movie Desperate Remedies as well as appearances in The Footstep Man, the soap Shortland Street and Australian comedy series Full Frontal.
Biography
Ward-Lealand was born in Wellington, New Zealand to Philippa "Pippa" Mary (née Ward) and Conrad Ainsley Lealand. She has an older sister, Diana Mary Ward-Pickering and a half brother Simcha Lindt.
She is married to actor Michael Hurst of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys fame. They have two sons, born in 1997, and 1999.[2]
Her first ongoing television role was as Jan in Close to Home (1978–1980).[2] After leaving school she spent a year touring New Zealand in a community theatre group, performing clown shows and Chekhov.
In 1982 Ward-Lealand completed a year-long diploma in acting from Auckland's then influential Theatre Corporate. In between the theatre work that followed, Ward-Lealand appeared in short-lived TV drama Seekers, before her breakthrough television role in "Danny and Raewyn", an episode from the About Face series. Filmed largely in an Auckland flat so cramped the cameraman sometimes had to sit on the stove, this tale of working class relationship breakdown would win Ward-Lealand a GOFTA Best Actress Award.
The same year Ward-Lealand made her big screen debut as nightclub singer Costello – and sang three songs – in Wellington crime thriller Dangerous Orphans.
From 1989 to 1990 she appeared with Harry Sinclair and Don McGlashan in theatre/musical group The Front Lawn, winning a number of awards and accolades, and acting in Front Lawn film Linda's Body. In 1993 she appeared in the first series of TV skit comedy show, Full Frontal.[3]
As an actress, singer and director of theatre, Ward-Lealand has a number of credits and accolades, and acted in New Zealand plays The Bach, Via Satellite, and The Sex Fiend. In 2007, she toured her acclaimed Marlene Dietrich cabaret show, Falling in Love Again (also the name of her first solo CD) in New Zealand and Australia. She later toured with the same show in 2018.[4][5]
Jennifer Ward-Lealand is fluent in Te Reo Māori, the native language of New Zealand. Ward-Lealand, who herself is not Māori, started learning the language after not being able to respond to a traditional mihi or welcome speech.[6]
Ward-Lealand has also been an advocate for improving actors' working conditions and pay.[1]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Gone Up North for a While | Child | |
| 1985 | Dangerous Orphans | Teresa Costello | |
| 1990 | Linda's Body | Linda | Short film |
| 1992 | The Footstep Man | Mirielle | |
| 1993 | Desperate Remedies | Dorothea Brook | |
| 1994 | A Game with No Rules | Lauren | Short film |
| 1994 | I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry | Jane | Short film |
| 1997 | The Ugly | Evelyn Cartwright | |
| 1999 | I'll Make You Happy | Mel | |
| 2000 | The Painted Lady | Fay | Short film |
| 2004 | Fracture | Ulla Peet | |
| 2013 | End of Daze | Wanda | |
| 2018 | Vermilion | Darcy |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978–79 | Close to Home | Jan | 3 episodes |
| 1986 | Seekers | Nardia Alterman | Recurring role (16 episodes) |
| 1990 | The Billy T James Show | Raewyn | 1 episode |
| 1991 | For the Love of Mike | Betty-Sue | 1 episode |
| 1993–94 | Full Frontal | Various characters | Main cast (40 episodes) |
| 1995 | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys | Voluptua | Episode: "All That Glitters" |
| 1996–97 | Letter to Blanchy | Jane | 3 episodes |
| 1996–98 | Shortland Street | Isobel Kearney | Recurring role (60 episodes) |
| 1997 | Xena: Warrior Princess | Boadicea | Episode: "The Deliverer" |
| 1999 | Xena: Warrior Princess | Zehra | Episode: "The Play's the Thing" |
| 1999 | Duggan | Joanne Taylor | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Love Mussel | Doctor | Television film |
| 2005 | Interrogation | Gail Mary Abbot | Episode: "True Confessions" |
| 2006 | Elgar's Enigma: Biography of a Concerto | Narrator | Television documentary (voice role) |
| 2009–13 | Buzzy Bee and Friends | Dorable Duck | Voice role (65 episodes) |
| 2009 | The Jaquie Brown Diaries | Louise Bouchet | 2 episodes |
| 2012–14 | Auckland Daze | Wanda | Recurring role (14 episodes) |
| 2013 | Sunny Skies | Penny | 1 episode |
| 2013 | The Almighty Johnsons | Karen | 3 episodes |
| 2015–17 | Find Me a Maori Bride | Narrator | Voice role (15 episodes) |
| 2015 | Newsworthy | Kalonike | 1 episode |
| 2016–17 | Auckward Love | Barbara | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | Terry Teo | Barbara Bertinelli | Episode: "Baby Takes a Bullet" |
| 2016 | Dirty Laundry | Donna | Recurring role (13 episodes) |
| 2018 | The Ring Inz | Astrid | 2 episodes |
Accolades
Ward-Lealand's contribution to New Zealand theatre was recognised in 2007 New Year Honours with her investiture as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to theatre and the community.[7]
In October 2018 she was presented with a Scroll of Honour from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand for her contribution to New Zealand entertainment.[8]
In the 2019 New Year Honours, Ward-Lealand was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to theatre, film and television[9] and for her advocacy for actors' working conditions and pay.[1]
Ward-Lealand won the New Zealander of the Year Award in 2020, being recognised for her dedication to performing arts and her commitment and passion for te reo Māori.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d "New Zealander of the Year Award winners announced". RNZ. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ a b Knight, Kim (12 September 2016). "Jennifer Ward-Lealand is NZ's acting queen bee". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ Wallace, Mark (10 May 1993). "Fast Forward goes Full Frontal". Canberra Times. Retrieved 26 September 2018 – via Trove.
- ^ Shand, John (7 August 2018). "Falling in Love Again review: Exquisite artefact bleeds life in second half". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ Tatman, Christian (24 July 2018). "Jennifer Ward-Lealand stars as golden era actress and singer Marlene Dietrich at Frankston Arts Centre". Herald Sun. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ "For more than eight years, Jennifer Ward-Lealand has been learning Te Reo Māori. As an adult learner, she has now become a fluent speaker". The AM Show. 15 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018 – via Facebook.
- ^ Hawes, Rexine (24 April 2017). "Kiwi actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand ready to inject some drama into Matamata". Stuff. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ "VAC Scrolls of Honour". The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ "New Year honours list 2019". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
- Ward, R. G. (2000). Gentleman Charlie and the settlers: a study of transformation. Hutt City N.Z: Break Even Press. ISBN 0-473-06809-5.
External links
- The official website of Jennifer Ward-Lealand
- Jennifer Ward-Lealand at IMDb
- Jennifer Ward-Lealand interview with her husband Michael Hurst for the Cultural Icons project. Audio and video.
