Jennifer Ward-Lealand
Encyclopedia
Jennifer Ward-Lealand, ONZM
, is a New Zealand
actress who has appeared on many films and television shows such as The Ugly
and Shortland Street
as well as the Australia
n comedy series Full Frontal
.
Her first ongoing television role was as Jan in Close to Home (1978–1980). After leaving school she spent a year touring New Zealand in a community theatre group, performing clown shows and Chekhov.
In 1982 she 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 the nightclub singer Costello - and sang three songs - in Wellington
crime thriller Dangerous Orphans.
She is married to Michael Hurst
of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
fame. From 1989-1990 she appeared with Harry Sinclair
and Don McGlashan
in The Front Lawn
, winning a number of awards and accolades.
As an actress, singer and director of theatre, Ward-Lealand has amassed an impressive 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.
Her contribution to New Zealand theatre was recognised in 2006 with her investiture as officer to the New Zealand Order of Merit
.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
actress who has appeared on many films and television shows such as The Ugly
The Ugly
The Ugly is a 1997 New Zealand horror/thriller film, the first feature directed and written by Scott Reynolds. It was nominated for best film awards at festivals in New Zealand, Portugal and the United States.-Plot:...
and Shortland Street
Shortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
as well as the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n comedy series Full Frontal
Full Frontal
Full Frontal may refer to:* Full Frontal , an Australian sketch comedy series which debuted in 1993* Full Frontal , a 2001 film by Kyle Schickner* Full Frontal , a 2002 film by Steven Soderbergh...
.
Her first ongoing television role was as Jan in Close to Home (1978–1980). After leaving school she spent a year touring New Zealand in a community theatre group, performing clown shows and Chekhov.
In 1982 she completed a year-long diploma in acting from Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
'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 the nightclub singer Costello - and sang three songs - in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
crime thriller Dangerous Orphans.
She is married to Michael Hurst
Michael Hurst
Michael Eric Hurst, ONZM is a New Zealand actor, director and writer, mostly on stage and television. He is probably best known internationally for playing Iolaus in the television programs Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and companion series Xena: Warrior Princess...
of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is a television series, filmed in New Zealand and the United States. It was produced from 1995, and was very loosely based on the tales of the classical Greek culture hero Heracles...
fame. From 1989-1990 she appeared with Harry Sinclair
Harry Sinclair
Harry Sinclair is a film director, writer, and actor. In his early career he was an actor and member of The Front Lawn, a musical theater duo. He went on to write and direct several short films, a TV series and three feature films.-Background:...
and Don McGlashan
Don McGlashan
Don McGlashan is a New Zealand musician and songwriter who has been a member of bands such as The Plague, From Scratch, The Whizz Kids, Blam Blam Blam, The Front Lawn, The Mutton Birds and, from 2009, The Bellbirds. He composed several pieces for the Limbs Dance Company...
in The Front Lawn
The Front Lawn
The Front Lawn was a New Zealand musical/theatrical duo formed by Don McGlashan and Harry Sinclair. From 1989-90, they were joined by Jennifer Ward-Lealand. Their song Andy appeared at number 82 in the Top 100 New Zealand Songs...
, winning a number of awards and accolades.
As an actress, singer and director of theatre, Ward-Lealand has amassed an impressive 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.
Her contribution to New Zealand theatre was recognised in 2006 with her investiture as officer to the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
.
External links
- The official website of Jennifer Ward-Lealand
- Jennifer Ward-Lealand interview with her husband Michael Hurst for the Cultural Icons project. Audio and video.