Jennifer Ward-Lealand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jennifer Ward-Lealand CNZM
Ward-Lealand in 2019
Born	Jennifer Cecily Ward-Lealand (1962-11-08) 8 November 1962 (age 62) Wellington, New Zealand
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1978–present
Spouse(s)	Michael Hurst (1988–present)
Children	2

Jennifer Ward-Lealand is a famous actress, director, and teacher from New Zealand. She was born on November 8, 1962. For over 40 years, she has performed in more than 120 theatre shows. She has also been in many movies and TV shows.

Jennifer is known for her work in plays by William Shakespeare and for her roles in musicals. On screen, you might know her from the movie Desperate Remedies. She also appeared in the TV show Shortland Street and the comedy series Full Frontal.

Biography

Early Life and Acting Start

Jennifer Cecily Ward-Lealand was born in Wellington, New Zealand. Her parents are Philippa Mary and Conrad Ainsley Lealand. She has an older sister, Diana, and a half-brother, Simcha.

When Jennifer was just seven years old, she joined a play called Oedipus. She loved the excitement of being on stage. From that moment, she knew she wanted to be an actor. At age eight, she had a small part in the film Gone up North for Awhile.

After finishing school, Jennifer toured New Zealand with a theatre group. They performed for schools and communities. She also acted in a play by Chekhov called The Bear.

Family Life

Since 1988, Jennifer has been married to actor Michael Hurst. You might know him from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. They met at a theatre company in 1983. Before their two sons were born in 1997 and 1999, they performed in 22 shows together. Their sons are now also working in film and music.

Training and Early Roles

Jennifer went to a special acting school called Theatre Corporate in Auckland. She completed a year-long acting diploma in 1982. This training taught her a lot about discipline and working with a team.

After drama school, Jennifer got her first big TV role. It was in an episode called "Danny and Raewyn" from the About Face series. She even won an award for Best Actress for this role. In the same year, she made her first movie appearance. She played a singer named Costello in the film Dangerous Orphans.

In 1989, Jennifer joined a music and theatre group called The Front Lawn. She played the ukulele and sang with them. She toured with their show "The One that Got Away" in New Zealand and other countries.

Comedy and Cabaret

In 1993, Jennifer joined the Australian comedy TV show Full Frontal. She worked on 40 episodes over two years. She played many different funny characters.

Jennifer is also known for her cabaret shows. In 2007, she toured with her show Falling in Love Again. This show was about the famous singer Marlene Dietrich. She also performed songs by Jacques Brel in 2014. Her singing style often includes this kind of cabaret performance.

Helping Actors and Learning Te Reo

Jennifer has always worked to make actors' lives better. She was one of the people who started The Actors’ Program, a drama school. She is also the President of Equity New Zealand, a group that helps actors. She works to improve their working conditions and pay.

Since 2018, Jennifer has been an intimacy coordinator. This means she helps actors feel safe and comfortable during sensitive scenes in plays or films. She has worked on over 60 shows in this role.

Since 2008, Jennifer has been learning te reo, the language of New Zealand's native Māori people. She started learning after she couldn't reply to a traditional Māori welcome speech. She has also directed films, including the short film Disrupt in 2021. In 2023, she joined the board of the Māori Language Commission.

Jennifer has played many important roles in theatre. She has acted in plays by famous writers like Edward Albee and Polly Stenham. She also often appears in Christmas comedies at The Basement Theatre. She has even played famous people like Helen Clark and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

What She's Done

Movies

TV Shows

Stage Plays

Jennifer Ward-Lealand has performed in over 120 stage shows. She was even given the special Māori name Te Atamira, which means "The Stage." Here are some of her many stage performances:

Directing Theatre

Jennifer Ward-Lealand has also directed many theatre shows. She started directing in 2002 with acting students. Some of the plays she has directed include A Christmas Carol (2003) and the musical Jaques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (2005). She also directed Hudson & Hall Live! and That Bloody Woman in 2017.

Awards and Recognition

Jennifer Ward-Lealand has received many awards for her amazing work.

• In 2007, she was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This award recognized her services to theatre and the community.
• In 2017, she was given the special Māori name Te Atamira (The Stage). This was given to her by Sir Tīmoti Kāretu and the late Prof Te Wharehuia Milroy.
• In 2018, she received a Scroll of Honour from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand. This was for her contributions to New Zealand entertainment.
• In 2019, she won the Westpac Women of Influence Award for Arts & Culture. She also won an Award of Excellence as an Actress in the Accolade Global Film Competitions.
• Also in 2019, she was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This was for her work in theatre, film, and TV, and for helping actors get better working conditions.
• In 2020, she received the Centennial Award for International Women's Day. She was also named E Tū Unionist of the Year.
• Most importantly, Jennifer Ward-Lealand won the New Zealander of the Year Award in 2020. This award recognized her dedication to performing arts and her passion for learning and promoting te reo Māori.