Jennifer Ward-Lealand


Jennifer Cecily Ward-Lealand is a New Zealand actor and director 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 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 fame. They have two sons, born in 1997, and 1999.
Her first ongoing television role was as Jan in Close to Home. 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.
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 in New Zealand and Australia. She later toured with the same show in 2018.
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.
Ward-Lealand has also been an advocate for improving actors' working conditions and pay.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978–79Close to HomeJan3 episodes
1986SeekersNardia AltermanRecurring role
1990The Billy T James ShowRaewyn1 episode
1991For the Love of MikeBetty-Sue1 episode
1993–94Full FrontalVarious charactersMain cast
1995'VoluptuaEpisode: "All That Glitters"
1996–97Letter to BlanchyJane3 episodes
1996–98Shortland StreetIsobel KearneyRecurring role
1997'BoadiceaEpisode: "The Deliverer"
1999ZehraEpisode: "The Play's the Thing"
1999DugganJoanne Taylor2 episodes
2001Love MusselDoctorTelevision film
2005InterrogationGail Mary AbbotEpisode: "True Confessions"
2006Elgar's Enigma: Biography of a ConcertoNarratorTelevision documentary
2009–13Buzzy Bee and FriendsDorable DuckVoice role
2009The Jaquie Brown DiariesLouise Bouchet2 episodes
2012–14Auckland DazeWandaRecurring role
2013Sunny SkiesPenny1 episode
2013The Almighty JohnsonsKaren3 episodes
2015–17Find Me a Maori BrideNarratorVoice role
2015NewsworthyKalonike1 episode
2016–17Auckward LoveBarbara4 episodes
2016Terry TeoBarbara BertinelliEpisode: "Baby Takes a Bullet"
2016Dirty LaundryDonnaRecurring role
2018The Ring InzAstrid2 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.
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.
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 and for her advocacy for actors' working conditions and pay.
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.