Ria Vandervis


Ria Vandervis is a New Zealand actress. She is most known for her role as Harper Whitley in Shortland Street and Miratrix in Power Rangers Operation Overdrive.

Career

From 2002 to 2006, Vandervis acted in multiple UNITEC theatre productions and short films. Between 2004 and 2006 Vandervis starred in various short films such as the Lovely Creature, A Telling Time, Tough Fortune Cookies and Billy for Lilly as Siren, Julia, Fran and Sarah respectively. In 2007, Vandervis played a supporting role as Cindy Cockburn in the film The Devil Dared Me To. Vandervis also played Miratrix in the film Power Rangers Operation Overdrive. In 2009 Vandervis played various television roles, starting in Packed to the Rafters as Layla Soubrani, The Cut, and . In 2010, Vandervis played the regular role of Senior Constable Roxanne Perez in the Nine Network police drama Cops L.A.C. In 2013, Vandervis played Detective Christie Mills in the TV3 police drama Harry.
Later in 2013 Vandervis was cast as Harper Whitley in TV2 New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. Vandervis was originally hired under a 6-month recurring contract that was later extended to a regular role. Vandervis originally commuted between Dunedin and Auckland for filming. A fan of the soap named her daughter 'Harper Ria' in honour of Vandervis and her character. Vandervis also has stated that she gets stopped for autographs and photos.

Personal life

Vandervis was born in Dunedin in the South Island of New Zealand in 1984. She attended Columba College in the Dunedin suburb of Roslyn, followed by Auckland's UNITEC School of Performing & Screen Arts, where she completed a three-year course in acting. Vandervis later moved to Sydney, Australia to pursue more acting roles. She is married to Chris Ashton. When cast in the regular role of Harper Whitley, Vandervis struggled with the extension of her contract due to personal relationship issues and considered quitting the show. She also works as a marriage celebrant and helps out in her husbands clothing business.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004Lovely CreatureSirenShort film
2004'JuliaShort film
2005Tough Fortune CookiesFranShort film
2006Billy for LillySarahShort film
2007'Cindy CockburnFeature film
2007Power Rangers Operation OverdriveMiratrixMain role
2009'Kay ReynoldsEpisodes: "Stranded", "A Nice Little Earner", "Diamonds", "Judas Kiss"
2009'Vanessa StewartTV miniseries
2009JasmineEpisode: "Thrillseekers"
2009Packed to the RaftersLayla SoubraniRecurring role
2010Cops L.A.C.Roxanne PerezMain role
2013HarryDet. Christie MillsTV series
2013–presentShortland StreetHarper WhitleyRegular role