Robert Trathen
As former Shortland Street actress Amber Curreen and her 17-year-old daughter Mia are getting their make-up done for our Weekly photoshoot, Amber reminisces about the last time the mother and daughter featured in a women’s magazine.
Amber was 20 and was playing teen mum Shannon Te Ngaru on the popular Kiwi soap. She had just given birth to Mia and her real-life pregnancy was written into the show. Amber gets emotional remembering the moment when she got to act alongside her own baby girl.
“I was the same age as Mia now when I was on the show and we did that magazine shoot,” says Amber, whose teenage daughter listens on intently and is unaware she’s already featured in a magazine. “I feel like we’ve come full circle.”
Amber was 16 when she first appeared on Shorty and was on the show for five years. Mia played baby Rangimarie during Amber’s last year.
Amber’s Mia joins the Shorty whānau!
“When I think about it, it feels cool to have something like this in my life,” says Mia, who is in her final year of high school at Ngā Puna o Waiōrea in Auckland. “It’s a great story to tell my mates.”
It’s taken 18 years for Amber and her daughter to be working in the creative arts again, with the play Hemo is Home. Amber is producing for Te Pou Theatre and Mia co-wrote the project with her stepfather Tainui Tukiwaho and four of her siblings in their blended whānau. The play is about a young Māori boy’s relationship with his ghost relatives at a cemetery.
“I’ve grown up in the arts, and seen my mother and the rest of my family making films and theatre,” explains Mia. “I’m excited to be working with Mum again. Unlike my time on Shortland Street, it’s an experience I’ll remember and cherish.”
Since leaving the soap in 2006, Amber has been busy producing stage shows and is one of the co-founders of Te Pou, the home of Māori theatre in Auckland. She’s often tried to convince Mia to become an actor, but her daughter has resisted. But Mia found a knack for writing after creating Hemo is Home with her whānau, while they were in lockdown. Amber is pleased they can work together again.
Amber with Shorty hubby Tama (David Wikaira-Paul) had their dramas, like the death of their son
Amber recalls moments with her daughter on the soap and shares stories that Mia hears for the first time. She was a popular baby, who was often nursed and cared for by the other cast members in between takes.
“Being on Shortland Street changed the course of my life,” tells Amber. “It’s only in the last few years that I’ve realised how odd it was, how much of an impact it had and how different it was from how other people grew up.”
Before Amber became pregnant with Mia, her character had given birth to a child on the show and the baby died. Amber was 16 at the time. When she fell pregnant three years later, she told the producers and they decided to write the birth into the show.
“Going through the process of having a baby on screen and then losing it had a huge impact on me,” Amber shares. “I got pregnant when I was 19. I didn’t plan on getting pregnant that young, but doing that storyline made me want to have children.”
Amber says she was ready for motherhood. She’d been working full-time for three years and had bought a home. After she had Mia, she was allowed to bring her baby on set, with Mia’s father and Amber’s former partner hired as Mia’s chaperone.
“I was mature and took to motherhood easily,” she says. “I did have to grow up really fast.”
After hearing the history of her early life, Mia says she appreciates being able to professionally reunite with her mother. The experience is drawing them closer together.
“It’s great to work with you again, Mum,” Mia tells Amber as they embrace.
Sadly, for Amber, Mia has expressed she will not be pursuing a career in the arts when she finishes school and after Hemo is Home concludes its performances. Instead, the kapa haka and sports enthusiast plans to study psychology. So, for now, Amber is making the most of working creatively with Mia.
“Shortland Street gave us happy moments,” enthuses Amber. “I’m lucky we are creating new memories in the industry that I love!”
Hemo is Home opens from March 3-12 at Te Pou Theatre in Auckland. For tickets, see tepoutheatre.nz
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