Photos: Dean O’Gorman
She’s one of the country’s most experienced actors and at 61, Jennifer Ward-Lealand has no plans to take her foot off the gas… But she’s careful about where she spends her energy.
As well as her role as the president of Equity New Zealand, she’s currently working in her first long-term full-time job since her repertory theatre days. She is an intimacy coordinator for the rebooted Spartacus series – and she will soon start rehearsing with her husband Michael Hurst for the play In Other Words. For the first time ever, the acting royalty duo will perform together.
“I’m still very passionate about my work,” she says. “I’m very enthusiastic, and am probably teaching at a better level than I ever have been. I think everybody as they get older realises they do know some stuff and how to impart it.”
The acting legend has graced New Zealand screens and stages for more than four decades. However, last year, she learned an important lesson during Māori Language Week. She had found herself teaching at Toi Whakaari in Wellington, directing a show in Auckland, intimacy coordinating for TV show Madam, while also being welcomed into the Māori Language Commission.
“I worked 13 days in a row. In just one week during that time, I had nine different kaupapa [causes].”
When Jennifer was on her third trip to Wellington in four days, she realised she’d left her handbag and laptop at home. Instantly, she knew she needed to slow down. She ended up having to change the flight, drive home, go back – all while “bawling”.
“That’s when I knew… ‘Don’t do that again. Don’t be stupid, Jennifer.’”
Previously, she would organise her life so that one gig followed another.
“Anybody who says they can plan a career in this business is lying,” she says. “You can only take what comes at you and everything can change with a phone call or an email. I’ve never planned a career.
“We’d finish a show, everybody else would have a late-night party to farewell the show, and what’s Jennifer doing? She’s getting on a plane at 6am to do something else.”
Now she’s learned to give herself at least a day after finishing a big project.
“Any actor will say all they want to do is keep working.”
In Other Words explores the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and the transformative power of music. One partner, played by Michael, is living with the degenerative disease. Meanwhile the other, played by Jennifer, is his primary caregiver.
“We are the oldest couple to ever have done it,” she says. “It’s usually played by young people and it’s definitely never been played by a couple who have been together for 40-plus years!”
The story moves back and forth through their relationship, from the couple’s first meeting right through to dealing with the later stages of the disease, which more than 70,000 New Zealanders live with.
“We know that dementia’s huge in this country and we’re tracking how both partners are dealing with that. What’ll resonate a lot for the audience is what it takes for the partner left behind to be their primary caregiver.”
After the show, Jennifer is booked for another job and is adamant she doesn’t want to sit still.
“Maybe there’s that feeling in some jobs where people realise it’s time to take the foot off the gas,” she reflects. “I suppose my way of doing that is by being really choosy about what I accept. Also by realising where my energies need to lie, as well.”
The difference now, with the comfort of the wisdom her sixties provides, is she realises what she can and can’t do.
“I don’t think I’m going to fit in being a really good pianist!” she laughs. “I’ve tried three times and it’s just not going to happen.”
In Other Words is on at Auckland’s Q Theatre from September 3. For tickets, visit qtheatre.co.nz
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