Photography: Babiche Martens
When former Hercules actress Fiona Mogridge’s mother Heather found a lump in her breast, the family considered it a wee hiccup.
“Mum had a little op, a lumpectomy, and we thought that was it, but two years later, the cancer came back when I was pregnant with my first child,” tells Fiona, 54.
At just 60, Heather died six months later, turning the actress’ life upside down.
Fiona says, “My son Joe was born in June and Mum died in October 2006, so I took 11 months off, partly for maternity leave, but also to work through it all.”
That was almost 20 years ago and not only did Fiona lose her mum, but she also lost the woman who shared a passion for performing arts.
Growing up behind the curtain
“Mum loved everything about the theatre,” Fiona tells.
“She was always in plays. When I was four, Mum was in a show at Mana Little Theatre in Porirua and it was my job to hold signs to indicate the seasons. But I got terrible stage fright and my older sister Rachel grabbed the sign out of my hands, leaving me in the wings. From that moment, I was hooked!”
A few years after that inauspicious debut, Fiona’s father Bryan accepted a job in Auckland, and in 1979 the Mogridge whānau moved north.
“We moved to Titirangi and because of Mum’s passion for performing, I grew up in the wings of the Titirangi Theatre,” she shares.
From stage to screen
It’s no surprise Fiona spent a good chunk of her early adult years pursuing a career as an actress, including a stint in France studying with the wife of Marcel Marceau, the famous mime artist. After returning to Aotearoa, she earned a master’s degree in commerce while still landing roles in TV hits like Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Duggan, and Shortland Street.
“I even starred in a Swedish film called Christmas Oratorio, but acting can be sporadic and I was happy to take the corporate path,” she recalls.
As the years flew by, Fiona had another child, Lucy, and became a corporate trainer. Then in 2016, just before Christmas, Fiona found a lump in her own breast.
“It was surreal finding this thing like a pea in my breast,” she says.
“My husband Rob insisted I get it checked out.”
The call that changed everything
Fiona made a radiology appointment for the very next day.
“Because of Mum, I didn’t muck around, then at the scan, the radiologist said they’d like to do a biopsy immediately,” she tells.
Fiona was running a workshop in Wellington when she got the call.
“They conveniently phoned during a break,” she remembers.
“At first, I was speechless, but I couldn’t just leave the workshop participants high and dry, so I wrapped up more quickly than usual.”
On reflection, Fiona realises she was in shock.
“I was on autopilot when I called Dad from the taxi. He’d stepped out of a meeting to hear his daughter tell him she had breast cancer, after he’d already lost Mum. There was a deathly silence.”
Fighting for life and family
With her children just 10 and eight at the time, Fiona agreed to every treatment on offer, including chemo, radiotherapy, a partial mastectomy, 17 rounds of wonder-drug Herceptin and five years on Tamoxifen.
“As a mum with young kids, I did whatever I could to stay alive, until I was given the all-clear in 2022.”
The experience has given her the drive to “live life with a greater sense of urgency”.
Fiona reflects, “When you’ve had cancer, you realise this isn’t a dress rehearsal. I knew I wanted to love my family and follow my passions.”
It’s why today Fiona teaches drama in schools and has co-founded Active Arts, a charity that takes poetry into rest homes around Auckland. With both her children having recently left for university, she’s also returning to her roots, making her directorial debut at Titirangi Theatre.
Back on stage with Seed
“I’ve chosen a play called Seed by Auckland writer Elisabeth Easther,” says Fiona.
“She wrote it 12 years ago, when we both had kids at the same school. When it had its very first production, she offered me a role. I was so nervous as I hadn’t done any acting for years back then, but it was just like riding a bike!”
The story – recently turned into a bestselling book by former Shorty star Elisabeth – follows four women who are either desperate to get pregnant or not be pregnant.
Fiona admits, “We’re having such fun in rehearsals, sharing our own personal stories, many of them very funny!”
She’s also quick to point out while the play contains serious themes, there’s lots of laughter.
“I know some audience members will have sensitivity around these issues, but my hope is that by using humour, the story is as entertaining as it is moving.”
Seed opens on 17 March at Auckland’s Titirangi Theatre. For tickets, go to titirangitheatre.co.nz.
