Photography: Emily Chalk.
Within the next few weeks, acting duo Holly Shervey and Emmett Skilton will be juggling nappies and sleepless nights with premieres and press interviews. Alongside the release of their darkly funny TV series Crackhead this month, the writer/actress and her actor/director husband are thrilled to be embarking on their greatest collaboration yet – parenthood!
The timing still feels surreal, shares a delighted and heavily pregnant Holly, 36.
“We’ve been so lucky as the dream was always to prioritise filming Crackhead first, then try for a baby after. I almost feel guilty saying I got pregnant straightaway. The dream is here – twice over!”
The couple were in “full preparation mode” for baby-making well before they finished shooting the show, reveals former Shortland Street star Emmett, 38.
“We stopped drinking and we were eating well, training and prioritising our mental health. We thought, ‘If we’re going to pass our genes on, let’s do the best job we can.’”
But Holly admits her pregnancy journey hasn’t been easy.
Expecting excitement
“I wish I could say it’s been glorious, but I’ve been nauseous the whole time. It’s like being permanently hungover. I’m very excited to be on the other side and to meet our wee girl.”
With Holly’s family in the South Island and Emmett’s in Wellington, the Auckland-based creatives, who have collaborated on many projects, are sure their teamwork will translate into their new roles as parents.
“We don’t have a huge village up here, but we’re such a great team and I’m so blessed to have this guy,” Holly smiles.
“It’s always been Emmett’s dream to have a daughter and he’d happily be a stay-at-home dad if he could. Knowing how much he wants to be around gives me maximum peace of mind.”
Learning as they go
Emmett adds, “Plus, we’ve been to some fun antenatal classes, which makes us feel like we’re not the only couple who has no idea what to do!”
He hopes his night shoots on a recent film project in the South Island will be good prep for getting up in the wee hours with their new daughter. Emmet’s “ideal scenario” is to turn up to work as a director with her in a front pack one day.
Ask former Shorty star Holly – who played Zoe Carlson on the hit soap for four years – what sort of parents they’ll be and she doesn’t hesitate, gushing, “I hope we’re fun! I love Disney films, books and all that imaginative stuff, which feel like endless playtime for me. The nursery has a fairy cottage theme. I’m not sure if I’m doing it for her or for me!”
Imagination at home
Emmett adds, “Holly’s imagination is extraordinary, which is why she’s such a great writer and actor. Playtime in our house is going to be wild.”
Although they’ve made a career out of creating magic for TV and film, both agree screen time will be limited for their little one.
“She definitely won’t be watching Crackhead until she’s 18!” jokes Emmett.
A bittersweet joy
The couple’s excitement is tinged with sadness as Holly’s beloved mum Jo, who passed away from bowel cancer when Holly was just six, won’t get to meet her new granddaughter. The pain of losing Jo has had a profound impact on Holly and even left her feeling terrified of having her own kids for a time.
“The fear hasn’t gone away – it’s always going to be part of me,” Holly admits.
“But losing Mum so young has made me understand how precious everything is. It makes you grateful.”
A guardian angel
Her mother’s presence is still very much in their lives, continues Holly.
“I feel she is a guardian angel for our wee girl, who is going to have Mum’s name Jo as her middle name.”
Creative babies
Meanwhile, there’s the arrival of the couple’s “show baby” Crackhead. The comedy – created and written by Holly, and directed by Emmett – blends humour with the realities of addiction and mental health.
Holly also stars as the show’s central character Frankie Jones, whose chaotic spiral from almost burning down her sister’s house to ending up in rehab is both wickedly funny and utterly heart-wrenching.
It’s a deeply personal story for Holly, who has spent the past seven years bringing the show to life. Frankie is a fictional character, but her journey is inspired by Holly’s own stint in a psychiatric clinic in her early twenties.
Art imitates life
“I’ve injected my feelings and personal experiences from that time into Frankie and the show,” the actress confesses.
“The characters and scenarios have obviously been changed to protect anyone from real life, but they have been created with an eye on the truth.”
Holly can now speak openly about her personal struggles with an eating disorder, suicidal ideation, anxiety, depression and addiction, but that hasn’t always been the case.
Love beyond struggles
Emmett reveals, “Holly panicked when I asked her to marry me because she hadn’t told me she’d been in treatment. But I already loved her unconditionally, so I didn’t give a toss. “Only a small circle of people knew about Holly’s experiences until recently. But Crackhead and the way people have already reacted so positively towards it have almost given her permission to start talking. It’s important to break down the shame and taboos that exist around these subjects.”
The show has sparked another creative outlet, with Holly recently launching a podcast called Asylum Girls alongside US comedian Kelly “Kell Fire” Hendrickson, who has also struggled with her mental health and substance abuse.
Tackling tough topics
Each episode dives deep into everything from eating disorders and addiction, to sociopaths and obsessive compulsive disorder, plus “all the messy human bits in between”, grins Holly.
“It’s raw, confronting and, like Crackhead, full of inappropriate laughter. Comedy has saved my life! When things get heavy, laughing can help us keep going and find our way through.”
Sharing her story via creative projects has left Holly feeling vulnerable at times, but she describes the journey as “incredibly cathartic”.
She hopes Frankie’s story will resonate with others navigating similar challenges.
“When I was in the clinic, I didn’t know anyone who’d been through it and come out the other side. I hope someone watching Crackhead sees themselves in Frankie and feels a little bit of hope. We’d love the show to help families who are supporting loved ones going through these kinds of challenges too.”
As the couple prepares to welcome their daughter at the same time as Crackhead hits screens, she and Emmett are excited to start juggling their creative projects with parenthood.
Emmett laughs, “We’re already thinking about how we’ve going to navigate the Crackhead launch party with a newborn!”
Crackhead premieres Thursday 12 March on Three and ThreeNow.
If you’re struggling with addiction, please call the Alcohol & Drug Helpline on 0800 787 797.
For help with an eating disorder, phone 0800 2 EDANZ or visit ed.org.nz.
For the Suicide Crisis Helpline, dial 0508 TAUTOKO. In an emergency, always call 111.
