Photography: Amalia Osborne.
Jodie Rimmer, 51, is a much-loved Kiwi actor whose career spans four decades. She signed with her first agent at just 12 and has since landed roles in projects including Young Hercules and The Strip. She also won Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the feature film In My Father’s Den. Jodie also charmed fans when she appeared on Celebrity Treasure Island, where she faced the various challenges with grace and humour.2
My family was really sporty, but I was always attracted to the arts, to drama and dancing, much to my family’s surprise – or should that be horror?
They didn’t know what to do with me, the second child of four. But because my best friend at primary school did drama lessons, I started doing classes with her when I was 10, and I absolutely loved it. Then the drama teacher suggested I get an agent and I started doing commercials when I was 12. The first was for United Building Society. I also did one for the Omega 500 Computer, so back in the dark ages.
My parents had a fruit shop in [Auckland suburb] Belmont, and we lived next door, over the fence.
We all worked in the shop and anything that was bruised or rotting would come to our house, to the bowl that lived on top of the fridge. After dinner each night, Dad would say, ‘Time for pudding,’ and someone would pass him the fruit bowl. Dad would then take his sharp knife, cut out the rotten bits, and say, ‘Nothing wrong with that!’ before handing the piece of fruit to someone, repeating the ritual as we all groaned. Now there are apartments where our shop used to be.
I was at Carmel College for forms three to five, but it was quite a small school, so there were no arty subjects and I was bored.
I wanted to leave after fifth form, and Mum said, ‘No, let’s just re-house you and find you a school with subjects that interest you.’ Which is how I transferred to Glenfield College, where you could do things like media studies and journalism. It was also the first year drama became a high-school subject and I loved the drama teacher. Kathryn Whillans was so nurturing and learning with her was really rewarding because she made us feel that there was a possibility with acting. For the first time ever, I felt that the skills I had were of value. Ms Whillans and I are still in touch and she comes to every show I do.
My parents saved the money I made from TV commercials and I used it to go to drama school in Perth.
I was 22 and I actually found it quite torturous. After seven months, I had a sort of mental breakdown and I came back home to recover. It took a lot of rest, time and meditation. Then, about nine months later, I got my first lead role in a feature film, I’ll Make You Happy. Getting well was still an ongoing process, but that film played a big part in making me feel grounded again.
I love acting. That delicious feeling of being in a character, it’s like coming home, because my instinct knows what to do.
And I don’t have that instinct in any other area of my life. Which is why it’s so hard to let acting go, as it makes so much sense. Even though the industry is so difficult, when I do occasionally get a job, it just feels right.
I have retired twice, or maybe thrice, then something will happen. Like my agent will call and say a director or casting agent really wants to see me for a role.
And I’ll say, ‘Argh! I’m so bored in my life, all right, I’ll have another go!’ Then I end up getting the role and there I am again, acting. Or I’ll enjoy an audition so much, then I’m back again. Even though the wisest part of me wants to be protective and keep myself safe, because you can’t rely on acting. I know I should stay away for my sanity, but when I’m in it, it’s blissful. It’s a bit like a toxic relationship. That person who keeps wooing you back and you keep returning, even though you know you shouldn’t.
I had a great conversation with Ms Whillans when I was thinking about becoming a teacher aide.
It was like things had come full circle. I realised how important she was to me and that maybe I could offer something similar to other students, which is why halfway through last year I started working as a teacher aide at a local primary school. Even though some weeks are incredibly hard, I love having another purpose beyond acting. Often I work with children who have special needs, so the role needs empathy, patience and kindness, and I feel I have found something that I love as much as acting.
My son Theo is 13 and he was in a docudrama last year called The Lost Boys of Dilworth.
It’s the story of the terrible abuse that took place at that school over many years, and I didn’t want him to audition for obvious reasons. Like not wanting to have to explain to him what went on there, but I still ran it past him, and he really wanted to do it. Then I learned that Bree Peters would be the children’s acting coach, so he’d be in safe hands, and Theo loved every minute.
Theo continues to audition for things and he’s come close to a couple of big roles.
She was called back to London to shoot the new Star Wars film, where she acted opposite Ryan Gosling. I also worked with Ryan for a few years on Young Hercules, and he was the sweetest guy with the greatest sense of humour. But we’re now assuming Theo didn’t get that role, as it’s been a while. That part of acting isn’t easy, but he’s getting better at being robust – as am I – and it’s what he wants to do. But I’ve also made it clear that acting is rarely a full-time gig, so he has to have other strings to his bow.
I have rheumatoid arthritis, which I take medication for.
Meditation also helps and keeping stress to a minimum. Which is why I try not to run around like a maniac. At this age, I prefer a slower pace of life. It started back in lockdown, when I noticed I was having trouble moving my body. At one point, I couldn’t raise my arm above my shoulder, which was really startling as I was very healthy. When it was diagnosed after some online doctor consults and blood tests, I was like, ‘Oh, my God, that sucks.’ I’ve had some really low patches with a lot of pain since then, but I know now to keep my body moving. To do things like going up the maunga with the dog every day. I also swim and make sure I live a balanced life, and over the past year, I’ve been in a much better place.
I felt so much better after doing the play Nicola Cheeseman is Back.
Even though the rehearsal process was terrifying – doing a solo show is like scaling a massive mountain – once we opened, it was wonderful to be on stage, to prove to myself I could still do it. All these women in midlife came to the show and they’d laugh at all the jokes, then stay afterwards to say they felt so seen. Not just women in midlife, either, men too. Anyone who has ever let go of a dream, or has been through a messy divorce, or felt sandwiched between elderly parents and self-centred teenagers. It’s such
a relatable story.
My husband Tim and I have been separated for seven or eight years, but we’re still really good friends.
In fact, we get on so well, we’re currently looking for a house to rent together, so we can back each other up while we get the kids through their teenage years. I’m really looking forward to banding together and I know we’re very lucky to get on well enough to do this. But Xavier is 16 now, and we’ve got these beautiful boys to do the right thing by. But why did no one
tell me how complicated teens could be? I really miss those golden years from six to 10, but they’re both good boys with great senses of humour, so if we can support each other through the next few years, life has to be better.
Jodie is appearing in Nicola Cheeseman is Back at Centrepoint Theatre in Palmerston North, May 30-June 14. For tickets, see centrepoint.co.nz
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