It’s never too late to transform your life – just ask Julia Vahry. When Woman’s Day last caught up with the ex-policewoman, she was appearing on The Traitors NZ, while juggling motherhood
and running an insurance firm.
Now as she chats to us from her new home in Dublin in Ireland, Julia’s navigating cross-hemisphere parenting, wedding planning and an acting journey that’s brought her face to face with Orlando Bloom.
It’s all thanks to The Traitors NZ that the 39-year-old’s life took a spontaneous swerve, with a talent agency spotting her on the show and signing her up, despite her only showbiz experience being performing in bands through high school and auditioning for kids’ show Sticky TV.
Conscious she shouldn’t waltz into acting unprepared, she sat in on classes by esteemed coach Dame Miranda Harcourt, who encouraged her further.
Finding confidence in acting
“As a late bloomer, I didn’t know what I was doing,” shares Julia.
“But she said, ‘You’re a real person, coming from policing, with life experience. You’re drawing on yourself, which is all people want.’”
Julia then took online courses with schools in LA, London and Ireland, and after feeling an affinity with Dublin’s Bow Street Academy, she applied to study there. Meanwhile, her relationship had crumbled after The Traitors as she and her ex drifted apart. Happily, after the split, Julia – who has daughter Isla, 12, and son James, 11, from an earlier marriage – soon afterwards heard she’d been accepted to study in Ireland.
Meeting a kindred spirit
While figuring out the move, Julia met Kiwi writer and director James Boddy on dating app Hinge. With Julia an ex-cop and James having worked on Police Ten 7, the two “spoke the same language”, bonding further over their love for film and TV.
By the time Julia was headed for Dublin, James, 45, was between jobs, so he joined her abroad. It was perfect timing as his daughter, fashion designer Catherine Boddy, 26, had recently moved to England.
“He’s doing his OE the same time as her,” laughs Julia.
Adjusting to life in Dublin
While going from a lavish home in the Waikato to a tiny flat in Dublin was an adjustment, the family now relishes living off the “bare essentials”.
Julia says, “I’ve realised a big house doesn’t make you happy – sometimes it just adds to the stress. The biggest lesson has been simplicity.”
Isla has thrived in her Irish-speaking school, where she achieved above-average results within six months. However, her brother James missed his Kiwi friends, so he’s returned to school in Aotearoa.
On-set highlights and mentors
Meanwhile, Julia has recently filmed a short horror film, a true-crime series and a project with Slumdog Millionaire actor Ankur Vikal, after completing her course at Bow Street Academy, whose co-founder Gerry Grennell has taught Orlando, Meryl Streep, Natalie Portman and Johnny Depp.
“Orlando rocked up one day and I didn’t even recognise him,” recalls Julia.
“But there was a real buzz around school. Sam Corlett from Vikings also came in and was delightful. Seeing incredibly talented people coming through makes you feel like you’re in the right place for learning and building good foundations.”
Julia will head home this summer to film a TV series in Nelson, but it’ll be a bittersweet trip following the devastating news her partner James’ mum Jeanette had passed away suddenly. She’d been thrilled when her son had told her they’d gotten engaged during a hike in Auckland’s Waitākere Ranges.
Finding love with James
Julia shares, “I never really wanted to marry someone before, but I’m so intensely in love with James. He’s loving, compassionate and just wants everything to be fun. It’s easy with him.”
The pair even has plans for a “glorious” wedding in Copenhagen, Denmark. While Julia admits her career path has been unusual, she explains that it’s ultimately enriched her acting.
“Policing’s been so beneficial because I’ve encountered so many interesting characters and can empathise with their stories,” she reflects.
“If you can empathise with people, you can find that within yourself when playing characters.”
Embracing her true self
After the routine life of a cop, acting has unleashed her creative side and encouraged her to let her true self shine.
“Casting directors want to see the real you because they’re looking for unique and different,” smiles Julia.
“It’s incredibly reassuring knowing you’re already enough! There’s so much rejection, but it’s about accepting that when you’re right for the role, you’re right for the role. It’s been liberating embracing who I am. “For the first time, I’ve got quietness in my mind. I was always worried about the past, the future, money or situations I’d imagined. Now I’m just having a f**king great time! I’ve never felt so at peace.”
