Photography: Netflix.
It’s been two decades since Martin Henderson left his role as Shortland Street hottie Stuart Neilson and if you’d asked him then, the Kiwi actor would never have imagined pursuing TV further – let alone playing the leading hunk of a global smash like Virgin River in his fifties.
Yet heartthrob status has followed the Aucklander through every project and at 51, he has laid to rest many of the insecurities that come with chasing Hollywood dreams. The LA-based star previously shared how he checked the mirror for new wrinkles ahead of his 40th birthday. So what happened when he reached 50?
“You just stop looking,” Martin laughs during his exclusive chat with Woman’s Day.
“You go, ‘Nah, I’m not even going to confirm that. There’s no point!’ But with 30, 40 and 50, it’s the same feeling every time – shock! There’s weird denial about it.”
Finding peace with age
But life is only improving for Martin, who says, “I get mellower, I don’t get fazed by the same things and I don’t get FOMO so much. And I know myself , the good and bad, and can make peace with that. I can see this article now: ‘Getting old with Martin Henderson!’”
Ageing in Hollywood is something many would welcome Martin’s guidance on, given he’s enjoying the type of success Kiwis dream of when they relocate to California. Martin was 25, with shows such as Shorty and Home And Away under his belt, when he took on Hollywood with his late Aussie mate Heath Ledger. He went on to star in movies like Everest and Miracles From Heaven, plus TV shows including Off The Map, The Red Road and Grey’s Anatomy. However, he was initially hellbent on sticking to film.
Learning to love TV again
He explains, “I’d grown up doing TV in New Zealand and Australia, so I was like, ‘I don’t want to do that any more. It’s too hard and quick. You don’t get enough time or takes to do good work.’ “For years, I refused to audition for TV. But TV’s very different today to what it was and as I’ve got older, I’m happy settling into something consistent. I loved being on Grey’s because it was in LA. Although Virgin River’s in Vancouver, it’s not that far, it’s beautiful and there’s consistency, whereas with films, you’re flying to different places with new people every time and that gets really old for me.”
Coming home to Aotearoa
Of course, there’s one place he’ll never tire of travelling to for work – Aotearoa. Martin has ramped up his Kiwi projects in recent years, with shows such as My Life Is Murder and Madam. Coming home to work with decades-old friends, like Danielle Cormack, helps him stay “connected to my roots”.
He’s eager to return soon, sadly noting last summer was the first in around 27 years that he didn’t make it home for fish ’n’ chips on the beach, sailing, spearfishing and hanging with his nephews.
“They’ve come out on the boat before, but they’re all so busy now,” he says about his sister Jane’s three boys.
“They’re getting older and now they have girlfriends!”
Love life vs. on-screen drama
Speaking of girlfriends, how does Martin’s love life compare to Virgin River character Jack Sheridan’s turbulent romance?
“It’s a lot less dramatic!” says Martin, who was last reported to be dating architect Penny Hay.
“I’m lucky my love life tends to be stable. The older I’ve got, I’m not attracted to drama.”
Jack and Mel’s turbulent journey
Of course, on Virgin River, drama is a huge part of Jack and wife Mel Monroe’s journey. After a long, difficult road to parenthood, they welcomed a son via surrogacy in season seven, but the newborn’s health hangs in the balance.
Through the couple’s heart- wrenching surrogacy journey, Martin admired how the show didn’t just focus on Mel and Jack’s experience, but also captured the heartache of their surrogate Marley.
“Fertility’s not always something you can count on and that journey can be so heartbreaking,” he says.
“For now, it seems to have worked out for Mel and Jack, but who knows? You’ll have to wait for season eight!”
Grateful for Virgin River’s success
Speaking to us just before returning to Vancouver, Martin still pinches himself with each new series, admitting he never predicted the show would have enormous appeal.
“I’m so grateful. To have this as the past eight years of my life has been a huge blessing. It’s fun helping create something that makes people happy.”
The one thing that could make Virgin River even better? Filming in Aotearoa! “I tried to get the whole show shot in New Zealand in season three,” reveals Martin, who also stars in upcoming shark flick Alphas. “I was like, ‘Hey, New Zealand’s more beautiful.’ I tried!”
keeping it Kiwi in Canada
Instead, he’ll have to settle for bringing Kiwi actors to Canada, with former Street Legal star Daniel Gillies having played Mel’s late ex-husband Mark.
So which Kiwi would he choose to join him next?
“Joel Tobeck,” he enthuses.
“I just love him. He’s one of the funniest men I’ve ever met!”
Virgin River is now streaming on Netflix.
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