Actor Jennifer Ludlam, 73, has been a star of stage and screen for more than 50 years, ever since she left her hometown of Taumarunui aged just 17 to join a touring children’s theatre company.
Since then, she has appeared in everything from Sons and Daughters to Prisoner, as well as being a presenter on Playschool in Australia, although she is arguably most famous for playing Leanne Miller on Shortland Street.
Jennifer recently faced a difficult choice: Should she go on holiday or play Captain Hook in the Auckland Theatre Company’s production of Peter Pan? Fortunately for fans, she chose the dream role over the vacation.
“I was just about to go back to Bali with my partner Cath [Downes], as we do love it there. But then, I got the call about this version of Peter Pan that’s been written and directed by Carl Bland and Ben Crowder from Nightsong [Theatre Company]. I just love working with those two. With Ben’s humour and Carl’s heart, their Peter Pan will be moving, magical and very funny.”
This will be Jennifer’s fourth show with Nightsong. Her most recent role was a lovelorn guinea pig in I’ll Make You Happy, a romance set in a laboratory.
“Their productions are always so quirky and meaningful. Carl is such a wonderful writer. His work so poetic and full of feeling. Meanwhile, Ben loves to surprise his audiences with puppets and magic.”
Jennifer is enjoying being able to pick and choose the roles she plays now that she’s properly finished on Shorty.
“I thought I’d left for good last year. Then, producers called earlier this year and asked if I’d return for eight weeks. They wanted to kill Leanne off.”
What followed was a storyline where doctors diagnosed Leanne with bowel cancer, then she explored the complexities of assisted dying. “It was a privilege to farewell Leanne properly,” she says.
Originally cast in 2010 as the mother of Nicole, played by Sally Martin, it was only meant to be a short run.
“But it evolved into the monster they called Leanne. The woman who started out as a raving homophobe then finally left 14 years later as a lesbian!” Jennifer laughs at the memory of her colourful character. She brought so much to Ferndale and her journey ended on an incredibly poignant note.
Now that she has played her final scene on the beloved soap, Jennifer admits that she misses the other actors. “They kept me young,” she says. However, at 73, she’s relishing the chance to slow down and enjoy a more relaxed home life. She’s excited to spend more time with Cath, her partner of 42 years, an acclaimed actor, writer and director in her own right.
“We live on Waiheke Island, and sometimes it was a slog, going back and forth. We’re looking forward to having more free time together and being able to travel,” she shares. “It’s wonderful not to have a strict schedule. No more having to run for the ferry, or having the burden of learning all those lines. They did become challenging as I got older.”
Jennifer also wants to be available for more roles like Captain Hook. The villain lost his hand in a sword fight with Peter Pan and now wants to exact his revenge.
“Theatre is my original love. I want to do more of that, and this production of Peter Pan will be so special.”
Although when the Weekly caught up with Jennifer two weeks into rehearsal, she did wonder if she had been foolish to say yes to such a physical role.
“I will be doing some sword fighting, but hopefully Peter Pan can just dance around me. I definitely don’t want to fall off the stage,” Jennifer jokes.
“There are also lots of magic tricks and some people will be flying, but I’m glad I’m not one of them as I’d probably smash into a wall. I do wonder if I’m the only woman in her seventies to be cast as Captain Hook, but I do like a challenge because actors really can do anything. And if I can play a guinea pig in a full fur suit, I can certainly play Captain Hook!”
Auckland Theatre Company’s Peter Pan will run from Tuesday, October 8 to Sunday, November 3 at the ASB Waterfront Theatre. For tickets, visit atc.co.nz
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