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Shortland Street

1992

The lives and loves of the residents of Ferndale.

Claire Chitham

Cast · Known for Shortland Street

Claire has been one of New Zealand’s most recognisable screen actors ever since her debut on long-running soap Shortland Street at the age of 16. For eight years she played loveable Waverly Wilson and became one of the show’s long-standing favourites, a role which she reprised for the 25th anniversary special in 2016. After leaving the show, Claire moved quickly to an award-winning turn in cop show Interrogation. She followed that with two seasons at New Zealand’s most outstanding and awarded drama series Outrageous Fortune, as gang-chick Aurora Bay. In 2016, Claire appeared as the lead in standout black comedy Fresh Eggs for TVNZ, alongside Danielle Cormack and John Rhys-Davies. More recently, Claire acted in rom-com Falling Inn Love - the first Netflix feature film to be shot in New Zealand.

Ma'aola Faasavala

Ma'aola Faasavala is known for Our Flag Means Death (2022), Duckrockers (2022) and Shortland Street (1992).

Frankie Adams

Cast · Known for Moana, The Expanse, The Wrecking Crew

Frankie Adams (born 3 January 1994) is a New Zealand actress and amateur boxer of Samoan heritage. She is 6 ft (1.8 m) tall. Adams' first role, aged 16, was that of Ula Levi in the soap opera Shortland Street. She has also had roles in the television series Wentworth and in the film 1000 Ropes. As a boxer, Adams has participated in a Fight For Life charity boxing event

Amanda Billing

Cast · Known for Shortland Street, A Minecraft Movie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Amanda Billing (born 12 April 1976 in New Zealand) is a New Zealand actress best known for her role as Doctor Sarah Potts on New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. Billing grew up in Masterton, and spent her university years in Christchurch. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with 1st Class Honours in Geography from the University of Canterbury, she trained at the Christchurch College of Education and became a high school teacher. Billing was involved in drama throughout her teaching years and has acted in a few amateur stage productions including Cloud Nine and The Country Wife. She has worked at several schools throughout Auckland teaching Geography, English and Social Studies, most recently at Rangitoto College.

KJ Apa

Cast · Known for Riverdale, Let's Have Kids!

Keneti James Fitzgerald Apa (born 17 June 1997) is a New Zealand actor, singer, and musician. He began acting playing Kane Jenkins in the New Zealand primetime soap opera Shortland Street from 2013 to 2015. Apa is best known for portraying Archie Andrews on The CW television series Riverdale (2017-2023), for which he won a Saturn Award for Best Breakthrough Performance.

Grace Palmer

Cast · Known for Animal Control

Grace Palmer is a New Zealand actress, best known for her role as Lucy Rickman on the prime-time soap opera Shortland Street, as Gwen on Good Grief (2021) alongside her real-life sister, Eve Palmer, and as animal control officer Victoria Sands on Animal Control (2023).

Jayden Daniels

Cast · Known for Evil Dead Rise

After graduating from drama school Toi Whakaari in 2014, Jayden Daniels hit the ground running with a recurring role on Shortland Street as Curtis Hannah. The character eventually became a fan favourite, as he journeyed from bad boy to cop. Following time on adventure series The New Legends of Monkey, Daniels co-starred in prime time drama Head High. Daniels played Mana Roberts, one of two brothers striving to make their mark in rugby at a low decile high school. Daniels won Best Supporting Actor at the 2020 NZ TV Awards for the role. Next came roles in horror film Evil Dead Rise, and Whina, a biopic of Dame Whina Cooper.

Danielle Cormack

Cast · Known for Xena: Warrior Princess

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Danielle Cormack (born 26 December 1970) is a stage  and screen actress from New Zealand.  She was one of the original core cast of the long-running soap opera Shortland Street, though she is most famous for her role as the Amazon Ephiny in the television series Xena: Warrior Princess, and more recently as Cynthia Ross in The Cult, and Shota in Legend of the Seeker. Her works include the 2009 film, Separation City, and the Australian series Rake. Description above from the Wikipedia article Danielle Cormack , licensed under CC-BY-SA,full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Katherine Kennard

English-born Katherine Kennard modelled in Asia, before moving to New Zealand to study acting at Unitec. Soon after she landed a role on Shortland Street in 1997 as the villainous Lucina Reeves. Kennard went on to four years co-starring as lawyer Joni Collins in Street Legal, earning her an NZ Television Award in 2003. Her other roles include a heroin addict in Underbelly, a vindictive ex-wife in Nothing Trivial, and a mystical guardian in The New Legends of Monkey. In 2021 she returned to Shortland Street, as Chris Warner’s flirtatious divorcee neighbour Viviene Ewell. Aside from her on-screen work, Kennard also works as a voice actor.

Jennifer Ward-Lealand

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jennifer Cecily Ward-Lealand CNZM (born 8 November 1962) is a New Zealand actor and director whose screen credits includes the in 1993 movie Desperate Remedies as well as appearances in The Footstep Man, the soap Shortland Street and Australian comedy series Full Frontal. Ward-Lealand was born in Wellington, New Zealand to Philippa "Pippa" Mary (née Ward) and Conrad Ainsley Lealand. She has an older sister, Diana Mary Ward-Pickering and a half brother Simcha Lindt. She is married to actor Michael Hurst of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys fame. They have two sons, born in 1997, and 1999. Her first ongoing television role was as Jan in Close to Home (1978–1980). After leaving school she spent a year touring New Zealand in a community theatre group, performing clown shows and Chekhov. In 1982 Ward-Lealand completed a year-long diploma in acting from Auckland's then influential Theatre Corporate. In between the theatre work that followed, Ward-Lealand appeared in short-lived TV drama Seekers, before her breakthrough television role in "Danny and Raewyn", an episode from the About Face series. Filmed largely in an Auckland flat so cramped the cameraman sometimes had to sit on the stove, this tale of working class relationship breakdown would win Ward-Lealand a GOFTA Best Actress Award. The same year Ward-Lealand made her big screen debut as nightclub singer Costello – and sang three songs – in Wellington crime thriller Dangerous Orphans. From 1989 to 1990 she appeared with Harry Sinclair and Don McGlashan in theatre/musical group The Front Lawn, winning a number of awards and accolades, and acting in Front Lawn film Linda's Body. In 1993 she appeared in the first series of TV skit comedy show, Full Frontal. As an actress, singer and director of theatre, Ward-Lealand has a number of credits and accolades, and acted in New Zealand plays The Bach, Via Satellite, and The Sex Fiend. In 2007, she toured her acclaimed Marlene Dietrich cabaret show, Falling in Love Again (also the name of her first solo CD) in New Zealand and Australia. She later toured with the same show in 2018. Jennifer Ward-Lealand is fluent in Te Reo Māori, the native language of New Zealand. Ward-Lealand, who herself is not Māori, started learning the language after not being able to respond to a traditional mihi or welcome speech. Ward-Lealand has also been an advocate for improving actors' working conditions and pay.

Madeleine Sami

Cast · Known for What We Do in the Shadows

Actor Madeleine Sami won international acclaim starring in two Toa Fraser plays: 1998's Bare and solo show No 2. Aged 18, she debuted on screen on Shortland Street and Pio. Following Insiders Guide to Happiness, she played Oscar Kightley's romantic interest in Sione's Wedding. Sami went on to win an NZ acting award for Super City, in which she created and played multiple characters. In 2018 comedy The Breaker Upperers hit cinemas; Sami co-wrote, co-directed and co-starred with Jackie van Beek.

Ben Barrington

Cast · Known for Shortland Street

Ben Barrington (born January 14, 1977, New Zealand) is a New Zealand actor best known for his decade-long portrayal of Dr. Drew McCaskill on Shortland Street and as the lovable Norse god Olaf Johnson in The Almighty Johnsons. Standing 6'4" (193 cm), he has built a versatile career spanning theatre, television, and international film productions over more than two decades. Early Life & Training Barrington grew up in Hamilton with no initial aspirations toward acting. The spark came at Waikato University when he impulsively auditioned for Caryl Churchill's Cloud Nine — landing the role transformed his trajectory. He applied to Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School without realizing how competitive it was, becoming one of 18 selected from 300 applicants. He graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Performing Arts and promptly won a Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for his Wellington stage work. Personal Life Barrington lives in Titirangi, Auckland, with his wife Kristie Fergus — a makeup artist he married in March 2019 in a bohemian-themed ceremony featuring a choreographed disco routine. Their daughter Harley was born in June 2016; Fergus's son Ollie from a previous relationship completes their blended family. He's been candid about early career struggles — going bald at 24 and being 6'4" with a "baby face" initially made him "uncastable." Time proved those distinctive features assets rather than obstacles. Career Highlights Barrington's TV breakthrough came with The Insider's Guide to Happiness (2004), earning two award nominations. He followed with Outrageous Fortune (2006–2007) as gang leader Tyson before spending three years in England. His international film credits include uncredited roles in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy — as a Gondorian Soldier and Ranger in The Two Towers (2002) and Return of the King (2003) — and as a Centaur in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), alongside James McAvoy. The Almighty Johnsons (2011–2013) brought him widespread recognition as Olaf Johnson. Ironically, the casting brief initially specified they didn't want "anyone who looks like Ben Barrington" — they sought normal-looking guys as Norse gods. Only after exhausting other options did creator James Griffin give him the chance. Since 2015, Barrington has starred as plastic surgeon Dr. Drew McCaskill on Shortland Street, New Zealand's longest-running soap — accumulating over 1,560 episodes through 2025. That same year, he competed on Dancing With the Stars NZ, describing it as "24/7 stress and fear." Other credits include Top of the Lake (2013), Offspring (2014), The Brokenwood Mysteries (2015), and My Life Is Murder (2021).

Martin Henderson

Cast · Known for The Ring, X

Martin Henderson (born October 8, 1974) is a New Zealand actor, well known to American audiences for his starring role in the ABC TV series Off the Map, while remaining known in his home country for his teenage role as Stuart Neilson in the soap opera Shortland Street.

Emma Lahana

Cast · Known for Haven

Emma Kate Lahana (born 27 June 1984) is an actress and singer. She became involved in the arts at a very young age doing ballet and broadened her dancing to jazz, tap and modern styles. She also learnt to play the violin but once in high school became involved in drama as well as singing. It was here that she auditioned for a long-running New Zealand TV soap, Shortland Street (1992) and was surprised to be given the part of "Erin Kingston" which she played for 2 seasons. She performed in many lead roles in musicals for ACMT. In 2002, she starred in the Disney movie You Wish! (2003) and, in 2003, landed a lead role in Power Rangers DinoThunder (2004) as Kira Ford/The Yellow Ranger. Emma is currently in the US recording music for her first CD.

Lesley-Ann Brandt

Cast · Known for Lucifer, The Librarians

Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Lesley-Ann Brandt has shot to stardom rapidly in New Zealand. She immigrated to Auckland with her parents and younger brother in 1999. Her unusual path to acting has seen her go from IT Recruitment Consultant to landing the lead role in the hit comedy series 'Diplomatic Immunity', starring alongside Craig Parker (of Spartacus, Lord of the Rings and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans), quickly moving her into the hearts of the nation. Lesley-Ann started her career as a model, booking prestigious national and international campaigns as well as big international TV commercials. She very soon drew the attention of Casting Directors who encouraged her to pursue acting. Whilst working full time, Brandt trained with various New Zealand and internationally based acting coaches. She has most recently appeared in guest roles on New Zealand's series 'Shortland Street', 'This Is Not My Life' and her current role as 'Naevia' in the Starz series 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand'. Lesley-Ann has just completed filming her first feature film 'Hopes and Dreams’. She is fluent in Afrikaans, and has in the past played competitive and social hockey. Brandt is currently based in Los Angeles.

Ken Blackburn

Kenneth Colster Blackburn MNZM (born 1935) is a New Zealand actor and writer. He has worked in film, television, radio and theatre in New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom since 1972. In an impressively wide-ranging career spanning more than 40 years Ken has worked in film, television, radio and theatre. Ken has appeared in many of New Zealand’s most iconic TV shows including Xena: Warrior Princess, Farscape, Close To Home, Gliding On and Shortland Street. His film credits include pioneering feature Skin Deep, The Frighteners, King Kong and Rest for the Wicked. Ken’s stage credits are also extensive. In 1999 his performance as Vladimir in Waiting for Godot earned him the Best Actor award at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards. In 2005 he was awarded the Queen's Birthday Honours List for Services to the Performing Arts. Ken most recently performed in Circa Theatre’s 2017 production of Three Days in the Country. As well as his successful career as an actor in New Zealand, the UK and Australia, Ken has also directed stage, film, television and radio productions. His autobiographical book Blitz Kids was published by the BBC in 1995.

Kimberley Crossman

Kimberley Crossman was born in Auckland, New Zealand. Crossman started dancing at the age of 3 and started auditioning while she was in high school. She quickly landed a series regular role on a New Zealand soap opera, Shortland Street. Kimberley Crossman now lives and works in Los Angeles focusing predominately on comedy and studies at The Groundlings.

Lisa Crittenden

Cast · Known for The Sullivans

Lisa Crittenden is an Australian television actress, known such as as The Restless Years (as Briony Thompson, 1981), The Sullivans (as Sally Meredith), Prisoner (as Maxine Daniels 1982–83), Sons and Daughters (as Leigh Palmer 1985–86), Rafferty's Rules (1988) and the New Zealand produced Shortland Street (as Carrie Burton 1992–93). Crittenden retired from acting and worked in Local State Government in 2003.

Campbell Cooley

Early life He attended the University of Louisville where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre. For several years he worked as a stage actor and director. Acting career In 1997, he moved into acting for film and television. In 1998 (during a four-month period), he played three different villainous roles on Xena: Warrior Princess. One of the roles gave him the distinction of being victim to Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) in the "infamous Drool scene", is named by Xena fans, from the episode, In Sickness and In Hell. In 2005 he appeared in New Zealand's medical soap opera Shortland Street as nurse 'Liam Todd', caregiver to Dr. Chris Warner's twin sister, Amanda Warner (Marissa Stott). In 2007 he got his first major role in the Power Rangers franchise, the new voice of Alpha 6 in the Operation Overdrive episode “Once a Ranger”. He would go on to villainous voice Admiral Malkor in Power Rangers Megaforce, Snide in Power Rangers Dino Super Charge, Galaxy Warriors host Cosmo Royale and Ripcon in Power Rangers Ninja Steel and Super Ninja Steel and Scrozzle in Power Rangers Beast Morphers.

Amy Morrison

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Amy Morrison (born 18 July 1984) is a New Zealand-born film and television actress best known for her role as Zandra in Cloud 9's The Tribe. She also had a brief but memorable role the historical fantasy series Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys as the younger version of Hope, the daughter of Gabrielle. Morrison has also played small roles in feature films Jack Be Nimble and Every Woman's Dream as well as appearances on Jack of All Trades, Shortland Street and William Shatner's A Twist in the Tale among other work in television and film.

Paul Gittins

Paul is an award-winning actor and director with a career that spans well over 30 years. Having been on screens since the early 1980s, Paul has amassed an enormous list of television and film credits too long to list in its entirety. He is often recognized for his role as 'Dr. Michael Mckenna' - one of the original core cast members on New Zealand’s longest-running soap "Shortland Street." He has appeared in lead roles in New Zealand television movies "Strongman" and "Safehouse", along with supporting and guest roles in the films "Other Halves", "Beyond the Known World", "Cave In", "Maiden Voyage" and "After the Waterfall." Other recent television credits include drama series "Harry", web series "Flat 3" and "Jonah: The Untold Story."

Margaret Umbers

Margaret Umbers is a New Zealander actress. After being kidnapped by Bruno Lawrence in Smash Palace (1981) and battling mutants in Death Warmed Up (1984), Margaret (aka Makareta) Umbers was one of the bandmembers on TV’s Heroes (1984-1986). An actor since age eight, she later acted and sang in Australia, before her character faked medical qualifications and tried to kill Chris Warner on Shortland Street (1992). These days Umbers sings in bands, and manages a Northland music studio.

Stephanie Tauevihi

Cast · Known for Shortland Street

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Stephanie Tauevihi is a New Zealand songwriter, singer and actress, known for her work as the fictional character, Donna Heka, in the New Zealand television series Shortland Street. She also played a Real estate Agent in one episode of short-lived NZ program Rude Awakenings. She has provided songs and vocals for New Zealand band Strawpeople Tauevihi began her career on radio station Mai FM, and entered television as a presenter for the youth television show Infocus. She has sung with and provided vocals for band Strawpeople, for which work she received a 1995 nomination for 'Best Female Vocalist' at the New Zealand Music Awards. As a health promoter for 'Waiora Healthcare PHO' in West Auckland, she is active in efforts to address addiction to drugs and alcohol in New Zealand, and supports the organization 'Be Free'. When Cyclone Heta caused widespread damage in New Zealand in 2004, she used her high profile position to persuade companies to provide relief. She also actively supports 'Youth Pride' in its efforts to get at-risk children off the streets of South Auckland.