On-Screen Me

After decades of popping up on screens and airwaves around the country, I took a breather from acting in 2016. Life happens and new adventures and passions took over.

Like many Kiwi kids, my forte into acting began at school age. My mother was a stage actor so watching her in numerous shows naturally led to me auditioning for young roles at the local community theatre, musicals mainly. I was young, it was fun, but still a bit daunting with ‘all those people’ in the audience watching. I didn’t even consider for a moment that television was an option.

My on-screen acting all started in my early 20s. I was working in the film industry as a production manager and it had been suggested I should also try being on the other side of the camera. So, bravely I auditioned and scored a part in a McDonald’s TVC. It was for ‘value combo’ which I believe was the first time combos were introduced in New Zealand. Dressed up as one of the Andrew’s Sisters (well, a nod and a wink to one, anyway) it involved dancing and prancing to a big band in quite a spectacular set.

With regards to TV commercials, there have been plenty. In no particular order, I’ve been a dancing policewoman (BP), an Andy Walhol-esk Marilyn Monroe painting that came to life in an art gallery (Pineapple Lumps), and an ongoing presenter (GIB Living Solutions) for a number of years. I’ve been the KFC ‘mum’, a vivacious aunty in a Finn Brother’s music video, and an unbemused farmer’s wife (Mitsubishi Triton).

In my 30’s I trained in the Meisner technique with Michael Saccente and launched into more character roles in film and television, while juggling motherhood and voice-over work. This continued through to my mid 40’s when I decided to move ‘down country’ to the Waikato and throw myself into rural living and other creative pursuits.

Forgive me that I don’t have a full list of acting credits at hand. These are the ones I can recall (and appear under my former name Julie Crean):

Television

Television Movie