Talking Over! Jennifer & Theresa's Film First

The Two Reveal All About Their New Female-Driven Tale

- Amy Prebble

When New Zealand acting royalty Jennifer Ward-Lealand spots her Vermilion co-star Theresa Healey perched in the make-up chair during the Weekly’s photoshoot, she can barely contain her delight.

The pair squeeze each other tight and talk a mile a minute – congratulating one another on new work, enquiring about friends’ health and comparing notes on their kids.

The actresses have known each other for years, since training together in the early 1980s, and are excited about starring in the upcoming local film, which was written and directed by Danish-born Kiwi Dorthe Scheffmann.

“Vermilion has been the last ten years for Dorthe,” says Theresa. “We’ve watched the script go through so many different changes. It was just wonderful seeing her have the chance to actually make it.”

Not only does the film have a female director, around 95% of the crew were women. “This film will single-handedly change the statistics for women working in the industry, which are at about 12%,” says Jennifer (55), who is also the president of Equity New Zealand, a union representing Kiwi performers.