The Power Of Plants Suzy's Titanic Dream

The actress loves her bit of Kiwi paradise.

- Nicky Pellegrino

She has been a top international model and a Hollywood star, is married to a movie mogul and is a mother-of-five. But at 56, Suzy Amis Cameron feels like she has found her true purpose in life.

“My personal mission statement is to make the world a better place for all our children,” she explains.

Suzy has appeared in hit movies like Titanic, where she played Lizzy Calvert, the granddaughter of Rose, and The Usual Suspects. She and her husband, Avatar director James Cameron, now own a 5000-hectare farm in the South Wairarapa, where they grow organic fruit, nuts and vegetables. Nearby in Greytown, they run a café and grocery store, Forest Food Organics, selling produce from their land.

Both have been devotees of plant-based eating ever since they watched documentary Forks Over Knives six years ago. It told of the impact, on the wellness of our bodies and the planet, of diets high in meat and other animal products.

“I was blindsided by the whole thing,” recalls Suzy. “And I was angry. I felt like I’d been lied to my whole life.”

James was just as strongly affected. Within 24 hours, they had cleared every bit of meat and dairy out of the kitchen of their Malibu home, including the organic goat cheese from their own herd. They closed down the dairying operations on their farm, even though everyone told them they were mad, and went instantly 100% plant-based.

“That’s kind of how we roll,” admits Suzy with a laugh. “We have a motto we joke about – ‘Go big or go home.’ We don’t go halfway on anything.”