SHORTLY STAR CHARISSE 'I WAS RAISED BY A VILLAGE'

The multi-talented actress reveals her unconventional family dynamic

- Donna Brookbanks

Gorgeous former Shortland Street star Charisse Uy radiates happiness as she poses for our camera with her mum and grandma by her side. Turning to her mother, she squeals, "Aww, you look so gorgeous, Mama!" Her mum Tina blushes, while Charisse's grandmother Ruth chuckles, "I've never had my makeup done before," then complains the Woman's Day team isn't eating enough of the snacks she's laid out.

Though this may seem like a simple whānau photoshoot featuring three generations, Charisse's family story isn't exactly straightforward. Legally speaking, her grandmother is her mum and her mother is her sister.

Born in the Philippines, the 27-year-old who played nurse Lovely Rivera on Shorty, and has also starred in Raised By Refugees, Cowboy Bebop, The Wilds, The Legend Of Monkey and The Shannara Chronicles - was mostly brought up by her grandparents Ruth and Ben, whom Charisse calls "Mommy and Daddy".

She recalls, "They used to bathe me in the river where they did the laundry. We're from a farm and that's why when I see country houses on shows like Bridgerton, I have an affinity with that, even though ours was nowhere near as big!" When it comes to how Charisse came to be adopted by her grandparents, her mother Tina picks up the story.