Jennifer Ludlam

Actor

Jennifer Ludlam is a legend in the New Zealand industry, her career spanning more than fifty years across theatre, television and film. She is well known to local audiences due to her long association with Shortland Street where she played Leanne Miller for more than a decade - but her presence in the industry extends far beyond this.

A long time favourite of directors and critics alike, Jennifer has been a regular presence on stage over the years, working with all of New Zealand’s professional theatre companies. She brings depth, emotional clarity and accessibility to both classic and contemporary texts, and has been recognised with awards for her work in theatre and on screen throughout her career.

Early on, she appeared in a number of well known Australian television dramas, including Prisoner and Sons and Daughters. Her later screen credits range from the international cult hit series Hercules to children’s series Amazing Extraordinary Friends and the feature film Apron Strings, for which she won Best Actress at the New Zealand Screen Awards.

Alongside her own performance career, Jennifer has played an important role in supporting and strengthening the local performance community. In 2005, her contribution to theatre, film and television was recognised when she was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

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Hair Colour
Blonde / Grey
Location
Auckland | Tāmaki Makaurau
Age Range
70 - 80

Ethnicity
New Zealand European
Height
168cm
Eye Colour
Hazel

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Full CV

• Credits

  Feature Film
  2008 - Apron Strings - Lorna (lead) - Director - Sima Urale - Maxim Films

  Television
  2014 - 2020 - Shortland Street - Leanne Miller (core cast) - South Pacific Pictures
  2012 - The Blue Rose - Sonya (core cast) - South Pacific Pictures
  2012 - Golden - Bev (core cast) - Director - Katie Wolfe - South Pacific Pictures
  2011 - What Really Happened: Women's Vote (tele-feature) - Emma Packe - Director - Peter Burger - Eyeworks
  2010 - Shortland Street - Leanne Miller (recurring) - South Pacific Pictures
  2008 - Amazing Extraordinary Friends: season 3 -Cyclone - Greenstone Pictures
  1999 - Twist in the Tale - Guest - Cloud 9
  1995 - 1997 - Coverstory: season, I - III - Liz Whiteman (core cast) - Gibson Group
  1995 - Hercules - Alcmene - Pacific Renaissance Pictures
  1993 - Undercover - Sandy (lead) - Gibson Group
  1993 - Typhon's People - Annie - Gibson Group
  1992 - Undercover (tele-feature) - Lead - Director - Yvonne McKay - Gibson Group
  1986 - Cuckoo Land - Petunia - TVNZ
  1986 - Sons & Daughters - Micky Pratt - Grundy Television
  1986 - Prime Time - Featured - Crawford Productions
  1985 - Prisoner - Janice Grant - Grundy Television
  1983 - Waterloo Station - Ann Logan - Grundy Television
  1982 - A Country Practice - Mary Watson - JNP Productions
  1981 - Bellamy - Mary Stokes - Grundy Television
  
  THEATRE
  2025 - Murder on the Orient Express - Princess Dragomiroff - Director - Shane Bosher - Auckland Theatre Company
  2024 - Murder on the Orient Express - Princess Dragomiroff - Director - Shane Bosher - Auckland Theatre Company
  2024 - Mother Play - Mother (lead) - Director - Sophie Roberts - Silo Theatre
  2024 - Peter Pan - Captain Hook - Director - Carl Bland - Auckland Theatre Company & Nightsong
  2024 - Mr Red Light (AU Tour) - Performer (lead) - Director - Ben Crowder & Carl Bland - Nightsong
  2023 - Mr Red Light - Performer (lead) - Director - Ben Crowder & Carl Bland - Nightsong
  2022 - I Want to be Happy - Lead - Director - Ben Crowder & Carl Bland - Nightsong
  2020 - Call it a Night - Performer - Director - Ben Crowder & Carl Bland - Nightsong
  2018 - Filthy Business - Yetta Solomon (lead) - Director - Colin McColl - Auckland Theatre Company
  2016 - Boys will be Boys - Arthur/Various - Director - Sophie Roberts - Silo Theatre
  2011 - Calendar Girls - Chris - Director - Colin McColl - Auckland Theatre Company
  2011 - August: Osage County - Violet - Director - Susan Wilson - Circa Theatre
  2010 - August: Osage County - Violet (lead) - Director - Colin McColl - Auckland Theatre Company
  2010 - When the Rain Stops Falling - Elizabeth Law (the older) - Director - Shane Bosher - Silo Theatre
  2009 - Four Flat Whites in Italy - Judy - Circa Theatre
  2008 - Three Sisters - Doctor - Director - Daniel Mainwaring - Peripeteia Players
  2007 - Who Needs Sleep Anyway - Various - Director - Susan Wilson - Downstage Theatre
  2007 - Othello - Emilia - Director - Jonathan Hendry - Downstage Theatre
  2006 - 2007 - Dracula - Briggs - Director - Catherine Downes - Downstage Theatre
  2006 - The Goat - Sylvia - Director - Catherine Downes - Downstage Theatre
  2006 - Death of Salesman - Linda Loman - Director - Susan Wilson - Circa Theatre
  2005 - The Goat - Sylvia - Director - Catherine Downes -Court Theatre
  2005 - Taking Off - Nolene - Director - John Callen - Auckland Theatre Company
  2005 - Taking Off - Nolene - Director - Susan Wilson - Circa Theatre
  2004 - Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf - Martha - Director - Colin McColl - Auckland Theatre Company
  2003 - Potiki's Memory of Stone - Lead - Director - Catherine Downes - Court Theatre / Downstage Theatre
  2002 - Vagina Monologues - Lead - Director - Sandra Rasmussen - Court Theatre
  2001 - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf - Martha - Director - Catherine Downes - Court Theatre
  2001 - Othello - Emilia - Director - Catherine Downes - Court Theatre
  2001 - Take a Chance on Me - Narrator - Director - Janice Finn - Auckland Theatre Company
  2000 - Happy Days - Winnie - Director - Katherine McRae - Circa Theatre
  1998-2000 - Vita & Virginia - Vita - Director - Catherine Downes - Circa Theatre/National Tour
  1999 - The God Boy - Mother - Downstage Theatre, Dir: Catherine Downes
  1998 - Heratic - Margaret Mead - Director - Ross Jolly - International Arts Festival
  1998 - Eugenia - Lead - Director - Catherine Downes - Manchester UK
  1997 - Social Climbers - Maxine - Director - Ross Jolly - Circa Theatre
  1997 - Social Climbers - Maxine - Director - Catherine Downes - Auckland Theatre Company
  1997 - The Sunday Roast - Various - Melbourne International Comedy Festival

• Awards

  2011 - Actress of the Year - Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards
  2010 - Winner Best Performance of the Year - 'August: Osage County - NZ Herald Best of Theatre Awards
  2010 - Best of Theatre 2010 for 'August: Osage County’ - NZ Herald Best of Theatre Awards
  2010 - Winner Outrageous Award for Best Performance - 'August: Osage County' - Hackman Theatre Awards
  2009 - Winner Best Actress - 'Apron Strings' - NZ Screen Awards
  2007 - Winner Outstanding Performance - 'Othello' - Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards
  2006 - Winner Outstanding Performance in 'Death of a Salesman' - Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards
  2002 - Winner Best Actress - 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Wollf' - Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards
  1998 - Winner Outstanding Performance - 'Vita & Virginia' - Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards
  1996 - Winner Best Dramatic Performance - NZ Film & Television Awards
  1992 - Winner Best Actress in 'Lysistrata & Daughters of Heaven' - Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards

• Skills

  Accents - Standard American, Australian, British