Ria Vandervis Explained

Ria Vandervis
Birth Date:5 July 1984
Birth Place:Dunedin, New Zealand
Occupation:Actress
Marriage celebrant
Yearsactive:2004–present
Spouse:Chris Ashton (m. 2012)
Website:riavandervis.com

Ria Vandervis (born 5 July 1984) is a New Zealand actress. She is most known for her role as Harper Whitley in Shortland Street and Miratrix in Power Rangers Operation Overdrive.

Career

From 2002 to 2006, Vandervis acted in multiple UNITEC theatre productions and short films.[1] Between 2004 and 2006 Vandervis starred in various short films such as the Lovely Creature, A Telling Time, Tough Fortune Cookies and Billy for Lilly as Siren, Julia, Fran and Sarah respectively. In 2007, Vandervis played a supporting role as Cindy Cockburn in the film The Devil Dared Me To. Vandervis also played Miratrix in the TV series Power Rangers Operation Overdrive. In 2009 Vandervis played various television roles, starting in Packed to the Rafters as Layla Soubrani, The Cut, Underbelly and .[2] In 2010, Vandervis played the regular role of Senior Constable Roxanne Perez in the Nine Network police drama Cops L.A.C.[3] In 2013, Vandervis played Detective Christie Mills in the TV3 police drama Harry.

Later in 2013 Vandervis was cast as Harper Whitley in TV2 New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.[4] Vandervis was originally hired under a 6-month recurring contract that was later extended to a regular role.[5] Vandervis originally commuted between Dunedin and Auckland for filming. A fan of the soap named her daughter 'Harper Ria' in honour of Vandervis and her character. Vandervis also has stated that she gets stopped for autographs and photos.[6]

Personal life

Vandervis was born in Dunedin in the South Island of New Zealand in 1984. She attended Columba College in the Dunedin suburb of Roslyn, followed by Auckland's UNITEC School of Performing & Screen Arts, where she completed a three-year course in acting.[7] Vandervis later moved to Sydney, Australia to pursue more acting roles. She is married to Chris Ashton as of 2012. When cast in the regular role of Harper Whitley, Vandervis struggled with the extension of her contract due to personal relationship issues and considered quitting the show. She also works as a marriage celebrant and helps out in her husband's clothing business.

Filmography

Film and television
YearTitleRoleNotes
2004Lovely CreatureSirenShort film
2004JuliaShort film
2005Tough Fortune CookiesFranShort film
2006Billy for Lilly Sarah Short film
2007Cindy CockburnFeature film
2007Power Rangers Operation OverdriveMiratrixMain role
2009Kay ReynoldsEpisodes: "Stranded", "A Nice Little Earner", "Diamonds", "Judas Kiss"
2009Vanessa StewartTV miniseries
2009JasmineEpisode: "Thrillseekers"
2009Packed to the RaftersLayla SoubraniRecurring role (series 2)
2010Cops L.A.C.Roxanne PerezMain role
2013HarryDet. Christie MillsTV series
2013–presentShortland StreetHarper WhitleyRegular role

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.johnsonlaird.com/bios/print_bio.aspx?clientid=520&clientname=Ria+Vandervis&division=actor&dom=johnsonlaird Ria Vandervis
  2. Web site: Ria Vandervis NZ On Screen. www.nzonscreen.com. en. NZ On Screen. 2018-04-24.
  3. Web site: COPS L.A.C cast complete . TV Tonight.com.au . 7 August 2010.
  4. Web site: Get to know Ria Vandervis. May 2013. tvnz.co.nz. Television New Zealand. https://web.archive.org/web/20131108124118/http://tvnz.co.nz/shortland-street/get-know-ria-vandervis-5418610. 8 November 2013. dead.
  5. 10 November 2013. Ria's Shorty Shock: I Nearly Gave It All Up For Love. Woman's Day. New Zealand Magazines.
  6. Web site: Ria Vandervis – Class of 2001. 9 August 2014. Otago Daily Times. Allied Press Limited.
  7. News: Baptism of fire. Benson. Nigel. 18 June 2013. Otago Daily Times. 30 September 2013.