Versuchen GOLD - Frei

Jackie's family adventure 'IT MADE ME BEYOND HAPPY'

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

|

August 25, 2025

The task was to have a holiday they could all cherish. The results? Read on!

- Rebekah Hebenton

Jackie's family adventure 'IT MADE ME BEYOND HAPPY'

For Jackie van Beek, success isn't measured in red carpets or TV ratings - it's found in the joyful, chaotic moments of creativity shared with her children.

Whether they're being bribed into reading her scripts or starring alongside her in Educators, the writer, actor and director says her teens are her greatest collaborators.

"I offer them money to read scripts, either ones I've written or when I'm deciding whether to take a job or not," says the 49-year-old. "They sit with me, advising me about what I should and shouldn't be doing, which I thoroughly enjoy. And it's a great way for them to earn pocket money.

"I feel so touched that I have children who don't feel humiliated by the ridiculous things that their mum and dad decide to take on."

It's not just behind the camera that Jackie's kids, June, 18, Emmett, 16, and Cassie, 13 - whom she shares with her husband and fellow creative Jesse Griffin, 51 – have the knack.

The Breaker Upperers star proudly shares that all of her children are fine performers in their own right, even though none seem particularly interested in pursuing it as a career.

Earlier this year, all three starred in the fourth season of the fully improvised series

WEITERE GESCHICHTEN VON New Zealand Woman's Weekly

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Nourish the family CHELSEA'S COOK-UP

The MasterChef NZ winner is back with fresh delights

time to read

7 mins

October 13, 2025

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Sustainable Kate 'I'VE TOILET TRAINED MY BABY!'

The social media mum is saving the planet from disposable nappies and more

time to read

6 mins

October 13, 2025

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

The art of CLEANING

Michèle finds calm among the chaos of a burst pipe by doing a spot of tidying

time to read

2 mins

October 13, 2025

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Menopause MYTH BUSTERS

It's one of the most significant phases in a woman's life, but as these six misconceptions show, it's often surrounded by confusion

time to read

3 mins

October 13, 2025

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Dr Timoti's turnaround GANG MEMBER TO MEDICINE MAN

In his fifties and after time in prison, he decided to turn his pain into positivity

time to read

3 mins

October 13, 2025

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

DIVORCE SHOCK

A heartbroken Nicole calls it quits

time to read

3 mins

October 13, 2025

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Power behind the ruler

Rome is a dangerous place for a woman with ambition

time to read

2 mins

October 13, 2025

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Bouquet brilliance! ARRANGE YOUR SPRING BLOOMS

Local green thumb Olivia McCord shows how to turn your beautiful backyard bounty into a floral masterpiece

time to read

4 mins

October 13, 2025

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Good on ya, BRONZE FERNS!

The team was try-umphant in Twickenham

time to read

1 min

October 13, 2025

New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Kindness of STRANGERS

Kerre got out of a tight spot after the rugby thanks to some fine young men

time to read

2 mins

October 13, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size