After filming her final scene as villainous nurse Carla Crozier on Shortland Street in 1996, actress Elisabeth Easther shaved off her character’s signature “orange helmet” of hair, got a job in radio and moved by herself into a small shack in Northland’s remote Taupo Bay.
“It was so cathartic getting rid of Carla,” enthuses the Hamilton-born star, now also a journalist, documentary maker and award-winning playwright.
“I had one of the show’s make-up artists give me a number two and when I was walking home from having my mop chopped, it rained on my actual scalp. I felt liberated and just super-excited for the future. Within months, I’d completely left Carla behind.”
But fans of the TVNZ 2 soap couldn’t move on from the memorable murderer. Even today, 25 years since she began her 18-month stint on Shorty, Elisabeth is regularly stopped by people who recognise her as the woman who beat her husband Bernie Leach to death with a candlestick during an earthquake.
“Everyone else has found her harder to let go,” she tells Woman’s Day with a wry smile. “It’s half my lifetime ago, but it’ll be on my headstone, I’m sure. It was probably the most defining thing I’ve ever done in my life and yet it’s not the most important thing to me by a long shot.
“Even when my dad died, the headline of his obituary was ‘Shortland Street actor’s father dies’. I’m glad he wasn’t alive to see it. It’s funny how something can be a modest blip of time, but that’s it forever.”
Esta historia es de la edición November 16, 2020 de Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición November 16, 2020 de Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
JUDGE JAY-JAY
More FM radio diva Jay-Jay Feeney delivers her verdict on your biggest dilemmas
JON'S JOURNEY - BEING MAORI & DEAF MADE ME A TARGET
The Auckland sign language tutor has overcome enormous challenges
'WE WENT ON THE RUN FROM RUSSIA!'
Now safe in New Zealand, Nick and his family hid in the outback for three years
DEFYING THE ODDS MADDIS ON'S MILESTONE BIRTHDAY
One of the tiniest babies born in New Zealand is about to turn 10!
Farmer And rew & Jess' big day WE'RE STILL ON CLOUD 9!
The reality stars say 'I do' in a perfect country ceremony
Gordon Ramsays 'THIS IS THE REAL ME'
The fiery celebrity chef has cooked up a sizzling new reality show
KIWI STAR LOREN - 'I OWE MY LIFE TO MY SISTER'
The actress reveals why she seemingly disappeared after her starring role in Eagle Vs Shark
Lee & Luke's - RECIPE FOR LOVE
The Cantabrian contestants reveal the secrets of their incredibly strong mother-son bond
JEN GARNER FINALLY TELLS - MY SIDE OF THE STORY!
The actress breaks her silence at last on her relationship with ex-husband Ben Affleck
JESS BREAKOUT ROLE - 'KIWIS DON'T REALLY CARE IF YOU'RE FAMOUS'
The Palmerston North actress is in demand after her part in Netflix hit 3 Body Problem