Ria's life after Shorty 'I'M FINDING MYSELF AGAIN'

She was killed off on the soap, but the star is revelling in her newfound freedom as a full-time mum to Ted

- Sophie Neville

Walking away from the job she loved wasn't an easy decision for Shortland Street star Ria Vandervis, but after reaching what she describes as “total burnout,” the 40-year-old knew it was time for a bold new beginning. And after 12 years of giving her all on the iconic Kiwi soap, Ria is embracing this next chapter, which is all about slowing down and being present for her miracle son Teddy.

“Shortland Street was such a huge part of my life, so it was a really scary decision to leave,” says Ria, who played much-loved Harper Whitely on the show. “But I had to be brave because I’d reached the point where my body was saying ‘no more’. I couldn’t keep going as I was. And now, I’m just loving having a bit of me-time and finding myself again. It feels right.”

All is quiet when Ria welcomes the Weekly into her stunning Waiheke Island home on a beautiful summer’s morning in January. Three-year-old Ted is at daycare, Ria’s husband Chris Ashton, 39, is at work in the city and she’s enjoying a peaceful morning on her own. The specialness of this isn’t lost on the actor, whose life until very recently was anything but restful. While she loved her work on Shorty, juggling 12-hour days on set with motherhood was no easy task. Ria hoped she’d be able to “do it all,” but over time, she realised this hectic existence wasn’t what she wanted as a mum – especially given how hard she and Chris had fought to become parents.

The couple experienced six years of heartbreaking fertility struggles before Ted was made possible by Ria’s younger sister Lottie, who donated her eggs.