Lara's a class act 'I'LL KEEP GOING FULL STEAM!'

Despite the standing ovations, the theatre star lives with survivor’s guilt

- Elisabeth Easther

Lara Macgregor, 56, is an actor, director and photographer based in Dunedin. With a CV that includes roles in hit Netflix series One Of Us Is Lying, The Brokenwood Mysteries and Shortland Street, Lara has also been associate director at The Court Theatre in Christchurch and Artistic Director of Dunedin's Fortune Theatre. She is currently directing Bruce Mason's End of the Golden Weather, the opening production at the brand-new Court Theatre in Christchurch.

My parents met while working in the art department at an advertising agency in Wellington. When I was seven, the agency opened a branch in Palmerston North, so we moved there. At first, it felt like a cultural wasteland, but I started doing drama classes and made some amazing friends. From the age of 12, a doggedness kicked in and acting was all I wanted to do. Throughout my teens, I'd lie in bed and dream of stardom - wishing myself away to drama school - and I've never really strayed from that path.

The first time I auditioned for drama school, I was still at high school, even though you were meant to have at least a year of life experience. But at 17, I prepared my two monologues - including something from Dr Seuss, so it's no wonder I didn't get in! - and I was devastated to be rejected. I cried for three days and my poor dad had to console me. I applied two more times and still didn't get in, so I etched my own path.

My parents are both talented artists. My mother Vivienne Lingard has just written her third novel - but even though they nourished my creativity and encouraged me to do the thing I loved, Dad would've preferred I do something more secure. I did briefly consider joining the police and Dad jumped on that, but at the first interview in the recruitment guy's office, where I heard all about it, I promptly talked myself out of it.