DAVID WHITE
Actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand is paying the ultimate tribute to her grandfather, Denzil Ward.
Keeping it in the family. New Zealand actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand was teary eyed when she discovered she was receiving the same New Year Honour that was also given to her late-grandfather, lawyer Denzil Ward.
"I was very close to my grandfather. There's a lovely history of service within our family. He'll be very proud of me and that brought tears to my eyes."
The Auckland performer will receive a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honours for her service to theatre, film and television. Her grandfather, a law draftsman in Parliament who died in 1989, was awarded the same honour in 1967 for his work in law.
Ward-Lealand, 56, is one of New Zealand's most accomplished actresses with a career spanning more than 37 years. From her debut as a teen on the TV soap Close to Home to her countless stage and film roles, Ward-Lealand has championed the arts for most of her career and already received an ONZM in 2007.
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BEVAN READ
Jennifer Ward-Lealand has been a champion for te reo Māori.
"I believe in serving your industry. It's only right and proper for anyone who's been in the business for as long as I have to be looking out for and supporting others."
The mother of two sons Jack, 22, and Cameron, 19, and married to actor Michael Hurst, she says her recognition is helping to acknowledge the importance of the arts in New Zealand.
"We have a country full of incredible people represented in the arts, even though we don't see it in the news as often as we see stories on sports."
In recent years, Ward-Lealand has dedicated her time to learning te reo Maori and has been one of the biggest advocates of the language.
"I do use any platform I possibly can to speak Māori. It's the right and proper thing to do as a citizen of Aotearoa. I'll do as much as I can do to promote te reo Māori and I'll be doing that until my dying days."
Jennifer Ward-Lealand on stage in The Book Of Everything, is being honoured for her work in theatre, film and television.
