Mass is a performance, it's all rituals, mystery and symbolism. The transubstantiation, wine becomes blood, bread the body.

The church was my first theatre, then the theatre became my church."

Healy first became well-known for her role as nurse Carmen Roberts, in the New Zealand Soap Opera Shortland Street.

Last year she played the part of the Queen in the Auckland Theatre Company's production of The Audience.

At that time Healey told Eleanor Black in an interview on Stuff that she went to Mass on Sundays at the near-by Mary MacKillop Centre.

She said the sisters there are such interesting women: "who came out here from Ireland when they were 18 and they are now 90 and they have got the most wonderful histories.

I just love going and talking to them. They have given up their lives for a belief in something - and we don't believe in much these days. They have become like my little family across the road."

In her 30s, Healy wanted to have children but found it really hard.

"After a couple of devastating miscarriages I went to America to get an agent then, at 37, I found out I was pregnant, so I came home."

"Once I had the two boys, everything changed. Because it was something I'd wanted for such a long time, I put all my energy into them and the school."

Healey is soon to appear in Head High, a six-part drama series about the hopes and dreams of high school rugby players in New Zealand.

Head High premieris on Three, Sunday, June 28 at 8.30 pm.

Source

• nzonscreen.com
• stuff.co.nz
• nzherald.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

They say they weren't consulted about the storyline which is described as reflecting outdated thinking and failing to represent an inclusive society.

Association spokesperson Kim Porthouse said the organisation has received calls from a number of families and people with Down syndrome who have been upset by the episodes.

She said people who are either going through this process right now, people with Down syndrome who watched the programme, parents of children with Down syndrome are finding this aggressive forceful reaction quite inappropriate and offensive.

Porthouse said the storyline "reinforces a lot of the prejudice that having a child with Down syndrome is a burden."

In the storyline, after learning a baby might have Down syndrome father Chris Warner suggested to mother, Zoe, that she abort the pregnancy

Several characters discuss Zoe's options with her.

Her Sister Kate advocates for Zoe making her own choices.

Finn, Warner's adult son also stresses the choice is hers and that she will have support no matter what options she chooses.

But he points out "there's thousands of stories out there, mums and dads who have been exactly where you are and they've kept their baby."

In a joint statement, TVNZ and South Pacific Pictures said they acknowledge the storyline addresses a sensitive topic but Shortland Street is known for tackling a range of challenging issues that New Zealanders face.

"The show's producers work closely with medical advisors to ensure health storylines are depicted with care in the context of a drama"

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• nzherald.co.nz
• Image: TVNZ Screenshot

Last Thursday's episode saw the character of 15-year-old Kane Jenkins (played by Auckland teenager KJ Apa) attempt to end his life after a slide into depression.

Kane had been the victim of online bullying, and tonight brushed off attempts from the Cooper family, his foster carers, to discuss his depression after they found evidence of online abuse he had been subjected to on his laptop. Continue reading

The Naililili Catholic Mission was the last of the Fijian locations used.

The Mission, which is on an island in a river, is accessible only by boat.

The church at Naililili, built in 1849 by French missionaries.

Its stone walls, blackened by age and weather provided a dramatic backdrop.

Although it was exam time, 15 students from the local school were exempted so they could be extras on set.

But the 15 turned to dozens as the children got wind of the visitors and flocked to see the stars.

Shortland Street has been running in Fiji for 22 years.

While in Fiji, actors Kerry-Lee Dewing, Ria Vandervis, Sam Bunkall and Michael Galvin were swamped by fanatical fans delighted to meet their favourite soap stars.

Galvin was subject to adulation of "Beatle-mania-esque" proportions. He was accosted and jostled: shouts of "Chris" sound in the streets, by the pool, in the airport.

Source

• The Herald on Sunday
• Image: Jae Frew