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Lisa Chappell

New Zealand actor (born 1968) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lisa Irene Chappell (born 18 October 1968) is a New Zealand actress and musician. She is known for her roles as Chelsea Redfern in Gloss (1987–1990), and as Claire McLeod in McLeod's Daughters (2001–2003), a performance which earned her two Logie Awards, for Most Popular New Female Talent and Most Popular Actress.

Quick Facts Born, Occupation(s) ...
Lisa Chappell
Born
Lisa Irene Chappell

(1968-10-18) 18 October 1968 (age 56)
Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand[1]
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1987–present
Notable work
Height1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Spouse
Chris Taylor
​
​
(m. 2001; div. 2005)​
Awards
Websitewww.lisachappell.net
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As one of New Zealand's most prominent theatre performers, Chappell made her stage debut in 1991, having appeared in The Merchant of Venice, which led to numerous roles, including Chicago, Hamlet, Design for Living, and The Thirty-Nine Steps. Following the establishment of her own company, Chappell has made appearances in more contemporary works, in addition to producing and writing.

While maintaining her continued success on screen, Chappell has had also appeared in films, such as Desperate Remedies (1993), Jack Brown Genius (1996), and Coffin Rock (2009), and further television roles, in City Life (1996–1998), The Cult (2009), for which she was the recipient of a Qantas Film and Television Award for Best Performance by a Supporting Actress – General Television, and most recently as Michelle Beaufort in the soap opera, Shortland Street (2020–2022).

Early life

Lisa Chappell was born in Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand and grew up in Mairangi Bay.[1] She has two older siblings, a brother, Mark, and a sister, Catherine.[3] Chappell studied acting in the 1980s, and was educated at Rangitoto College, where she took drama classes and performed in school musicals, as well as singing and dancing tuition.[1]

Career

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Television

Chappell's big break came in the late 1980s when she was a student, and while in Christchurch attending a Fringe Festival, she was lodging with Michelle Hine, who was teaching clown at the time, when Chappell was offered to audition for the upcoming television drama, Gloss. Hine coached her for the part, which she eventually received.[4] Chappell made her on-screen debut in 1987 when she was cast as Chelsea Redfern in the TV2 series which lasted three seasons, until 1990.[5] This was followed by a short stint in the police procedural series, Shark in the Park,[6] and guest roles in shows, such as, soap opera Shortland Street, Mysterious Island, and multiple roles on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. In 1996, she began appearing in a regular role on the short-lived TV2 soap opera, City Life, as Bronwyn Kellett.[7]

In 1998, Chappell had relocated to Australia and completed "The Journey" program at the Actors Centre Australia in Sydney, Australia, graduating in 2000.[8] After which, she auditioned for the role of Claire McLeod on the Nine Network rural drama series, McLeod's Daughters,[9] a role which was originally intended for actor Laurie Foell during which Chappell was in the process of establishing a theatre company; she successfully secured the role following her audition.[10] During production of the series, Chappell gained the skills in how to ride a horse and sheering sheep,[11] and also made the decision to become a vegetarian.[12] She appeared in the series for three seasons, from 2001 to 2003, before her character was killed off in a car accident.[13][14][15] For her performance, Chappell was nominated for several Logie Awards, receiving two, for Most Popular New Female Talent[16][17] and Most Popular Actress[18][19] in 2002 and 2004, respectively, and has gained a cult following among both Australian and international audiences.

Chappell continued in Australian television, and would later appear in a recurring role on the police drama, Stingers, as Constable Megan Walsh for its eighth and final season, the television film, Small Claims: The Reunion,[20] the serial drama The Cult,[21] in a role with earned her a Qantas Film and Television Award,[22] and guest appearances in Rescue: Special Ops[23] and Cops L.A.C..[24]

In 2020, Chappell returned to Shortland Street, and was cast in the regular role of Michelle Beaufort.[25][26]

In 2024, it was announced that Chappell would be appearing in a supporting role in the upcoming television film sequel Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires, which is set to premiere on Disney+ and Disney Channel in 2025.[27]

Film

Chappell made her film debut in the 1993 critically acclaimed drama film Desperate Remedies, in a supporting role, alongside Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Kevin Smith.[28] She also appeared in the Jack Brown Genius in 1996, a film written and produced by Peter Jackson,[29] and the 2009 psychological thriller Coffin Rock, with Robert Taylor and Sam Parsonson.[30] Chappell also appeared in the 2017 horror film Out of the Shadows.[31]

Theatre

Chappell is a well established theatre performer, having appeared in numerous stage productions for more three decades, and has worked extensively in New Zealand, particularly with the Auckland Theatre Company.[32] Early in her career, she appeared in classical theatre productions, including William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice,[2] the musical, Chicago,[2] and Arthur Miller's All My Sons. She has also directed and performed in two plays at Auckland's Rose Theatre – Up the Garden Path and Girl Talk in 1993 and 1994, respectively.[33][2]

Following her graduation from the Actor's Centre Australia, Chappell has performed as the titular character in Educating Rita, which toured Australia in 2007,[34] before returning to New Zealand to appear in productions, such as, Design for Living,[35] The Thirty-Nine Steps,[36] The Importance of Being Earnest,[37] The Vagina Monologues,[38] The Wizard of Oz,[39] and Much Ado About Nothing.[40]

Chappell has, more recently, appeared in roles in contemporary works, including Fallen Angels,[41] The Pink Hammer,[42] That Bloody Woman,[43] Bright Star,[44] and Shortland Street – The Musical,[45] and three plays which she wrote and produced – On/Off,[46] Fred,[47] and Bad Day Insurance.[48][49]

She is a member of Equity New Zealand.[50][51]

Singing

Chappell's debut album, When Then Is Now,[52] was released on 1 May 2006.[53] She did some minor touring in Australia and New Zealand to support the album's release.

Personal life

Chappell met Chris Taylor in August 2001 when they both attended her McLeod's Daughters co-star, Rachael Carpani's 21st birthday; they married in December 2001, and divorced in 2005.[54][55] She currently resides in Puhoi, New Zealand.[56]

Filmography

More information Year, Title ...
Film
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1993 Desperate Remedies Anne Cooper [57]
1995 Dirty Dave Lucy Short [58]
1996 Jack Brown Genius Sylvia [29]
2007 Crossbow Mum Short [59]
2008 Beneath The Tides Jane Short [60]
2009 Coffin Rock Jessie Willis [30]
2010 Be Careful... Fi Short [61]
2017 Out of the Shadows Linda Dee [62]
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More information Year, Title ...
Television
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1987–90 Gloss Chelsea Redfern Seasons 1–3 (main, 55 episodes) [5]
1990–91 Shark in the Park Tanya Seasons 2–3 (recurring, 13 episodes) [6]
1992 Shortland Street Deborah Walters Season 1, episodes 5 & 6
1994 Hercules and the Circle of Fire Daughter #1 TV film
1995 Mysterious Island Jane Morecombe "Last Rites of Spring"
1995 A Twist in the Tale Aunt Linda "The Skeleton in the Cupboard" [63]
1995–99 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Various Seasons 1–5 (guest, 7 episodes)
1996 Letter to Blanchy Monica "Love Makes the World Go Wrong"
1996–98 City Life Bronwyn Kellett Season 1 (main, 26 episodes) [7]
2001–03 McLeod's Daughters Claire McLeod Seasons 1–3 (main, 73 episodes)[a] [9]
2004 Stingers Megan Walsh Season 8 (recurring, 9 episodes) [64]
2005 Intrepid Journeys Herself "Malaysia" [65]
2006 Small Claims: The Reunion Louise Page TV film [66]
2009 The Cult Sophie McIntyre Season 1 (main, 13 episodes) [67]
2010 Rescue: Special Ops Vivian Walker "Out of the Ashes" [68]
2010 Cops L.A.C. Justine Taylor "The Killer Wore Sneakers" [24]
2011 Emilie Richards – Der Zauber von Neuseeland Daisy TV film
2012 True Crime: Siege Robyn Diver TV film [69]
2013 Agent Anna Marina "Happiness" [70]
2014 Auckland Daze Lisa Season 2, episode 4 [71]
2016 Jean Mrs. Shepherd TV film [72]
2016 Friday Night Bites Mum "Guess I'm Coming to Dinner" [73]
2016 Roman Empire: Reign of Blood Faustina "Born in the Purple" [74]
2018 James Patterson's Murder is Forever Dr. Claire Hunter "Murder on the Run"
2018 Tongue Tied Annie Season 1 (main, 7 episodes) [75][76]
2020–22 Shortland Street Michelle Beaufort Seasons 29–31 (main, 194 episodes)
2022 The Brokenwood Mysteries[77] Polly McAlpine "Good as Gold" [78]
2023 Blind Bitter Happiness Helen TV series [79]
2024 My Life is Murder Christine "Tough Love" [80]
2024 Camp Be Better Sloan Season 1, episode 2
2025 Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires Eldress TV film; filming [27][81]
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Theatre

Awards and nominations

More information Year, Association ...
Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2002[b] Logie Awards Most Popular New Female Talent McLeod's Daughters Won [16]
2003[c] Most Popular Actress Nominated [100]
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Nominated
2004[d] Most Popular Actress Won [19]
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Nominated
2010 Qantas Film and Television Awards Best Performance by a Supporting Actress – General Television The Cult Won [22]
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Notes

  1. Chappell appeared in 73 episodes of McLeod's Daughters over the first three seasons (2001–2003); however, she was credited for the Season 4 episode, "Fool for Love", although she did not appear.
  2. The 44th Annual TV Week Logie Awards (2002) are nominations relating to Australian television in 2001 – Chappell was nominated for her performance in Season 1 of McLeod's Daughters.
  3. The 45th Annual TV Week Logie Awards (2003) are nominations relating to Australian television in 2002 – Chappell was nominated for her performance in Season 2 of McLeod's Daughters.
  4. The 46th Annual TV Week Logie Awards (2004) are nominations relating to Australian television in 2003 – Chappell was nominated for her performance in Season 3 of McLeod's Daughters.

References

External links

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