N.Z. aunt helped actress

Press, 7 December 1981, Page 6

N.Z. aunt helped actress

A “Geordie" accent and a West Coast aunt helped the British actress, Jean Heywood, land the coveted role of Bella Seaton in television’s “When the Boat Comes In.” “You see, this aunt was really Bella Seaton — not me." said Mrs Heywood, who is in Christchurch to appear in the stage play', “Rose." “What I did, what Bella did — that is what my aunt did," said the one time New Zealander, whose aunt. Mrs Florence Gibb, now lives in G'reymouth. However the "Geordie” accent definitely belongs to Mrs Heywood. It is the accent of those from the north-east of England where Mrs Heywood was born. “But we didn't stay there long as my parents came to New Zealand — Dobson, to be exact," she said. "But 18 months after our arrival my mother died, and my father never really settled. So he went back to

England and my sister and I were left here with my aunt.” Eventually Mrs Heywood and her sister were sent for and returned to England. “Things were very difficult then. All my young life was very hard. But these experiences helped a lot when it came to playing the workingclass Bella Seaton.” Back home. Mrs Heywood decided to become an actress. “I told my father what I wanted to do. but he just told me to talk sense. I remember him saying. 'You like reading; go and work in a library’ — so I did.” However, during a holiday, at the end of World War 11, Mrs Heywood met her husband who encouraged her to become an actress. “I did a bit of work and when my children were 13 and 15 years old I decided to become a professional actress." she said. “A local company took me on as a

student — I was all of 41. More work followed and eventually ‘When the Boat Comes In’ happened. “Few actresses at home could do the ‘Geordie’ accent required for the role — I could." Her role in the series lasted for two years. “I didn't really mind when it was over. It is difficult to maintain a standard of writing — and that standard was lapsing. I just couldn't bear the thought of the programme going off.” Mrs Heywood appeared in a variety of programmes before “Rose” arrived. She landed a role in the play when it first opened in London. “Rose” then starred Glenda Jackson. “We continuously played to full houses, but Glenda wouldn’t do more than six months in the play. “Later I was offered an enticing proposition to come to New Zealand and to tour with ‘Rose’."

“I hadn't been to New Zealand in six years, and yet 1 had so many people to see. and so I came." Christchurch is the last stop for “Rose," but Mrs Heywood does not intend to return home immediately. “I have no definite work coming up and actually I am still wailing for cables from my agent."