Claire Chitham

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Interview With Claire Chitham By Chris

Claire Chitham is one of my favourite New Zealand
actresses.

She plays Waverly on Shortland Street.

1. How did you get into acting?

When I was 8 years old i started drama classes at the
Dolphin Theater in Onehunga, I continued doing those for 8
years…we’d do a big production at the end of every year
that was often a musical too.

2. How did you get on to the show shortland
st?

I got an agent at the age of 12 and I got quite a lot of tv
work over the next few years, then I auditioned for the
part of Waverley in 1994 and was successful in getting
it.

3. What has been your favourite storyline on show since
you have been on it?

Probably when Waverley and Fergus went skiing on Mt Ruapehu
and it turned out that Waverley couldn’t ski and she
discovered her sister was having an affair…..Because we
got to leave the studio and shoot up on the mountain for
about 3 days.

It was so much fun to be working with the crew somewhere so
beautiful, we had so much fun..it was like going away on a
school camp and being paid for it!

4. Who is your favourite cast member to work with past
and present?

Past- would be Angela Bloomfield because she’s one of my
best friends and when you know someone well its easier to
bounce off each other and play within the scenes.

Present-would be Karl Burnett because we’ve worked together
for so long now that its always easy and fun.

5. What would we find in your stereo at the
moment?

SJD-Southern Lights, Grand National-Kicking the National
Habit, Outkast-The Love below/Speaakerboxx

6. Who are your favourite music artists?

OutKast, NERD, Justin Timberlake, Tribe Called Quest, The
Strokes, Grand National, Janes Addiction

7. If you could remake any movie what would it
be?

Grease.

8. Who are your favourite actors?

Sean Penn, Will Farell, Catherine O’Hara, Jack Nicholson,
Uma Thurman

9. What is your favourite music movie eg spinal
tap?

A Mighty Wind and Waiting for Guffman

10. Who would you most like to work with?

I’d love to do a movie with Christopher Guest (the guy who
wrote/directed Best in Show,A Mighty Wind, Waiting for
Guffman) or Baz Lurhman (Moulin Rouge, Romeo &
Juliet)

11. Where do you think you will be in ten
years?

I have no idea and i don’t want to…i think its much more
interesting to live in the present.

12. What movies have you seen recently that you have
enjoyed?

Farenheit 9/11, Spellbound, Mystic River, Kill Bill 1 &
2

13. What are some of your favourite movies?

Life is Beautiful, Sexy Beast, I am Sam, Jay & Silent
Bob Strike Back, Usual Suspects

Special thanks to Kathryn Rawlings and of course Claire
Chitham for this interview.