Gemma Ward’s on a mission to play the next Poison Ivy in ‘Batman’
The supermodel counts Nicole Kidman and Marilyn Monroe as some of her biggest acting inspirations, as she stars in 2:22 A Ghost Story in Melbourne.
By Jane Rocca
SUPERMODEL, actress and mother of three Gemma Ward makes her theatre and TV comeback this month, as a lead in the Australian premiere of a West End stage thriller — 2:22 A Ghost Story and as Sadie in While The Men Were Away — a 1940s queer revisionist historical drama on SBS.
As one of the most sought-after models in the world during the early 2000s, she not only became a magazine cover girl at 15 but has regularly appeared on Alexander McQueen’s runway shows — appearing in seven — and filled some mighty shoes as the face of Calvin Klein’s Obsession campaign in 2003, replacing Kate Moss.
Ward has walked for countless luxury brands including Marni, Balenciaga and Prada, but it was acting and comedy that really piqued her interest as a child before her looks took centre stage. She started writing spoof comedies as a nine-year-old [shorts like Craig Jenny instead of Jenny Craig, and A4 instead of ER] — but it was modelling that lured her first. But since 2018, she’s started writing scripts and short stories — to keep the side hustle an option too. She calls it a work-in-progress.
“I’m writing a lot of comedies; and there’s a great freedom in working on your things on the side. I have been sharing my scripts with friends in the business to get their advice. It’s early stages,” she said.
In 2011, the 35-year-old made her theatre debut in The Ugly Duckling with the Perth Theatre Company; to return to that format has been a dream come true. It was also a no-brainer to say yes when offered the part of Jenny in A Ghost Story. It’s a play about a couple hosting a dinner party, discussing all things supernatural when things go eerily otherworldly.
“I absolutely loved the writing of the play, and was hooked on the content, humour, tension, my role and the ending,” Ward said.
The Australian cast of the strictly limited 4-week season this July also includes Melbourne-born and Hollywood-based actress Ruby Rose and Daniel MacPherson and Wellmania’s Remy Hii.
“It had a very successful run in London and a few weeks back I saw Lily Allen as Jenny — she was so impressive. The ensemble was fantastic. I can’t wait to bring my own touch to the role,” she said.
I saw LILY ALLEN as Jenny — SHE was so IMPRESSIVE.
It’s also 10 years since Ward appeared in Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge, but career milestones seem so distant for a woman who has been busy raising her children between the USA, Sydney and Byron Bay with her partner David Letts. For now, Melbourne is home and a chance to dive deep into rehearsals at the iconic theatre — Her Majesty’s.
“Theatre is a great place to learn,” said Ward. “It personally gives me a greater sense of comfort that I can iron anything out I am worried about during this time. But admittedly, I don’t have the same fears as when I first came to theatre. I’m older and not as fresh in this business, but I did step away to raise the children and now it feels good to be coming back and get focused again,” she said.
A younger Ward was inspired to act when she saw Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge, Liv Tyler in Lord of the Rings and Angelina Jolie playing Lara Croft.
“Those women really stood out to me,” she said. “Female power stood out in their performances and that resonated with me,” said Ward.
“Later in life, I started to look and sympathise with Marilyn Monroe and actors who let their vulnerability shine. I loved how Marilyn brought out a femininity, a sense of humour and softness to what she did. I have studied a few different actresses in my time and I certainly pull from different people for certain roles, I am always drawn to a tough female character but someone who also has a soft side,” said Ward.
When she’s not binging on French filmmaker Éric Rohmer, she’s deep in comedy series — the most recent Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen’s Platonic on Apple TV+. Her children are now aged nine, six and three — which means it’s a chance for Ward to exhale and start to think about herself again and what she wants to do next.
“There have been years I haven’t worked and I am okay with that,” said Ward.
“I took a year off to look after my youngest who was two-year-old at the time, so my partner could work, and now it’s my turn. It takes a village and that is really still the case,” she said.
“Everyone in my family is happy to see me go back to work now. With a daughter now three and toilet-trained, it doesn’t feel as difficult as when my kids were much younger. But to each their own, you find your way but being a working mum is important to me,” she said.
In the town of Orange in country NSW earlier this year, Ward returned to a TV set to play Sadie. “It’s a fun retelling of this period of the 1940s when most of the men were away at war,” she said. “I can’t wait to see what the reaction will be. I’m only in one episode, but it was enjoyable being with other actors and getting back in that feeling of set life.”
The plan is to return to the big screen if the cards fall her way. She’s got her US visa up to date just in case the family needs to suddenly relocate.
I LOVED how MARILYN brought out a FEMININITY, a sense of HUMOUR and SOFTNESS to what she did.
“I think nowadays I am less serious when it comes to roles and what I want to play,” Ward said. “I always thought I would play Roxie Hart from Chicago on the stage one day,” she said.
“I would also do anything with Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne in it, but you know, I also played a mermaid in Pirates of the Caribbean — I feel they should cast me as one in the next Aquaman movie,” she smiles.
But the one role that would tip her into hysteria mode would be playing Poison Ivy in Batman.
“She is my favourite villain and that would be a dream.”
Related: Ahead of the curve, with Holly Rose Emery and Gemma Ward
