{{Short description|New Zealand actress (born 1984)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Ria Vandervis | image = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|7|5|df=y}} | birth_place = Dunedin, New Zealand | occupation = Actress <br /> Marriage celebrant | years_active = 2004–present | father = Lee Vandervis | spouse = Chris Ashton (m. 2012) | website = [http://www.riavandervis.com riavandervis.com]<!--<ref>https://www.nzonscreen.com/person/ria-vandervis {{Bare URL inline|date=December 2021}}</ref>--> }}
'''Ria Vandervis''' (born 5 July 1984) is a New Zealand actress. She is most known for her role as Harper Whitley in ''Shortland Street'' and Miratrix in ''Power Rangers Operation Overdrive''.
==Career== From 2002 to 2006, Vandervis acted in multiple UNITEC theatre productions and short films.<ref>[http://www.johnsonlaird.com/bios/print_bio.aspx?clientid=520&clientname=Ria+Vandervis&division=actor&dom=johnsonlaird Ria Vandervis]</ref> Between 2004 and 2006 Vandervis starred in various short films such as the ''Lovely Creature'', ''A Telling Time'', ''Tough Fortune Cookies'' and ''Billy for Lilly'' as Siren, Julia, Fran and Sarah respectively. In 2007, Vandervis played a supporting role as Cindy Cockburn in the film ''The Devil Dared Me To''. Vandervis also played Miratrix in the TV series ''Power Rangers Operation Overdrive''. In 2009 Vandervis played various television roles, starting in ''Packed to the Rafters'' as Layla Soubrani, ''The Cut'', ''Underbelly'' and ''Rescue: Special Ops''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/person/ria-vandervis|title=Ria Vandervis {{!}} NZ On Screen|website=www.nzonscreen.com|language=en|others=NZ On Screen|access-date=2018-04-24}}</ref> In 2010, Vandervis played the regular role of Senior Constable Roxanne Perez in the Nine Network police drama ''Cops L.A.C.''<ref name="Cast">{{cite web |url= http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/03/cops-l-a-c-cast-complete.html |title=COPS L.A.C cast complete |publisher=TV Tonight.com.au |accessdate=7 August 2010}}</ref> In 2013, Vandervis played Detective Christie Mills in the TV3 police drama ''Harry''.<ref name=":0" />
Later in 2013 Vandervis was cast as Harper Whitley in TV2 New Zealand soap opera ''Shortland Street''.<ref name="gtkria">{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/shortland-street/get-know-ria-vandervis-5418610|title=Get to know Ria Vandervis|date=May 2013|work=tvnz.co.nz|publisher=Television New Zealand|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108124118/http://tvnz.co.nz/shortland-street/get-know-ria-vandervis-5418610|archivedate=8 November 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Vandervis was originally hired under a 6-month recurring contract that was later extended to a regular role.<ref name="nearlygave">{{cite journal|date=10 November 2013|title=Ria's Shorty Shock: I Nearly Gave It All Up For Love|journal=Woman's Day|publisher=New Zealand Magazines}}</ref> Vandervis originally commuted between Dunedin and Auckland for filming. A fan of the soap named her daughter 'Harper Ria' in honour of Vandervis and her character. Vandervis also has stated that she gets stopped for autographs and photos.<ref name="class01">{{cite web|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/312043/ria-vandervis-class-2001|title=Ria Vandervis – Class of 2001|date=9 August 2014|work=Otago Daily Times|publisher=Allied Press Limited}}</ref>
==Personal life== Vandervis was born in Dunedin in the South Island of New Zealand in 1984. She attended Columba College in the Dunedin suburb of Roslyn, followed by Auckland's UNITEC School of Performing & Screen Arts, where she completed a three-year course in acting.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/television/261361/baptism-fire|title=Baptism of fire|last=Benson|first=Nigel|date=18 June 2013|newspaper=Otago Daily Times|accessdate=30 September 2013}}</ref> Vandervis later moved to Sydney, Australia to pursue more acting roles.<ref name="nearlygave" /> She is married to Chris Ashton as of 2012.<ref name="class01" /> When cast in the regular role of Harper Whitley, Vandervis struggled with the extension of her contract due to personal relationship issues and considered quitting the show. She also works as a marriage celebrant and helps out in her husband's clothing business.<ref name="nearlygave" /> She is the daughter of Lee Vandervis.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vandervis |first=Lee |date= |title=Untitled |url= https://www.facebook.com/1285016537/posts/pfbid02VjKbR3hNrZ5uSwkK8bbxaHFxphUQLfhGw8nmqwLjaBjNRkEwRWpwZVEaAGiPJ6Jkl/?app=fbl |website=Facebook}}</ref>
==Filmography== <!-- Please note: "rowspan" breaks table sortability. -->
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+Film and television |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |2004 |''Lovely Creature'' |Siren |Short film |- |2004 |''{{sortname|A|Telling Time|nolink=1}}'' |Julia |Short film |- |2005 |''Tough Fortune Cookies'' |Fran |Short film |- |2006 |''Billy for Lilly'' |Sarah |Short film |- |2007 |''{{sortname|The|Devil Dared Me To}}'' |Cindy Cockburn |Feature film |- |2007 |''Power Rangers Operation Overdrive'' |Miratrix |Main role |- |2009 |''Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities'' |Kay Reynolds |Episodes: "Stranded", "A Nice Little Earner", "Diamonds", "Judas Kiss" |- |2009 |''{{sortname|The|Cut|The Cut (Australian TV series)}}'' |Vanessa Stewart |TV miniseries |- |2009 |''Rescue: Special Ops'' |Jasmine |Episode: "Thrillseekers" |- |2009 |''Packed to the Rafters'' |Layla Soubrani |Recurring role (series 2) |- |2010 |''Cops L.A.C.'' |Roxanne Perez |Main role |- |2013 |''Harry'' |Det. Christie Mills |TV series |- |2013–2024 |''Shortland Street'' |Harper Whitley |Regular role |}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|2562820|Ria Vandervis}} *[http://www.johnsonlaird.com/Ria_Vandervis Johnson & Laird Agency Talent Profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vandervis, Ria}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:Actresses from Dunedin Category:People educated at Columba College Category:Unitec Institute of Technology alumni