Nyree’s Story

After an upbringing in New Zealand and a spell acting in her own country, Nyree Dawn Porter made London her home. Interview by Alan O’Kelly. Nyree Dawn Porter made her first stage appearance at the age of three. Playing the part of a ladybird in an amateur production of Noah’s Ark, she walked onto the stage and into the lights to delighted applause and laughter. ‘That noise’ has charmed her ever since and in a long, successful career, both on the theatre stage and on television, she has received plenty of it. Nyree speaks lovingly of her father Ken, who was warm and affectionate and loved music passionately. For a long time she was an only child, but when her sister, Merle Isabel, came along, the happy family should have been complete.

As a result, Nyree remembers her childhood as being sad but productive. She had a nervous stammer and was so shy and quiet that her teachers became extremely worried about her. She found her release through books, painting and ballet.

A teacher named Jim Goodall came to her rescue by encouraging her to do well and by making her president of the drama club. A second influential person was another teacher, who had spent a lot of time in England and France. Her enthusiasm helped Nyree to use her natural gift for French and she also encouraged her to act. ‘I was acting in a local amateur production when a woman came to my dressing room and asked me if I had ever considered acting as a career. She was the wife of a leading actor at the New Zealand National Theatre. Her car had broken down outside and that was the only reason she had come in. She arranged for me to try for a role in an American comedy called The Solid Gold Cadillac.’

‘I loved London and my lucky break came when I was given a letter of introduction to Hazel Vincent Wallace at the Leatherhead Theatre. I got a job in a Christmas show, both acting and dancing.’ Nyree Dawn Porter has adopted England, and we have adopted her. She has lived here ever since, although she does visit her old home and regularly works in Australia.