Ria Vandervis
With an established career already well into its second decade, Ria Vandervis first graced Aotearoa’s screens in 2007 on Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive. She later played a lead role in detective series Harry, but is best known in New Zealand as Harper Whitley, Shortland Street’s powerhouse surgeon and mum.
A graduate of Unitec Performing Arts School, Ria has also worked extensively in Australia including having roles in The Cut, Underbelly, COPS L.A.C and the critically acclaimed Packed to the Rafters.
After more than a decade Ria recently left Shortland Street to pursue new opportunities. She is also an avid D.I.Yer, a certified marriage celebrant and a busy mum.
Hair Colour
Brown
Location
Auckland | Tāmaki Makaurau
Age Range
35 - 45
Ethnicity
New Zealand European
Height
170cm
Eye Colour
Blue
Content Creator
Instagram followers:
51,100
Facebook followers:
29,000
Full CV
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Feature Film
2007 - The Devil Dared Me To - Cindy Cockburn - Director - Chris Stapp - Producers - Matt Heath and Karl Zohrab
Television Appearances
2026 - Celebrity Treasure Island - Contestant - Warner Bros.
Television
2013 - 2025 - Shortland Street - Harper Whitley - South Pacific Pictures
2013 - Harry - Detective Christie Mills (core cast) - Director - Peter Burger and Christopher Dudman - Desert Road Television
2010 - Cops LAC - Roxanne Perez - Directors - Geoff Bennett, Karl Zwicky, David Caesar, Arnie Custo - Nine Network
2009 - Packed to the Rafters - Layla Soubrani - Seven Network
2009 - Rescue Special Ops - Jasmine - Southern Star Entertainment
2009 - The Cut - Vanessa Stewart - Directors - Mandy Stewart and Karl Zwicky - ABC
2009 - Underbelly - Kay Reynolds - AFFC
2007 - Power Rangers Operation Overdrive - Miratrix / Mira - BVS Entertainment Inc
Short Film
2018 - Vaspy - Rose - Director - Hweiling Ow - Producer - Rachel Jean -
2003 - 2005 - Bachelor of Performing Arts - Unitec Performing Arts School
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Accents - American, Australian, British
Drivers Licence - Full
Marriage Celebrant
