Katherine Kennard

English-born Katherine Kennard modelled in Asia, before moving to New Zealand to study acting at Unitec. Soon after she landed a role on Shortland Street in 1997 as the villainous Lucina Reeves. Kennard went on to four years co-starring as lawyer Joni Collins in Street Legal, earning her an NZ Television Award in 2003. Her other roles include a heroin addict in Underbelly, a vindictive ex-wife in Nothing Trivial, and a mystical guardian in The New Legends of Monkey. In 2021 she returned to Shortland Street, as Chris Warner’s flirtatious divorcee neighbour Viviene Ewell. Aside from her on-screen work, Kennard also works as a voice actor. 

I liked the fact that she was more heart, even though Joni got portrayed as quite strong . . . It still was very much in the beginning of my career. I grew a lot within those four years. Katherine Kennard on her award-winning role as Joni Collins on Street Legal, in a 2012 ScreenTalk interview for NZ On Screen