Jess Sayer

After falling in love with an August Strindberg play during one of her first trips to the theatre, Jess Sayer changed trajectory from journalism to acting studies. Sayer is also an acclaimed and award-winning playwright (Wings, Elevator). On-screen, her writing skills have been utilised for web series Auckward Love (which she co-starred in), Filthy Rich and Shortland Street. Sayer went on to join the hit soap as an actor, debuting as fiery Nurse Maeve Mullens in 2020. The previous year she co-starred in tele-movie Runaway Millionaires, playing one half of a real life couple who fled New Zealand with $10 million.

I love black comedy. I’m interested in how people cope on the knife-edge of sanity. I think you can deal with dark subject matter by throwing in a few unexpected laughs. It gives an escape for the audience to be able to sit and watch for an hour. Jess Sayer in The NZ Herald, 7 September 2019