Shortland Street star Stephen Lovatt on life, sobriety and performance after midlife lows
Actor Stephen Lovatt reflects on his career, including his award-winning role in Shortland Street and his personal journey through sobriety. He discusses his upbringing in Wellington and the influence of his family's diverse religious background.
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Stephen Lovatt's childhood was magical, but the star’s weathered some hard adult times. Photo / Stephen A’Court Photography
Stephen Lovatt, 62, is an accomplished actor. With an extensive resume, including theatre roles and six years on Neighbours, Stephen also has a deep connection to Bruce Mason’s End of the Golden Weather and has performed an excerpt of the classic play on Takapuna Beach nearly every Christmas Day since 2006. The recipient of numerous awards, Stephen most recently won the 2025 NZ Screen Award for Best Actor for his performance as Shortland Street’s abrasive emergency doctor Emmett Whitman.
A lot of what I remember from childhood is second-hand reportage, like Dad saying that every time he turned around, I was smiling because I was the family clown. In the dynamic of two siblings and two foster siblings, that was the position available to me.
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