The Vegan Teen Screen Queen

Adrian Hatwell chats with actor Megg Alexander about her rapid rise to fame on our most popular TV show and what it’s like to be vegan in the world of entertainment.  

It’s been running for 32 years, but Shortland Street remains a vital source for Aotearoa’s fresh new screen talent. Megg Alexander is one of the latest young actors to begin her rise on the set of the nation’s longest-running television drama. Megg is almost 18 years old at the time of our interview and has been vegan for the past three, a way of living that she finds extremely helpful for dealing with the mental and physical demands of early stardom.

The teen actor landed the role as Cassie, a complicated youth tangled in some of the soap opera’s thornier plots, while she was still in school. Securing a recurring role on one of the most iconic (just shy of 8,000 episodes to date) and highest rated (the most popular show on the TVNZ+ streaming service) local television shows is certainly not bad for a first acting gig.

“I signed with my agent in February of 2022 and booked Shorty a few months later. It was super quick and very terrifying but I learned that there wasn’t anything to be scared of,” Megg says with a laugh.

Drama Queen

While Megg’s trepidation may have quickly faded, it turned out there was plenty for her character to be apprehensive about. Cassie arrived in the fictional Auckland suburb of Ferndale during the Brightshine saga, in which a corrupt church takes ownership of the titular hospital. The daughter of one of the leaders of Brightshine church, Cassie falls in love with Wilder, the son of Nurse Maeve Mullins.

Wilder dies under suspicious circumstances that are eventually linked to Brightshine leader Rebekah (Antonia Prebble), Cassie is revealed to be pregnant with his baby and leaves town, only to return with a drug habit and no recollection of what has happened to her child. All good juicy drama, but a lot for the burgeoning actor to take on — thankfully, the character has now arrived at a more stable situation. 

“Cassie has been through a lot for sure… but currently she’s got a job with her child safe in her arms,” explains Megg.      

The role has required Megg to embody some fairly nasty characteristics, but in real life she’s doing her best to avoid cruelty. Even before going vegan, the actor has been dairy-free since the age of 12, for health reasons.     

“Going vegan was really a no-brainer, as I never ate meat and couldn’t do dairy. Now, I’m very health conscious and have learned more about what I’m feeding my body. 

“Being vegan is so rewarding!”

Vegan on Set

Megg is enthusiastic about health and fitness, attending daily pilates and yoga to keep fit for a demanding job or relax after a hectic day of shooting. Since going vegan, she always feels energised and ready for a good gym session every day.   

“Mentally, I have no more brain fog, which is something I previously struggled with, alongside headaches. I feel really good about veganism, because I’m not taking from any living beings life for the sake of my own consumption. 

“I would feel so guilty eating meat!”

On set she has noticed that catering options for vegans have been steadily improving, with everyone well catered for. In fact, Shortland Street boasts a number of notable vegans among its alumni, including Holly Shervey who played Zoe Carlson, Emmett Skillton as Ross Douglas and director of many episodes, and Tom Sainsbury who played Jason “Sexy Eyes” Fitzpatrick. Megg says there are still many vegans on set, including her close co-star Jess Sayer, who plays Nurse Mullens.       

While working at home presents no major challenges as far as veganism goes, when travelling to more remote destinations Megg finds it can be difficult to scrounge up healthy plant-based food.    

“I’m currently in Fiji,” she reports. “Whilst there are plenty of vegetarian options, it’s hard to decipher whether they’re plant-based or not.” 

Deliciously Viral

At home, Megg feels accepted and supported in her veganism by her friends and family. But, as in most close relationships, there’s an element of good-natured teasing that comes with the territory. 

“I cook all my own meals because I don’t trust them to make my food,” Megg says with a chuckle. “They always joke about slipping some dairy or meat in. 

“No can-do, sorry!”

Of course, cooking for yourself is an empowering skill and Megg is enjoying that learning journey. As a committed young content creator, she is very active on Instagram and TikTok. Amidst travel videos, behind the scenes peeks, and health and fitness inspo, followers are treated to a healthy serving of Megg’s creations in the kitchen.         

“Recently, I’ve been baking vegan healthy treats and sharing them with the crew and cast every week. Might be a new series I do!”

If you’re keen to keep up with Megg’s delicious vegan cooking and baking or to get a peek backstage of a local television institution, follow the talented actor on Instagram (@yourstrulymegg) and TikTok (@meggalexander). And be sure to see her in action in Shortland Street, weekdays on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+.     

Aotearoa Vegan and Plant Based Living Magazine
This article was sourced from the Spring  2024 edition of The Vegan Society magazine.
Order your own current copy in print or pdf or browse past editions.

Disclaimer
The articles we present in our magazine and blog have been written by many authors and are are not necessarily the views and policies of the Vegan Society.