Chelsie is a powerhouse of New Zealand stage and screen, carrying on a formidable creative lineage as the daughter of filmmaker Dame Gaylene Preston and musician Jonathan Crayford. Over her 20-year career, she has built a reputation for versatility, moving seamlessly between grit and grace.Currently, Chelsie is entering an exciting new chapter as a filmmaker. This week marks the theatrical release of her debut feature film, Caterpillar (released May 14, 2026), which she wrote and directed.Chelsie remains one of the most compelling and busy voices in the Australasian arts scene.

<div class="x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="white-space: pre-wrap; overflow-wrap: break-word; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-inline: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI Historic', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Chelsie is a powerhouse of New Zealand stage and screen, carrying on a formidable creative lineage as the daughter of filmmaker Dame Gaylene Preston and musician Jonathan Crayford. Over her 20-year career, she has built a reputation for versatility, moving seamlessly between grit and grace.</div>
</div>
<div class="x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="white-space: pre-wrap; overflow-wrap: break-word; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-inline: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI Historic', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Currently, Chelsie is entering an exciting new chapter as a filmmaker. This week marks the theatrical release of her debut feature film, Caterpillar (released May 14, 2026), which she wrote and directed.</div>
</div>
<div class="x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="white-space: pre-wrap; overflow-wrap: break-word; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-inline: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI Historic', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Chelsie remains one of the most compelling and busy voices in the Australasian arts scene.</div>
</div>

John Cowan hosts ‘Real Life’, a weekly nationwide chat show on Newstalk ZB featuring a different high-profile guest every week. John talks with them about their life, their upbringing, their passions and their view of the world.

Real Life With John Cowan

Chelsie Preston-Crayford tells John Cowan about her new 'autofictional' film Caterpillar

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/cf1946cf-ae1f-461a-bf04-b44d00888b8f/transcript