Acting
May 13, 1958
Huntly, New Zealand
Jools Topp
Acting
Biography
Dame Julie Bethridge Topp DNZM (14 May 1958 – 23 May 2026) was a New Zealand entertainer. She was one half of the Topp Twins, a music comedy duo; the other member was her twin sister Lynda Topp. With her sister, she became one of New Zealand's best-known entertainers through live performances, television and film over several decades. They combined country and folk music, comedy, and political activism, and performed as original characters including Ken & Ken and Camp Mother and Camp Leader. The sisters were both appointed Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours.
Feature Films (4)
Fun, disarming and musically provocative, the Topp Twins are New Zealand's finest lesbian country and western singers and the country's greatest export since rack of lamb and the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.
The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls
NZ’s top musicians and comedians celebrate the extraordinary contribution Dames Lynda & Jools Topp have made to Aotearoa New Zealand over 40 years. Made with the support of NZ On Air.
Topp Class: A Topp Twins Tribute Concert
Written and directed by Tearepa Kahi (Mt Zion) and starring Maaka Pohatu (The Modern Maori Quartet, Two Little Boys) the film tells the story of musician Dalvanius Prime and the origin of the song “Poi E”, a ground-breaking fusion of 1980s pop and traditional Māori music. “Poi E”, composed by Dalvanius and Ngoingoi Pēwhairangi and performed by the Patea Māori Club, remains the only song in Te Reo Māori to reach No 1 in the charts, over 30 years since its 1984 release.
Poi E: The Story of Our Song
The Topp Twins TV Special is a critically acclaimed 1986 television broadcast featuring New Zealand comedic and musical duo Jools and Lynda Topp. The special showcases their signature blend of country music, yodeling, and satirical character comedy, ultimately helping them win Best Entertainment Programme at the 1986 New Zealand Listener Television Awards.
The Topp Twins TV Special
Television & Series (3)
Anika's on the loose again, ready to go deep and laugh hard with well-known Kiwis. Her infectious honesty opens the hearts of all she meets - and before they know it, they've shared their deepest secrets!
Anika Moa Unleashed
Eli Matthewson goes on a journey through the untold history of New Zealand's queer community, celebrating the resilience of trailblazers who pushed for an inclusive Aotearoa.
Queer Aotearoa: We've Always Been Here
The Topp Twins television series was a highly acclaimed New Zealand comedy and musical show created by twin sisters Jools and Lynda Topp. Running for three seasons, the show featured their iconic cast of original Kiwi characters, including the bossy Camp Mother and her bumbling companion Camp Leader, the Bowling Ladies, and the cross-dressing Ken and Ken. The series followed the twins as they integrated their musical performances and comedic sketches into everyday New Zealand life and events, such as A&P shows, netball matches, the Otago Cavalcade, and speedway racing. The show is a major piece of New Zealand broadcasting history.