Shortland St star off to Big Apple

The Kiwi actress is off overseas, with a zombie jaunt to Edinburgh. Photo / Dean Purcell

One of Shortland Street's brightest stars is off to New York. Beth Allen has played manipulative Street doctor Brooke Freeman since 2008, but a source told the Herald on Sunday this week the 30-year-old planned to follow husband Charlie McDermott to the Big Apple.

It's understood actor and producer McDermott has been offered a job and Allen will join him. Neither could be contacted yesterday, but McDermott hinted at the move in a Facebook post two weeks ago about a stage show with Michael Hurst in the Bay of Plenty.

"I figured taking a giant show to Edinburgh and moving countries next week was not giving me enough, so have squeezed in a tour with the Hurst ... Tauranga look out!"

Allen and McDermott married in 2011 and run Royale Productions which has been staging Apocalypse Z, about a zombie invasion.

Shortland Street publicist Rachael Keereweer said Allen took leave from the end of last week and is with McDermott in Edinburgh.

"They're doing the zombies play at the Edinburgh Festival. I do believe they're going to New York afterwards. As far as I'm aware it's not a job opportunity, it's an acting course for Charlie."

Keereweer said she did not know when Allen would return, and wouldn't discuss her employment.

"We're not really into spoiling storylines ... she's still most definitely on screen [at the moment]."