Jools Topp

Dame Julie Bethridge Topp (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.

The twins started their career busking in Christchurch and Auckland during the 1970s and performed at protests and public events relating to issues including women's rights, homosexual law reform, Māori land rights and opposition to the 1981 Springbok tour. They appeared in numerous television shows and were the subjects of the 2009 documentary film The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls. They co-authored several books including their memoirs in 2003 and 2023; the latter won an award for being the best-selling New Zealand book in 2024.

Early life and family Jools Topp and her twin sister Lynda were born on 14 May 1958 in Huntly, to Jean and Peter, and grew up on a dairy farm in Waikato. Topp also had an older brother called Bruce. The twins sang together from when they were five years old and their brother gave them a guitar when they were 11.

After leaving Huntly College in 1976, Jools and Lynda Topp joined the New Zealand Territorial Force and were posted at the Burnham Military Camp near Christchurch for six weeks. They both started identifying as lesbian from the late 1970s.

After Lynda's partner's son had a baby, Jools and Lynda commented that they had never expected to become a great-aunt and grandmother respectively because "We're all gay" (including their brother).

Entertainment career

The Topp Twins' entertainment career began with busking in Christchurch and Auckland in the 1970s and 1980s. The twins sang country and folk music with harmonies;

In 1984, the twins were named performers of the year by New Zealand on Air, and in 1987 they received the top award for Best Entertainer at the Listener Film and Television Awards.

The Topp Twins used their music to raise awareness of women's rights, gay rights, Māori land rights and other social issues. They performed activist songs about lesbianism and feminism at various events including the Bastion Point land protest in 1978, the 1979 United Women's Convention in Hamilton, protests against the 1981 Springbok tour, anti-nuclear protests and homosexual law reform protests in the 1980s.

In 2009 the documentary film The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls, directed by Leanne Pooley, was released. It tells the story of the twins' life and career, including through interviews with the twins and their characters. From March to September 2018, they were the subject of a touring exhibition launched at the National Library of New Zealand. New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern and former prime minister Helen Clark both attended the launch.

In 2023, the twins published their autobiography Untouchable Girls: The Topp Twins' Story. It received the Nielsen BookData NZ Award for bestselling New Zealand title at the 2024 Aotearoa New Zealand Book Industry Awards. A review by Ruth Spencer for Radio New Zealand described it as "a rollicking, intimate, uproarious romp through the triumphant lives of Jools and Lynda that will make you want to sing, to go on the road, ride horses, fall in love and never stop laughing".

Horses Topp was a skilled horsewoman and for many years had a property in Helensville, north of Auckland, with her partner. The property was sold when the couple split up after 17 years together.

In March 2022, Jools and Lynda revealed that they had both been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021.

Jools Topp died of her cancer on 23 May 2026, at the age of 68.

Awards 1987 Listener Film and Television Awards. Best Entertainer: Topp Twins 1987 Listener Film and Television Awards. Best Entertainment Programme: Topp Twins Special 2009 Melbourne International Film Festival. Audience Award for Documentary: The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls

Screenography Topp's screenography includes: Funny As: The Story of New Zealand Comedy 2019, Subject – Television Poi E: The Story of Our Song 2016, Subject – Film Topp Country 2014 – 2015, Presenter – Television The Topp Twins and the APO 2010, Presenter, Presenter – Television The Topp Twins: – Untouchable Girls, 2009, Subject – Film Ken's Hunting and Fishing Show, 2007, Actor – Television Ken's Hunting and Fishing Show – Tongariro, 2007, Musician, Actor – Television The Adventures of Roman Pilgrim, 2005, As: One of the Fates – Short Film Mr and Mrs, 2000, Presenter – Television In Search of the Lonesome Yodel, 2000, Presenter – Television The Topp Twins – Highland Games, 2000, Performer, Writer, Producer – Television The Topp Twins – Speedway, 1998, Producer, Performer, Writer – Television 1998 Hero Parade, 1998, Subject – Television Destination Planet Earth, 1997 – 1998, Subject – Television The Topp Twins, 1996 – 2000, Writer, Producer, Performer – Television The Topp Twins – The Beach, 1996, Performer, Producer, Writer – Television The Topp Twins: Do Not Adjust Your Twinset, 1996, Presenter – Television Beyond a Joke! 1995, Subject – Television The People Next Door, 1994, Subject – Television Camping Out with the Topp Twins, 1993, Subject – Television Rivers of NZ, 1992, Subject – Television Topp Twins TV Special, 1986, Subject That's Country, 1983 – 1984, Performer – Television

Books

Discography

The Topp Twins have released a number of vinyl records, tapes, and CDs.