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Rima Te Wiata

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rima Te Wiata
MNZM
Te Wiata in 2017
Born (1963-10-11) 11 October 1963 (age 61)
London, UK
NationalityNew Zealander
Occupation(s)Singer, comedian and stage, film, and television actress
Years active1986−present
Parent(s)Inia Te Wiata, Beryl Te Wiata

Heather Rima Te Wiata MNZM (born 11 October 1963) is a British-born New Zealand singer, comedian and stage, film and television actress, who is also notable for her career in Australia, especially her long-running recurring role in soap opera Sons and Daughters as Janice Reid in 204 episodes.[1][2]

Early life

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Te Wiata was born in London, England, the only child of opera singer Inia Te Wiata and actress and writer Beryl Te Wiata, on 11 October 1963.[3][4] She is of the Ngāti Raukawa iwi.[5] Her father died when she was eight years old, and she and her mother returned to New Zealand two years later.[1] They settled in Auckland, where Te Wiata attended Epsom Girls' Grammar School.[5]

Career

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Te Wiata first appeared on stage in a production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (play) at Auckland's Mercury Theatre, and later attended the New Zealand Drama School.[6] After graduating in 1983,[7] she went on a six month national tour, singing in Footrot Flats.[1]

She made her screen debut in 1986 on the long-running Australian soap Sons and Daughters, playing the role of Janice Reid for two years. On her return to New Zealand she appeared in a number of television series including Shortland Street, the police drama Shark in the Park, comedies The Billy T James Show and Porters, and sketch shows Laughinz, Issues and More Issues.[1][8] Her roles in these sketch shows were written by David McPhail, Jon Gadsby and A. K. Grant and included impersonations of politician and future Prime Minister Helen Clark and newsreader Judy Bailey. The show won her the Viewers' Choice Most Popular Female on TV Award for two consecutive years, before she left the series in 1992.[1]

Te Wiata next spent two years working on the Australian sketch comedy show Full Frontal and also began appearing in films, including Send a Gorilla (1988), Cops and Robbers (1993), Hinekaro Goes on a Picnic and Blows Up another Obelisk (1995) and Via Satellite (1998).

Te Wiata's stage appearances have included starring roles as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, the voice of the cannibalistic singing plant in Little Shop of Horrors and directing and acting in The Vagina Monologues in Dunedin.

In 2014 she appeared in horror comedy Housebound and in 2016 in Hunt for the Wilderpeople.[1]

In 2017, Te Wiata starred in season two of the podcast Within the Wires portraying artist and historian Roimata Mangakāhia.[9]

In 2023 she appeared in four episodes of season 2 of The Wheel of Time.[1]

Te Wiata has also released a self-titled jazz album, and toured with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.[1]

Honours and awards

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In 2016, Te Wiata won the New Zealand Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Hunt for the Wilderpeople.[10] In the 2017 New Year Honours, she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to film and television.[1]

In October 2019 she was presented with a Scroll of Honour from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand for her contribution to New Zealand entertainment.

Filmography

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Year Title Role
1986–1987 (204 episodes) Sons and Daughters Janice Reid TV series
1988 Send a Gorilla Lisa Film
1989–1990 Shark in the Park Jacko TV series
1990 1990: The Issues Various characters TV series
1991 Issues TV series
1992 Alex Female Commentator Film
1992 More Issues Various characters TV series
1993–1994 Full Frontal Various characters TV series
1994 Kevin Rampenbacker and the Electric Kettle Cop
1995 Overnight Mel Film
1995–1997 Adventures of Cumie the Cloud Voice artist TV series
1997 H.M.S Pinafore Mrs Cripps, known as Little Buttercup TV movie
1998 Via Satellite Jan
2005 50 Ways of Saying Fabulous Evey
2007 Shortland Street Liz Arthur TV series
2008 Table Plays Georgie TV series
2011 Bliss Miss Watson
2014 Housebound Film
2015 Tatsu Budgie's Mum TV miniseries
2016 Hunt for the Wilderpeople Bella Faulkner Film
2016 Terry Teo Aunty Hinetu TV series
2017 Joyride Mrs. Davidson
2016–2017 The Barefoot Bandits Mamma Mia - Mamma Moa - TV Mum (voice)
2017–2019 Within the Wires Narrator TV series
2018 The Breaker Upperers Shona
2018 Tongue Tied Aho TV series
2019 Golden Boy Carol TV series
2020 This Town Janice
2018–2020 Westside Iris TV series
2021 The Tender Trap Sharon Armstrong
2022 My Life is Murder Spencer TV series
2019–2022 Kiri and Lou Pania - Small- Lelamala (as voice) TV series
2023 The Wheel of Time Sheriam Bayaner TV series
2024 We Were Dangerous The Matron Film

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Rima Te Wiata". nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  2. ^ Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Te Wiata, Inia Morehu Tauhia Watene Iarahi Waihurihia". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Rima Te Wiata and her beloved Kiwi characters". Stuff. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Te Wiatas lost their house". The Press. Vol. 104, no. 30684. 25 February 1965. p. 2. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Rima Te Wiata". Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  6. ^ "Rima Te Wiata". The Court Theatre. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Graduate". www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  8. ^ "ScreenTalk: Rima Te Wiata". The Big Idea. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Within the Wires - Night Vale Presents". Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  10. ^ "Rima Te Wiata". Auckland Actors. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
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