Rachel House

Toi Whakaari acting graduate Rachel House, ONZM, won her first theatre award in 1998, around the time she debuted on screen in short film Queenie and Pete. Since then she has shown her gift for comedy and drama in The Life and Times of Te Tutu, Whale Rider, and White Lies — and won new fans as a hilariously driven welfare officer in Hunt for the Wilderpeople. In 2021, she co-starred in both Cousins and Penguin Bloom. She has also worked extensively as a voice actor in Hollywood — including major roles in films Moana and Soul — and directed for the theatre. Her directorial debut in feature film is coming-of-age tale The Mountain (2024).

I was told I’d never make it as an actor . . . some kind of counsellor or teacher said, 'you probably wouldn’t make it as an actor' then I started doing quite well in acting and had people tell me I couldn’t do screen . . . But these moments are great. It’s saying you’re not capable enough, and that’s where you really have to ask yourself, 'Am I capable enough?' And generally speaking the answer is yes. Rachel House, in an interview for website The Spinoff, 27 October 2017