- Stats
-
- Age
- 58
- Height
- 180cm
- Ethnicity
- NZ European
- Skills
-
- Accent - Australian, General UK
- Improvisation
| Tessa is an Auckland-based actor, writer, and director with an extensive career spanning both New Zealand and Australia. A graduate of Melbourne’s prestigious drama school V.C.A., she has built a diverse portfolio across film, theatre, and street performance. Her screen credits include the feature film The World’s Fastest Indian, and she has also been recognized for her live performance work, winning Best Solo Street Artist at Melbourne’s Moomba Festival for her character Diva Doona (1994). Her solo show, Drowning Flounder, toured successfully throughout New Zealand and Melbourne at La Mama Theatre. Most notably, in collaboration with musician and partner Ben Holmes, Tessa created the original performance documentary 'I Am a Dark River,’ which premiered at NZIFF. |
Experience
| Feature Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | I Am A Dark River | Role: Various Roles including Greville Texidor |
Production Company: Stella Maris Productions - Orlando Stewart
Director: Tessa Mitchell |
| 2023 | The Burning of Broken Beak | Role: Rebecca |
Production Company: Left Alive Lts NZ & Without A Name LLC US
Director: Christian Carroll |
| 2019 | Come | Role: Anna |
Production Company: Come Film Limited
Director: Andrew McEwan |
| Theatre | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Out of the Mouths of Babes | Role: Lead |
Production Company: Fringe Festival, The Basement Theatre
Director: Ruth Dudding |
| 2018 | Girl You Want | Role: Writer & Performer |
Production Company: Melb La Mama
Director: Chris Jannides & Prue Cunningham |
| 2016 | Girl You Want | Role: Written & Performed |
Director: Chris Jannides & Prue Cunningham |
| 2015 | 'The Next Stage' Development Workshop | Role: Aunty Noeline & Ensemble |
Production Company: ATC
Director: Sara Brodie |
| Short Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Garden of Eden | Role: Mary |
Director: Lucy Goldsbro |
| 2018 | Like an Octopus by its Own Ink Erased | Role: Patricia |
Production Company: FHK Productions
Director: France Herve |
| 2016 | Sparrow | Role: Matron |
Production Company: Robin Murphy Productions
Director: Welby Ings |
| 2014 | Return | Role: Lydia |
Production Company: Heronium Productions
Director: Ryan Heron |
| 2014 | Whistle Blower | Role: Lydia |
Production Company: Auckland University
Director: Nicole van Heerden |
| TVC | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Childhood Immunisations 'Act or Aroha' campaign | Role: Lynn |
Production Company: Flying Fish
|
| 2023 | Uber campaign | Role: Uber Driver |
Production Company: Revolver
|
| 2022 | 2 Degrees Business campaign | Role: Roaming Mum |
Production Company: Triple Double Film
|
| 2022 | Toyota campaign | Role: Hero Coffee |
Production Company: Flying Fish
|
| 2021 | Heart Foundation 'Dog Walking' campaign | Role: Dog Walk Woman |
Production Company: Finch
|
| 2019 | New World 'Come Round To Ours' campaign | Role: Office Worker |
Production Company: The Sweet Shop
|
| 2017 | BNZ campaign | Role: Sarah the Farmer |
Production Company: The Sweet Shop
|
| 2015 | NZTA Alcohol Lower Limits 'Cringe' | Role: Hero Host |
Production Company: Robbers Dog
|
| 2015 | Qualcomm 'Why, When One' | Role: Mother of Sick Kid |
Production Company: Exit Films NZ
|
| 2013 | Igloo | Role: Kathy |
Production Company: Goodlife Films
|
| Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Fringe Awards | Role: Best Intergenerational Award - 'Out of the Mouths of Babes' |
|
| Training | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Liz Mullane & Rachel Bullock Advanced Acting | Role: Actor |
|
| 2023 | Miranda Harcourt Actors & Directors Workshop | Role: Actor/Director |
|
| 2018 | Kenneth Spiteri New Physical Theatre Creation & Dramaturge | Role: Performer |
|
| Television Series | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Creamerie S2 | Role: Woman 3 |
Production Company: Kevin & Co
Director: Roseanne Liang |
| 2022 | Rūrangi S2 | Role: Sharon |
Production Company: Autonomouse
Director: Briar Grace-Smith |
| 2020 | Shortland Street | Role: Melissa Beckham |
Production Company: South Pacific Pictures
|
| Live Performance | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Series 2022 #2 Re-enactments & Re-writes | Role: Prime Morningstar |
Production Company: Judy & The Ballad of One Tree Hill
Director: Stephen Bain |