Bree Peters

Bree Peters is a New Zealand stage, film and television actress, stunt performer and boxer. She is best known for her recurring roles on the soap operas Shortland Street as Pania Stevens (2014–2015) and in Home and Away as Gemma Parata (2020).

Bree Peters
Born1987/1988 (age 32–33)[1]
New Zealand
Alma materOtumoetai College[2]
OccupationActress, stunt performer, boxer
Years active2002–present
Notable work
Shortland Street
Home and Away
Parent(s)Winston Peters
Louise Peters
Awards
  • Te Tohu Auahatanga Award for Best Actress
  • Tropfest Viewers' Choice Award for Best Actress

Early life

Peters was born in New Zealand to Louise, a primary school teacher and Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister. She has two older siblings – a brother, Joel and a sister, Brittany.[3][4]

Career

Peters' acting career commenced in 2002 when she was cast in the stage production of Fame, based on the film of the same name; after which she entered formal training and attended the Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, graduating in 2006 with a Bachelor of Performing Arts degree.[5] Following this, she attended the Actors Lab Workshop where she was trained by actress Miranda Harcourt. She continued in theatre before appearing in short films and then television, landing guest roles on The Almighty Johnsons, Go Girls, The Blue Rose and Nothing Trivial. She later underwent a Professional Practitioners course at the Massive Theatre Company.[6]

In 2014, Peters began appearing in the medical soap opera Shortland Street as Dr. Pania Stevens.[1][7] Her first major screen role, Peters' duration on the show lasted eight months on a recurring basis. Her role on the series was met with a mixed recption; viewers were highly critical of her portrayal as a villain and she was subjected to online bullying forcing her to close all her social media accounts, while others showed their support as she was praised for her performance and her acting skills.[8][2]

In conjunction with her acting career, she began courses in stunt work for Cherokee Films New Zealand, and professional boxing where she trained at Fight Camp. In 2015, Peters competed in the Female Celebrity Fight category at the Super 8 Boxing Tournament, beating actress Lisa O'Loughlin.[9][10]

For her performance in short film Every Moment, she earned the Te Tohu Auahatanga Award for Best Actress and the Viewers' Choice Award for Best Actress at the Tropfest New Zealand in 2015,[11] while she was additionally nominated for a New Zealand Film Award for Best Actress in a Short Film.[12]

In 2016, Peters travelled to the United States where she attended a three-month Summer course at the Atlantic Theater Company. Her subsequent television work followed with guest appearances on Find Me a Māori Bride, The Dead Lands and Fresh Eggs.[6]

In 2019, it was announced that Peters would be cast in the Seven Network Australian soap opera Home and Away.[13] She appeared as Gemma Parata, part of a Māori family who moves to Summer Bay under tragic circumstances.[14] She made her first appearance in the ninety-minute opening episode of the 2020 season on 27 January. She departed the series in July 2020.[15]

Theatre credits
  • Fame – as Lambchops (2002)
  • Antony and Cleopatra – as Cleopatra (2004) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School
  • Pegasus Moon – as Dancer (2005) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School
  • Stop Kiss – as Callie (2005) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School
  • Battles of the Heart – as Neva (2005) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School
  • The Seagull – as Polina (2005) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School
  • Stuff Happens – as Condoleeza Rice (2005) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School
  • Cabaret – as Lead Soloist (2005) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School
  • Tape – as Amy (2006) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School
  • People Don't Sing When They're Feeling Sensible – as Lead (2006) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School
  • Peer Gynt – as Various roles (2006) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School
  • The Crucible – as Mercy Lewis (2007) – Auckland Theatre Company
  • Whero's New Net – as Whero (2008) – Massive Theatre Company
  • Life as a Dream – Various roles (2009) – Silo Theatre
  • Whero's New Net (National Tour) – as Whero (2009) – Silo Theatre
  • Havoc in the Garden – as Jani (2011) – Massive Theatre Company
  • A Basement Christmas Carol – as Bobby Cratchet (2013) – Silo Theatre
  • Hauraki Horror – Paikea (2014) – Silo Theatre
  • Generation Z: Edinburgh Fringe Festival – as Frosty (2014) – Royale Productions
  • Genration Z: Zombie Red Zone – as Frosty (2014) – Royale Productions
  • The Wholehearted – as Performer/deviser (2016)[16]
  • Burn Her – as Lead (2018) – Massive Theatre Company[17]
  • Emilia – as Mary Sidney (2020)

Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
2004 This Topia Holly Wills Short film; Toi Whakaari production
2005 A&E: Accident and Eternity Doctor Bailey Short film; Toi Whakaari production
2006 Motivation Sam Short film
2012 Night Shift Supervisor Short film
2012 The Weight of Elephants Miss Pryor Feature film
2013 Enemy Within Kalima Kekoa Feature film
2014 Every Moment Annie Short film
2016 Hillary Clinton/Young Lover Norma Leota Short film
2018 Bellbird Ana Feature film; "Northland" (working title)
2019 Oranges and Lemons Teacher Short film; R&G (working title)
2019 Runaway Millionaires Aroha Hurring Television film
TBA Baby Done Sonographer Feature film (not yet released)[18]
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2009 Feedback Various roles
2012 The Almighty Johnsons Shona Season 2; guest role (1 episode)
2013 The Blue Rose Kat Season 1; guest role (1 episode)
2013 Go Girls Barmaid Season 5; guest role (1 episode)
2012–13 Nothing Trivial Karen Seasons 2–3; guest role (3 episodes)
2014–15 Shortland Street Pania Stevens Seasons 23–24; recurring role (39 episodes)
2015 Funny Girls Various roles
2016 Tinderellas Stephanie Pilot (not picked up) (also wardrobe supervisor)
2016 Find Me a Māori Bride Susan Season 2; recurring role (3 episodes)
2015–16 2Haka Herself/Presenter
2018 Only in Aotearoa Various roles
2019 Fresh Eggs Tina
2020 The Dead Lands Marama Season 1; guest role (2 episodes)
2020 Home and Away Gemma Parata Season 33; recurring role (40 episodes)
2020 Mean Mums Ms. Lightfoot Season 2; guest role (recurring)
TBA Third Term Zambesi Pilot; webseries (not yet released)[19][20]
TBA The Wilds Susan Pilot (not yet released)[21]

References
  1. "Spy: Winston Peters' daughter joins Shortland Street". Herald on Sunday. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  2. Dann, Jennifer (31 July 2018). "Twelve Questions with Bree Peters: 'I'd make a terrible politician'". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  3. Verdon, Tony (29 September 2017). "Winston Peters: Politician, family man and enigma". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  4. "Winston has his finest hour . . ". The New Zealand Herald. 30 June 2000. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  5. "Graduates Te Hunga Whakapōtae". toiwhakaari.ac.nz. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  6. "Bree Peters". gcm.co.nz. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  7. Harvey, Kerry (31 July 2015). "Shortland Street's Bree Peters: 'People tell me they hate me'". Stuff. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  8. "Shortland Street star receives death threats". Nowtolove.com.au. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  9. Tiananga, Tamati (4 November 2015). "Super8 fight night displays explosive talent". teaomaori.news. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  10. Price, Rosanna (4 November 2015). "Bree Peters wins fight, dad Winston takes no credit". Stuff. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  11. "Every Moment". nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  12. "Every Moment (2015) Trivia". imdb.com. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  13. Anderton, Joe (21 December 2019). "Home and Away teases new family for Summer Bay in 2020 trailer". Digital Spy. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  14. Harvey, Kerry (28 January 2020). "New family bring Māori culture to Home And Away". Stuff. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  15. Anderton, Joe (9 July 2020). "Home and Away airs a surprise exit for one member of the Parata family". Digital Spy. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  16. "PRODUCTION INFORMATION: THE WHOLEHEARTED". theatreview.org.nz. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  17. Sowman-Lund, Steward (4 August 2018). "Sam Brooks' 'Burn Her' is dark, funny and wonderfully uncomfortable". Keepingupwithnz.com. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  18. "Baby Done". imdb.com. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  19. "Tandi Wright's new political role and the unexpected link to Jacinda Ardern". Nowtolove.com.au. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  20. "Third Term Webseries". Radio New Zealand. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  21. Otterson, Joe (28 May 2019). "Amazon Orders YA Drama 'The Wilds' From Sarah Streicher to Series". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
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