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Sarah Peirse

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sarah Peirse
Born
New Zealand
OccupationsActress, director
Known forHeavenly Creatures (1994)
Rain (2001)

Sarah Peirse is a New Zealand actress who works on both screen and stage. She is best known for her roles as Honora Rieper Parker in Heavenly Creatures and as Kate in Rain.

Early life and education

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Sarah Peirse studied acting for a year at a drama school associated with Theatre Corporate in Auckland, alongside fellow actors Donogh Rees and Phillip Gordon.[1]

Career

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Following her studies, Peirse acted in theatrical productions such as A Bear Called Paddington and Three Sisters. In 1984, after a year in London, she began directing theatre, starting with Caryl Churchill’s Top Girls at Theatre Corporate.[1]

Peirse’s first screen role was in the 1980 short film Queen Street, followed by a main role in the TV movie A Woman of Good Character, for which she won a Feltex Best Actress award. She continued to appear in theatre, television, and film, and was nominated for an award for her role in the 1985 film Arriving Tuesday, and a Best Supporting Actress award for her role in 1988 fantasy film The Navigator.[1]

In 1989, she spent two years with the Melbourne Theatre Company, before relocating to Sydney for nine years, followed by a three-year stint in the United Kingdom.[citation needed]

Peirse briefly returned to New Zealand to star in the 1994 Peter Jackson film Heavenly Creatures, alongside Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey, playing the role of the ill-fated Honora Rieper Parker.[1] Jackson had admired Peirse's acting when she starred in the film A Woman of Good Character, and regarded her as the only choice for the part of Parker. Peirse also acted as drama coach for Melanie Lynskey on the film.[2]

Peirse again returned to New Zealand, to star in the 2001 coming of age film Rain, playing the role of the disaffected, sophisticated Kate. Her performance earned her two Best Actress awards.[1] That year, she also starred in the 2001 British TV movie Murder Rooms.[1] Her further New Zealand credits include The Hopes & Dreams of Gazza Snell, Under the Vines, the 2011 TV movie Bliss and an award-winning turn in the TV movie Aftershock.[1] Peirse then starred as Hilda in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy (2012–2014), as well as Dr. Gladys Bell in the American fantasy drama series Sweet Tooth (2021–2023).[1]

Peirse's Australian TV credits include guest appearances in The Flying Doctors, Water Rats and Spirited and 1987 Australian thriller film Went Up the Hill. She featured in series such as Old School, Hunters, Seven Types of Ambiguity, Offspring, The Letdown, and Love Me.[1]

Peirse's stage credits include a 2018 production of Melbourne Theatre Company's The Children,[3] as well as lead roles in Cabaret, Three Sisters, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Molly Sweeney.[1] Peirse spent many years at both Theatre Corporate and the Mercury Theatre in New Zealand. where she eventually became Associate Director. She has also directed at the State Theatre Company of South Australia in Adelaide.[2]

Peirse starred in season three of Foxtel legal drama The Twelve.,[4] which premiered on 4 August 2025.[5] On 20 November 2025, Peirse was named in the cast for the ABC series Treasure & Dirt.[6] She plays a tough town police sergeant, Pat Richter, in the series, which premiered in July 2026.[7]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role
1980 A Woman of Good Character Lizzie
1985 Sylvia Vivian Wallop
1986 My Letter to George (aka Mesmerized or Shocked) Victoria's mother
Arriving Tuesday Carol
1987 Young Detectives on Wheels Auntie Kim
1988 The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey Linnet
1994 Heavenly Creatures Honora Parker Rieper
2001 Rain Kate
2002 Unconditional Love Florist
2010 The Hopes & Dreams of Gazza Snell Dr. Riebeeck
2011 Bliss: The Beginning of Katherine Mansfield Annie Beauchamp
2013 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Hilda Blanca
2014 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Hilda Blanca
2018 Mortal Engines Dr. Twix
2022 Nude Tuesday Felicity
2024 A Mistake Mary, Head of Surgery
Went Up the Hill Helen
Addition

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
1983 It's Lizzie to Those Close Lizzie TV movie
1984 Inside Straight Libby Wilkes 1 episode
1987 Steel Riders Auntie Kim 1 episode
1991 The Flying Doctors Elizabeth Samuels 1 episode
1996 Water Rats Margaret Roberts 1 episode
Fable Clarissa TV movie
1998 Murder Call Harriet Fratelli 1 episode
1999 Dog's Head Bay Jenny Grant 3 episodes
2001 Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes Agnes Miniseries, 1 episode
2008 Aftershock Angela Flite TV movie
2009 City Homicide Lucille Neades 1 episode
2010 Spirited Charlotte 1 episode
2011 Bliss Annie Beauchamp TV movie
2014 Old School Margaret McCabe 8 episodes [8]
Rake Politicians Commissioner 1 episode
2016 The Shannara Chronicles Pyria Elessedil 2 episodes
Hunters Finnerman 12 episodes
2016–2017 Offspring Marjorie Van Dyke 13 episodes
2017 Seven Types of Ambiguity Detective Staszic Miniseries, 5 episodes
2017–2019 The Letdown Verity 8 episodes [9][10]
2020 Stateless Assistant Secretary Genevieve Mundy Miniseries, 5 episodes
2021 Sweet Tooth Dr. Gladys Bell Season 1, 3 episodes
2021–2023 Love Me Christine Mathieson 8 episodes [11]
2021–2024 Under the Vines Marissa Silverton 17 episodes
2025 The Twelve Beth Chaplin Season 3: "Cape Rock Killer", 8 episodes
2026 Treasure & Dirt Sergeant Patricia Richter TV series [6]

Theatre

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As actor

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
A Streetcar Named DesireStellaMercury Theatre, Auckland
1979Coming, Ready or NotCentrepoint Theatre, Palmerston North
The Daughter-in-LawMinnie
The FoursomeMarie
1980NativityMaryTheatre Corporate, Auckland
The Stationary Sixth Form Poetry TripMolly
1981Who's Randy
1982Fanshen
Outside InDi – Boss
1984Gulls
1988South PacificNellie ForbushMercury Theatre, Auckland
1989The Secret RaptureKatherine
1990The Heidi ChroniclesSusanRussell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC
1992The Rose TattooSerafina Delle RoseMercury Theatre, Auckland
1995Dead FunnyEleanorWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
1997Molly SweeneyMolly SweeneyFairfax Studio, Melbourne with MTC
1998Vita & VirginiaMaidment Theatre, Auckland
2007EnlightenmentLioFairfax Studio, Melbourne with MTC
2008Madness You Can TrustRNZ National Radio, Wellington
2009Poor BoyRuth PriorSouthbank Theatre, Melbourne with MTC / Sydney Theatre with STC
GethsemaneMeredithBelvoir St Theatre, Sydney
2011The BusinessVan (Vassa)
2012TribesBethSouthbank Theatre, Melbourne with MTC
The GiftSadieATC[12]
2013FuryAliceWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
2014Other Desert CitiesPolly WyethMaidment Theatre, Auckland with ATC
2014–2016SwitzerlandPatricia HighsmithSydney Opera House, Southbank Theatre, Melbourne with STC
2015EndgameNellSTC
2016The Golden AgeQueenie AyreWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
2017Mark Colvin's KidneyMary-Ellen FieldBelvoir Theatre Company, Sydney
2018A Cheery SoulMiss DockerSydney Opera House with STC[13]
The ChildrenRoseSouthbank Theatre, Melbourne, Sydney Opera House with MTC / STC[3]
2023Women of TroyHecubaTheatre Royal, Hobart with Archipelago Productions
SwitzerlandPatricia HighsmithABS Waterfront, Auckland[14]
2025Song of First DesireCamelia / MargaritaBelvoir St Theatre, Sydney

As director

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
1984Top GirlsDirectorTheatre Corporate, Auckland
Wednesday to ComeDirector
1986The Trojan WomenDirectorAuckland Domain with Public Works
1987SquatterDirectorMercury Theatre, Auckland
Les Liaisons DangereusesDirector
1989Mrs KleinDirector
1991A Delicate BalanceDirectorPlayhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1994Someone Who'll Watch Over MeDirectorHerald Theatre, Auckland with ATC
1995Dancing at LughnasaDirector
1997Master ClassDirector
2003A Doll's HouseDirectorUNITEC Theatre, Auckland
2004The BachDirectorHerald Theatre, Auckland with ATC

[15][16]

Awards

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Year Work Award Category Result Ref
1983A Woman of Good Character (aka It's Lizzie to those Close)Feltex AwardsBest ActressWon[17]
1985Arriving TuesdayNZ Listener GOFTA AwardsBest Supporting ActressNominated[17]
1989The Navigator: A Medieval OdysseyNZ Film & TV AwardsBest Female in a Supporting RoleWon[17]
1995Heavenly CreaturesNZ Film & TV AwardsBest Supporting ActressWon[17]
Chlotrudis AwardsBest Supporting ActressNominated[17]
1997Molly SweeneyGreen Room AwardsBest Female ActorWon
2001RainNokia New Zealand Film AwardsBest ActressWon[17]
2002Fantasporto FestivalBest Actress – Directors’ Week SectionWon[17]
2003Chlotrudis AwardsBest Supporting ActressNominated[17]
2009AftershockQantas Film & Television AwardsBest Actress – TelevisionNominated[17]
2012Bliss: The Beginning of Katherine MansfieldNZ Film & Television AwardsBest Performance by a Supporting ActressNominated[17]
2014SwitzerlandSydney Theatre AwardsBear ActressWon[18]
2015EndgameHelpmann AwardsBest Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a PlayNominated[18]
2016The Golden AgeHelpmann AwardsBest Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a PlayWon[18]
2018Seven Types of AmbiguityEquity Ensemble AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Miniseries or TelemovieWon[17]
2024Women of TroyTasmanian Council Theatre AwardsBest PerformanceWon[19]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Sarah Peirse". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Heavenly Creatures – Sarah Peirse". Tripod Lycos. Archived from the original on 26 March 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 Harford, Sonia (18 January 2018). "Sarah Peirse in MTC's The Children, a nightmare vision of the 'quake' to come". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  4. ↑ Staff Writer (8 December 2024). "Danielle Cormack, Eryn Jean Norvill, Sarah Peirse join Sam Neill in 'The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer'". IF Magazine. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  5. ↑ Knox, David (9 July 2025). "Airdate: The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  6. 1 2 Knox, David (20 November 2025). "Treasure & Dirt now filming for ABC Drama". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  7. ↑ Mathieson, Craig (15 July 2026). "Treasure & Dirt review: This outback crime drama is the most ambitious show on the ABC". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  8. ↑ Knox, David (30 May 2013). "ABC announces new crime series, Old School". TVtonight.com.au.
  9. ↑ Knox, David (25 October 2018). "Cameras roll on season 2 of the Letdown". TVTonight.com.au.
  10. ↑ Knox, David (16 June 2017). "Cameras roll on the Letdown series for ABC, Netflix". TVTonight.com.au.
  11. ↑ Knox, David (15 August 2021). "Love Me, new local drama for Binge, Foxtel". TVtonight.com.au.
  12. ↑ "Theatre: The Gift – Entertainment News". The New Zealand Herald. 9 September 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  13. ↑ Staff Writer. "★★★★☆ A Cheery Soul (Sydney Theatre Company)". Limelight. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  14. ↑ Staff Writer. "Actress Sarah Peirse chats about iconic New Zealand films to 'Switzerland' | Articles". www.rova.nz. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  15. ↑ "Sarah Peirse theatre credits". Showcast.
  16. ↑ "Sarah Peirse theatre credits". AusStage.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Sarah Peirse Awards". www.nzonscreen.com. 15 December 2017.
  18. 1 2 3 "Sarah Peirse". Sydney Theatre Company. 15 December 2017.
  19. ↑ "2024 Nominees & Winners". Theatre Council of Tasmania.
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