Bonnie Soper
{{short description|New Zealand actress}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox person
|image = |
|imagesize = 150px |
| name = Bonnie Soper
| birth_name = Bonnie Soper
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1984}}
| birth_place = Invercargill, New Zealand
| death_date =
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| othername =
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 2007–present
| spouse =
| domesticpartner =
| children =
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| website =
}}
Bonnie Soper (born 1984 in Invercargill, New Zealand) is a New Zealand film and television actress. She is known for playing Princess Diana{{Cite web |last=Specter|first=Emma |date=2022-10-26 |title=Who’s the Best Fictional Princess Diana of All Time? |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/who-played-princess-diana-best-7-actresses-ranked |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}} in Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance.{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=2018-02-15 |title=Lifetime’s ‘Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance’ Finds Its Diana And Elizabeth II |url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/harry-and-meghan-royal-romance-princess-diana-queen-elizabeth-ii-bonnie-soper-maggie-sullivun-1202290784/ |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} In 2009, Soper received the award for Best Supporting Actress for her outstanding performance in the movie, The Map Reader at 2009 Qantas Film and Television Awards.{{Cite web |last=Croot |first=James |date=2018-05-07 |title=Kiwi actress Bonnie Soper on playing Princess Diana in Harry and Meghan: A Royal Romance |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/103687517/kiwi-actress-bonnie-soper-on-playing-princess-diana-in-harry-and-meghan-a-royal-romance |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=Stuff |language=en}}
Early career
A graduate of the Unitec School of Performing and Screen Arts, her theatre credits include, Auckland Theatre Company's 2007 play The Pillowman which she co-starred in with former and current Shortland Street actors Oliver Driver and Craig Parker.{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608184544/http://www.stuff.co.nz/4186926a20517.html |archivedate=8 June 2008 |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4186926a20517.html |title=Theatre review: Grippingly grisly |last=Smythe |first=Nik |work=The Sunday Star-Times |date=2 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}
{{update section|date=November 2018}}In 2006, Soper scored a lead role in the New Zealand feature film The Devil Dared Me To, released in cinemas on 11 October 2007. In Arkles Entertainment's feature film The Map Reader, scheduled to be released in 2008, she played a young blind woman. Other credits include the short film We The Living, commercials and a music video for New Zealand band Dimmer.
In 2007, she featured in New Zealand band Deja Voodoo's music video "Tracey", a song from the soundtrack of her film debut The Devil Dared Me To. Bonnie has appeared in the music video The Night, performed by New Zealand band Goodnight Nurse. The video was released in Australia and New Zealand on 4 February 2008.
''Shortland Street''
She is best known for her role of Morgan Braithwaite on the long-running New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. Her first scenes were on the episode based on a day in the life of Joey Henderson, the Shortland Street serial killer, which screened on 5 February 2008.
On 16 February 2008, Southland Times newspaper revealed that Bonnie's Shortland Street contract had been extended to three months after initially being contracted for three to six weeks.{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608184549/http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/southlandtimes/4403134a6568.html |archivedate=8 June 2008 |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/southlandtimes/4403134a6568.html |title=Ex-Invercargill actor gets more time on soap |work=The Southland Times |first=Sophie |last=Speer |date=16 February 2008 |url-status=dead}} It was announced on 17 April 2008 that she will be returning to the show on 5 May. She appeared on the 2008 cast photo. Bonnie was then a full-time cast member and was featured in the opening credits.
On Friday 18 December 2009, Bonnie left the show as her character was accidentally killed by Kieran Mitchell, who is portrayed by Adam Rickitt.
Personal life
She is a keen swimmer, taking part in the Mount Maunganui Sovereign Sand To Surf in March 2009 and in the North Shore King of the Bays swim in April 2009.{{cite news |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012012416/http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/entertainment/2282358/Streeters-make-waves-at-the-Mount |archivedate=12 October 2012 |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/entertainment/2282358/Streeters-make-waves-at-the-Mount |title=Streeters make waves at the Mount |work=Sunday News |date=22 March 2009 |first=Ellen |last=Irvine |url-status=dead}} After leaving Shortland Street at the end of 2009, Bonnie moved back to Invercargill, before later moving to Los Angeles.
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Film and television |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2006
|Billy for Lilly |Lilly |Short film |
| 2006
|We the Living |Sonja |Short film |
| 2007
|{{sortname|The|Devil Dared Me To}} |Tracy 'Tragedy' Jones |Feature film |
| 2008
|{{sortname|The|Map Reader}} |Mary |Feature film |
| 2008–2009
|Regular role |
| 2010
|Stolen |TV Reporter |TV film |
| 2014
|Jessie Verey |TV miniseries |
| 2016–17
|Annabelle Maxwell |Recurring role |
| 2018
|Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance |TV film |
| 2018
|{{sortname|The|Box|nolink=1}} |Mom |Short film |
| 2019
|Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal |Princess Diana |TV film |
| 2021
|Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace |Princess Diana |TV film |
| 2022
|Peggy Jones |1 episode |
Theatre
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2003
|Watch This Space |Various | |
| 2003
|Spinning Tales | | |
| 2004
|Thea | |
| 2004
|At the Bay |Anne | |
| 2005
|On Our Own |Elsie | |
| 2005
|La Morta Finta |Mercutio / Apothecary | |
| 2005
|Home Grown |Rachel | |
| 2005
| | |
| 2005
|Darlene | |
| 2007
|Annabella | |
| 2007
|{{sortname|The|Pillowman}} |The Mother | |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/488124/1021291 Breakfast show interview]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090504021931/http://johnsonlaird.com/Bonnie_Soper Johnson Laird Talent Agency profile]
- {{IMDb name|2560061}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Soper, Bonnie}}
Category:New Zealand stage actresses
Category:New Zealand television actresses
Category:People from Invercargill