Bree Peters

{{short description|New Zealand stage, film and television actress, stunt performer and boxer}}

{{Infobox person|

| name = Bree Peters

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Brittany Peters

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|04|18|df=y}}

| alma_mater = Otumoetai College{{cite web| last=Dann| first=Jennifer| title=Twelve Questions with Bree Peters: 'I'd make a terrible politician'| url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12097920| website=The New Zealand Herald| date=31 July 2018| accessdate=8 September 2020}}

| occupation = Actress, stunt performer, Acting Coach

| years_active = 2002–present

| notable_works = Shortland Street
Home and Away

| awards = {{Plainlist |

Te Tohu Auahatanga Award for Best Actress
Tropfest Viewers' Choice Award for Best Actress

}}

| parents = Winston Peters
Louise Peters

| spouse =

| children =

| relatives = Jim Peters (uncle)
Ian Peters (uncle)
Lynette Stewart (aunt)

| website = {{Instagram|breepetersnz}}
{{Facebook|689010394}}

}}

Brittany Peters (born 18 April 1985) is a New Zealand stage, film and television actress, director, stunt performer and acting coach. 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).

Early life

Peters was born in New Zealand to Louise, a primary school teacher and Winston Peters, who currently serves as Deputy Prime Minister. She has one older sibling – a brother, Joel.{{cite web| last=Verdon| first=Tony| title=Winston Peters: Politician, family man and enigma| url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11927564| website=The New Zealand Herald| date=29 September 2017| accessdate=6 September 2020}}{{cite web| title=Winston has his finest hour . . . | url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=104130| website=The New Zealand Herald| date=30 June 2000| accessdate=6 September 2020}}

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.{{cite web| title= Graduates Te Hunga Whakapōtae| url=https://www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz/graduate| website=toiwhakaari.ac.nz| accessdate=8 September 2020}} 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.{{cite web| title=Bree Peters| url=https://gcm.co.nz/artists/bree-peters| website=gcm.co.nz| accessdate=8 September 2020}}

In 2014, Peters began appearing in the medical soap opera Shortland Street as Dr. Pania Stevens.{{cite web| title=Spy: Winston Peters' daughter joins Shortland Street| url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11363540| website=Herald on Sunday| date=24 November 2014| accessdate=6 September 2020}}{{cite web| last=Harvey| first=Kerry| title=Shortland Street's Bree Peters: 'People tell me they hate me'| url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/tv-guide/70718260/shortland-streets-bree-peters-people-tell-me-they-hate-me| website=Stuff| date=31 July 2015| accessdate=6 September 2020}} 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 reception; 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.{{cite web| title=Shortland Street star receives death threats| url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/celeb-news/shortland-street-star-receives-death-threats-3188| website=Nowtolove.com.au| date=28 July 2015| accessdate=8 September 2020}}

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.{{cite web| last=Tiananga| first=Tamati| title=Super8 fight night displays explosive talent| url=https://www.teaomaori.news/super8-fight-night-displays-explosive-talent| website=teaomaori.news| date=4 November 2015| accessdate=6 September 2020}}{{cite web| last=Price| first=Rosanna| title=Bree Peters wins fight, dad Winston takes no credit| url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/73683070/bree-peters-wins-fight-dad-winston-takes-no-credit| website=Stuff| date=4 November 2015| accessdate=6 September 2020}}

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,{{cite web| title=Every Moment| url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/every-moment-2015/awards| website=nzonscreen.com| accessdate=6 September 2020}} while she was additionally nominated for a New Zealand Film Award for Best Actress in a Short Film.{{cite web| title= Every Moment (2015) Trivia| url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3816606/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv| website=imdb.com| accessdate=6 September 2020}}

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.

In 2019, it was announced that Peters would be cast in the Seven Network Australian soap opera Home and Away.{{cite web| last=Anderton| first=Joe| title=Home and Away teases new family for Summer Bay in 2020 trailer| url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/home-and-away/a30302823/home-and-away-new-family-2020-trailer/| website=Digital Spy| date=21 December 2019| accessdate=6 September 2020}} She appeared as Gemma Parata, part of a Māori family who moves to Summer Bay under tragic circumstances.{{cite web| last=Harvey| first=Kerry| title=New family bring Māori culture to Home And Away| url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/tv-guide/118984953/new-family-bring-mori-culture-to-home-and-away| website=Stuff| date=28 January 2020| accessdate=6 September 2020}}{{cite web| last=Harvey| first=Kerry| title=Bree Peters: Representing Māori culture accurately is essential on Home And Away| url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/tv-guide/121983961/bree-peters-representing-mori-culture-accurately-is-essential-on-home-and-away| website=Stuff| date=2 July 2020| access-date=27 February 2021}} 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.{{cite web| last=Anderton| first=Joe| title=Home and Away airs a surprise exit for one member of the Parata family|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/home-and-away/a33260276/home-and-away-gemma-parata-bree-peters-exit/| website=Digital Spy| date=9 July 2020| accessdate=6 September 2020}}

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 Condoleezza 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
Generation Z: Zombie Red Zone – as Frosty (2014) – Royale Productions
The Wholehearted – as Performer/deviser (2016){{cite web| title=PRODUCTION INFORMATION: THE WHOLEHEARTED| url=https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/production.php?id=5116| website=theatreview.org.nz| accessdate=8 September 2020}}
Burn Her – as Lead (2018) – Massive Theatre Company{{cite web| last=Sowman-Lund| first=Steward| title=Sam Brooks' 'Burn Her' is dark, funny and wonderfully uncomfortable| url=http://keepingupwithnz.com/2018/08/04/sam-brooks-burn-her-review/| website=Keepingupwithnz.com| date=4 August 2018| accessdate=8 September 2020}}
Emilia – as Mary Sidney (2020)

Filmography

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" \|+ Film
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! class="unsortable" \| 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
2020 \| Baby Done \| Sonographer \| Feature film{{cite web\| title=Baby Done\| url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9894660/\| website=imdb.com\| accessdate=6 September 2020}}
{{TBA}} \| The Canyon \| Grayce \| Post-production
{{TBA}} \| Forgive Us All \| Scout \| Post-production

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

|+ Film

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! class="unsortable" | 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

2020

| Baby Done

| Sonographer

| Feature film{{cite web| title=Baby Done| url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9894660/| website=imdb.com| accessdate=6 September 2020}}

| The Canyon

| Grayce

| Post-production

| Forgive Us All

| Scout

| Post-production

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" \|+ Television
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! class="unsortable" \| 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, 2023 \| Shortland Street \| Pania Stevens \| Seasons 23–24, 32; recurring role
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 \| 2Kaha \| Herself/Presenter \|
2018 \| Only in Aotearoa \| Various roles \|
2018 \| Third Term \| Zambesi \| Pilot; webseries (not yet released){{cite web\| title=Tandi Wright's new political role and the unexpected link to Jacinda Ardern\| url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/lifestyle/career/tandi-wrights-new-political-role-and-the-unexpected-link-to-jacinda-ardern-39916\| website=Nowtolove.com.au\| date=3 December 2018\| accessdate=6 September 2020}}{{cite web\| title=Third Term Webseries\| url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights/audio/2018746714/third-term-webseries\| website=Radio New Zealand\| date=15 May 2020\| accessdate=6 September 2020}}
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)
2020 \| The Wilds \| Susan \| Pilot{{cite web\| last= Otterson\| first=Joe\| title=Amazon Orders YA Drama 'The Wilds' From Sarah Streicher to Series\| url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/amazon-the-wilds-series-1203226989/\| website=Radio New Zealand\| date=28 May 2019\| accessdate=6 September 2020}}
2021 \| Good Grief \| Trisha \| Season 1 (4 episodes)
2022 \| The Brokenwood Mysteries \| Karla Whitimai \| Season 8; guest role (1 episode)
2023 \| Sweet Tooth \| Dolly \| Season 2; guest role (2 episodes)
2023 \| Double Parked \| Cass \| Season 1; guest role (1 episode)
2024 \| Spinal Destination \| Tessa Rivers \| Season 1; main role (6 episodes)
2024 \| Friends Like Her \| Stacey \| TV series (upcoming)

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

|+ Television

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! class="unsortable" | 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, 2023

| Shortland Street

| Pania Stevens

| Seasons 23–24, 32; recurring role

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

| 2Kaha

| Herself/Presenter

2018

| Only in Aotearoa

| Various roles

2018

| Third Term

| Zambesi

| Pilot; webseries (not yet released){{cite web| title=Tandi Wright's new political role and the unexpected link to Jacinda Ardern| url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/lifestyle/career/tandi-wrights-new-political-role-and-the-unexpected-link-to-jacinda-ardern-39916| website=Nowtolove.com.au| date=3 December 2018| accessdate=6 September 2020}}{{cite web| title=Third Term Webseries| url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights/audio/2018746714/third-term-webseries| website=Radio New Zealand| date=15 May 2020| accessdate=6 September 2020}}

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)

2020

| The Wilds

| Susan

| Pilot{{cite web| last= Otterson| first=Joe| title=Amazon Orders YA Drama 'The Wilds' From Sarah Streicher to Series| url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/amazon-the-wilds-series-1203226989/| website=Radio New Zealand| date=28 May 2019| accessdate=6 September 2020}}

2021

| Good Grief

| Trisha

| Season 1 (4 episodes)

2022

| The Brokenwood Mysteries

| Karla Whitimai

| Season 8; guest role (1 episode)

2023

| Sweet Tooth

| Dolly

| Season 2; guest role (2 episodes)

2023

| Double Parked

| Cass

| Season 1; guest role (1 episode)

2024

| Spinal Destination

| Tessa Rivers

| Season 1; main role (6 episodes)

2024

| Friends Like Her

| Stacey

| TV series (upcoming)

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" \|+ Non-acting work
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2020 \| The New Legends of Monkey \| Chaperone (Season 2, episode 1)
2021 \| Sweet Tooth \| Child acting coach (Season 1 – 7 episodes)
2022 \| Raised by Refugees \| Director (Season 1 – 3 episodes)
{{TBA}} \| Pack Rat \| Intimacy coordinator (short film)
{{TBA}} \| Went Up the Hill \| Child performance coach (feature film)

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

|+ Non-acting work

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2020

| The New Legends of Monkey

| Chaperone (Season 2, episode 1)

2021

| Sweet Tooth

| Child acting coach (Season 1 – 7 episodes)

2022

| Raised by Refugees

| Director (Season 1 – 3 episodes)

| Pack Rat

| Intimacy coordinator (short film)

| Went Up the Hill

| Child performance coach (feature film)

References

External links

{{IMDb name|5416299}}
{{Instagram|breepetersnz}}
{{Facebook|689010394}}
[https://www.aucklandactors.co.nz/actors/details/bree-peters Bree Peters] at Auckland Actors

Category:1985 births

Category:Living people

Category:New Zealand people of Scottish descent

Category:21st-century New Zealand actresses

Category:New Zealand Māori actresses

Category:New Zealand stage actresses

Category:New Zealand film actresses

Category:New Zealand television actresses

Category:New Zealand soap opera actresses

Category:New Zealand expatriates in Australia

Category:Ngāti Wai people

Category:Ngāpuhi people

Category:Ngāti Hine people