Sarah Thomson (actress)
{{Short description|New Zealand actress}}
{{For|the Toronto publisher and politician|Sarah Thomson (publisher)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=August 2008}}
{{Notability|1=Biographies|date=April 2022}}
{{Primary sources|date=April 2022}}
{{Third-party|date=April 2022}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=April 2022}}
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{{use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sarah Thomson
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|06|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = New Zealand
| occupation = Actress, puppeteer, writer
| yearsactive = 2005–present
| spouse =
}}
Sarah Thomson (born 17 June 1985) is a New Zealand actress, known for playing roles in two series of the Power Rangers franchise, for her role in New Zealand's longest running soap opera, Shortland Street, and for playing a lead role in puppet show The Moe Show.
Career
Thomson's early roles included playing the "rich bitch" character Tiffany in New Zealand reality show Living the Dream (2004),{{cite web |title=Living the Dream - Full Series |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/living-the-dream-full-series-2004 |website=NZ On Screen |access-date=1 September 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Barry |first1=Rebecca |title=The untrue man show |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/the-untrue-man-show/MTNZU4GT7ZLYF7QATCT6YB5WAA/ |access-date=1 September 2023 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=5 August 2004}} the role of Diane/Hydrax in Power Rangers S.P.D. (2005){{cite web |title= Sarah Thomson {{!}} Credits |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/sarah-thomson/credits/3030221891/ |website=TV Guide |access-date=3 September 2023}}{{cite web |title=Power Rangers S.P.D (2005) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Power-Rangers-SPD/ |website=Behind the Voice Actors |access-date =3 September 2023}} and a role in the film Meet Me in Miami (released 2005). She has a bachelor of arts from the University of Auckland.
In 2006, Thomson and eleven others were chosen out of 260 applicants to participate in Auckland theatre company Silo Theatre's talent project for new actors, The Ensemble Project.{{cite news |title=Flash: Preview performance of The Ensemble Project |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/iflashi-preview-performance-of-the-ensemble-project/HL4CTPOAYF2PGXBLFBOYCTWHBA/ |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=3 September 2023 |date=19 March 2007}} Other participants included Morgana O'Reilly and Bonnie Soper. The company performed in a season of two plays. One of them was an interpretation of 'Tis Pity She's a Whore directed by Michael Hurst, and the other was a company-devised piece called Based On Auckland, led by director Oliver Driver.{{cite news |title=Silo Delivers The Next Generation Of Performance |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0812/S00176/silo-delivers-the-next-generation-of-performance.htm |access-date=31 August 2023 |work=Scoop Independent News |agency=Silo Theatre |date=16 December 2008}}{{cite web |last1=van Beek |first1=Kathryn |title=Topical, authentic, close to home |url=https://www.theatreview.org.nz/production/based-on-auckland-the-ensemble-project-1/#topical-authentic-close-to-home |website=Theatreview |access-date=31 August 2023 |date=16 March 2007}} Both works played in the 2008 Auckland Festival.
Thomson appeared as undercover policewoman/nurse Tracey Morrison on New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street from 2007 to 2011.{{cite news |title=TV Pick of the week: Shortland Street |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/tv-pick-of-the-week-shortland-street/DISVIHWSPENCXQAV3QNCE4GIQ4/ |access-date=31 August 2023 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=16 December 2010 |language=en-NZ}}{{cite news |title=Dramatic start for Shortland St |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/dramatic-start-shortland-st |access-date=31 August 2023 |work=Otago Daily Times |date=11 January 2011}} In a 2008 interview with The Daily Post, she explained that her character would be leaving the police force after a brush with the Ferndale Strangler and returning to a nursing career in the upcoming season.{{cite news |title=You just can't keep her away |url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/you-just-cant-keep-her-away-soapy-bites/docview/432169440/se-2? |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=The Daily Post |date=28 July 2008 |page=A20}} Her character's 2011 wedding to James "Scotty" Scott featured in a Woman's Day list of favourite Shortland Street weddings.{{cite news |title=Our favourite Shortland Street weddings |url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/tv/our-favourite-shortland-street-weddings-32558 |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=Woman's Day |date=24 May 2017 |language=en}}
During her time on Shortland Street she also played the role of Fran in the 2008 series Power Rangers Jungle Fury; she noted "it's a hilarious coincidence that I got pyjama pants and croc shoes as my main costume in both Power Rangers and Shorty Street". In 2013 she played a supporting role in a one-month run of Tribes at the Fortune Theatre, Dunedin, directed by Lara McGregor.{{cite web |last=MacTavish |first=Terry |title=Tribes: Funny, daring, hopeful, insightful|url=https://www.theatreview.org.nz/production/tribes-3/#funny-daring-hopeful-insightful |website=Theatreview |access-date=3 September 2023 |date=17 June 2013}}
Beginning in 2014, Thomson wrote and performed for five seasons of the children's puppet television show, The Moe Show, performing and voicing Fern the Fairy.{{cite news |url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/news/real-life/how-i-live-my-job-is-childs-play-6755 |title=How I Live: My job is child's play |date=29 August 2014 |work=Australian Women's Weekly |first=Aroha |last=Awarau |access-date=12 March 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Croot |first1=James |title=Furry monster back for second season |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/10224584/Furry-monster-back-for-second-season |access-date=31 August 2023 |work=Stuff |date=3 July 2014}}{{cite news |last1=Harvey |first1=Kerry |title=Kiwi tree monster Moe goes global |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/127445155/kiwi-tree-monster-moe-goes-global |access-date=31 August 2023 |work=Stuff |date=12 January 2022 |language=en}} She describes The Muppet Show as a major influence and one of her favourite shows as a child.{{cite news |title=Screen test |url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/screen-test/docview/338341945/se-2? |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=The Dominion Post |date=12 May 2009}} Following the show's final season, she performed in a radio show and live shows, and in 2022 an animated series.
From 2018 to 2021, she was the programme director of New Zealand's largest independent radio station, 95bFM,{{cite news |title=Soundtrack to my Life: Sarah Thomson |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/soundtrack-to-my-life-sarah-thomson/7PGOK2SHLJEI3POG6D4NRA3BTE/ |access-date=31 August 2023 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=14 February 2019 |language=en-NZ}} having initially taken the role on a three month secondment.{{cite news |last1=Parker |first1=Katie |title=95bFM: Turning the page on a new chapter |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/the-wireless/375093/95bfm-turning-the-page-on-a-new-chapter |access-date=1 September 2023 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=25 January 2018}} She hosted an afternoon show each Saturday until September 2022.{{cite web |title=Saturday Afternoon with Sarah |url=https://95bfm.com/show/saturday-afternoon |website=95bFM |access-date=1 September 2023 |language=en}} In 2021, Thomson moved to NZ On Air in Auckland, where she is the music contracts and funding coordinator.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzonair.govt.nz/about/our-team/#meet-the-staff |title=Our team |publisher=NZ On Air |access-date=12 March 2022}} She is also a relief newsreader at Radio New Zealand.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/music101/audio/2018813828/rnz-news-reader-sarah-thomson-on-songs-that-stay-in-your-life |title=RNZ news reader Sarah Thomson on songs that stay in your life |date=25 September 2021 |publisher=RNZ |access-date=12 March 2022}}
Film work
- Meet Me in Miami – Jennifer (2005)
TV work
- The Moe Show – Fern (2014–present)
- Power Rangers Jungle Fury – Fran, Lepus (2008)
- Alt TV's Fresh Produce, The Residents & Lamest Girl Alive – Presenter/Herself (2007–08)
- Shortland Street – Tracey Morrison (17 episodes, 2007, core cast, 2008–2011)
- Power Rangers SPD – Diane/Hydrax (2005)
- Living the Dream – Tiffany (2004)
Other credits
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDB name|1801650}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomson, Sarah}}
Category:New Zealand film actresses
Category:New Zealand television actresses