Bartlett-Walford Associates - UK Agent
Iwi: Ngāti Maniapoto
Te Reo Level: Conversational
Acushla-Tara Kupe
- Locations
- Auckland
- Ethnicity
- European, Māori, NZ European
- Age Range
- 27 - 37
- Height
- 169cm / 5ft 7in
- Bust/Chest
- 92cm / 36in
- Waist
- 74cm / 29in
- Hips
- 88cm / 35in
Bio
Acushla-Tara Kupe is a New Zealand actor of NZ European & Māori (Ngāti Maniapoto) descent. Acushla-Tara started her professional acting journey at 20 when cast in the cult feature film hit Fresh Meat starring alongside New Zealand icon Temuera Morrison followed by 4 years working at the iconic Circa Theatre in Wellington. Kupe then headed to the UK where she landed the role of Pui Sonova in the BBC drama series Creeped Out. During her time in the UK Acushla-Tara also performed at many international functions with renowned kapa haka group Ngāti Rānana of which she appeared in the multi award winning Netflix series The Crown.
As well as her many theatre performances overseas she also spent 3 years filming the new XBox & INT./NIGHT video game As Dusk Falls, and BBC Radio’s The Christchurch Murder with Killing Eve’s Fiona Shaw. On returning to New Zealand Acushla-Tara has been busy working on series including the Apple TV+ show Mr Corman alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Acorn TV/TVNZ’s comedy-drama series Under the Vines Season 2, the Māori-language children’s series Te Pāmu Kūmara Season 1 & 2, and the Irish/New Zealand co-production The Gone where she plays the lead role of Diana Huia, directed by Peter Burger and Hannah Quinn.
Film
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Encounters | Sarah (Supporting) | Oneshotcollective | Feature Film |
| 2016 | Chronesthesia | Elena (Supporting) | Turn Right Ltd | Feature Film |
| 2015 | The Dead Room | Anna | dir. Jason Stutter | Feature Film |
| 2012 | Fresh Meat | Kiri (Supporting) | Gibson Group | Feature Film |
Television
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Te Pāmu Kūmara S2 | Grace Rau | Kura Productions, dir: Te Manawani Rawiri | Drama |
| 2023 | The Gone | Diana Huia - Lead | Blinder Films (Ireland), Kingfisher Films (NZ), Southern Lights Films (AUS), dir: Peter Burger | Drama |
| 2022 | Te Pāmu Kūmara S1 | Grace Rau | Kura Productions | Drama |
| 2022 | Under The Vines S2 | Sienna | Libertine Pictures | Drama |
| 2021 | Mr Corman | Susan | Apple TV+, dir. Joseph Gordon-Levitt | Drama |
| 2021 | The Crown - Season 3 | Dance Performance | Netflix | Drama |
| 2017 | Creeped Out | Pui | BBC | Drama |
Theatre
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Prima Facie | Tessa Ensler | Auckland Live with Plumb Productions, dir: Paul Gittins | |
| 2023 | Waiting for Waiting for Godot | Laura | dir: Michael Hurst | |
| 2020 | Emilia | Emilia #1 | Pop Up Globe, dir Miriama McDowell | |
| 2020 | Found in Translation | Kandii | Te Pou Theatre in association with Circa Theatre | |
| 2020 | Front Yard Fest | Performer | Te Pou Theatre, dir. Tainui Tukiwaho | |
| 2019 | Anahera | Anahera | Finsbourgh Theatre, dir. Alice Kornitzer | |
| 2019 | Twelfth Night | Feste | Iris Theatre, dir Raw McKen | |
| 2019 | Like You Hate Me | Lead | Fight or Flight, dir. Jess Barton | |
| 2017 | Slow Ripening Fruit | Jessica (Lead) | Bechdel Theatre, dir. Nastazja Somers | |
| 2017 | Romeo & Juliet | Benvolio | Mayhem Theatre, dir. Mathew Bentley | |
| 2015 | 2080 | Nancy (Lead) | Hapai Productions, dir. Katie Wolfe | |
| 2014 | Hotel | Anita | Site Specific NZ, dir. Paul McLaughlin | |
| 2014 | A View From The Bridge | Catherine (Lead) | Circa Theatre, dir. Susan Wilson | |
| 2013 | Kings of the Gym | Annie (Lead) | Circa Theatre, dir. Danny Mulheron |
Short Film
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | The Brylcream Boys | Amiria | Rafer Rautjoki | Short Film |
| 2019 | Woman in Blue | Awhi (Lead) | Jack O'Donnell | Short Film |
| 2018 | Review | Jane (Lead) | Central Film School | Short Film |
| 2017 | Lantana | Lantana | University of Westminster | Short Film |
| 2013 | The Return | Lead | Gretchen Peterson | Short Film |
Video
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Destruction AllStars | Hana | Lucid for Playstation | |
| 2022 | As Dusk Falls | Video Game Avatar - Joyce Walema | Int./Night for XBox |
Commercial
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Les Mills - Choose Happy | Millie | dir: Andreas Nilsson | |
| 2022 | Kaitiaki | Hero Sister | Film 360 | |
| 2021 | KFC 'Zumba' | Hero Instructor | Film360 | |
| 2019 | Bach Remedies | Lead | Tinderflint, dir. Ryan Mansfield | |
| 2022 | NZ Cancer Society 'Can Move' | Story Teller | Dripple Productions |
Training
| Year | Description | Institution / Presenter | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acting Workshops | The Actors Guild | |||
| 'Being Human’ Workshop | Brita McVeigh | |||
| Young and Hungry | Wellington |
Languages
Intermediate: Sign Language | Te Reo Māori
Accents
Advanced: American - General | British | New Zealand | UK - English
Circus & Horse
Intermediate: Stage Combat
Driving & Flying
Advanced: Driving (general)
Intermediate: Stick Shift
Singing Range
Mezzo
Singing Styles
Intermediate: General | Musical
Dance
Intermediate: General Movement | Māori