Bartlett-Walford Associates - UK Agent
Iwi: Ngāti Maniapoto
Te Reo Level: Conversational
Acushla-Tara Kupe
- Locations
- Auckland
- Ethnicity
- European, Māori, NZ European
- Age Range
- 29 - 39
- Height
- 169cm / 5ft 7in
- Bust/Chest
- 92cm / 36in
- Waist
- 74cm / 29in
- Hips
- 88cm / 35in
Bio
Acushla-Tara Kupe (Ngāti Maniapoto) 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. Acushla 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 in which she appeared in the multi-award winning Netflix series The Crown.
She also spent 3 years filming the 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 was cast in Apple TV+ show Mr Corman alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Acorn TV/TVNZ’s comedy-drama series Under the Vines Season 2, and the Māori-language children’s series Te Pāmu Kūmara Season 1 & 2.
Most notably she was cast as Diana Huia, the lead role in Irish/New Zealand co-production The Gone, starring opposite Richard Flood (Grey’s Anatomy, Shameless), directed by Peter Burger and Hannah Quinn. Season two is currently underway.
In 2023 she played Tessa Ensler in the sold-out NZ premiere of Lawrence Olivier Best New Play-winner, Prima Facie, directed by Paul Gittens for Auckland Live and Plumb Productions.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-2025 | The Gone Season 1 & 2 | Diana Huia - Lead | Blinder Films (Ireland), Kingfisher Films (NZ), Southern Lights Films (AUS), dir: Peter Burger | Drama |
| 2024 | Under the Vines S3 | Sienna | Libertine Pictures | Drama |
| 2024-2025 | Shortland Street | Bonnie Kawaiti - Recurring Guest | South Pacific Pictures | Drama |
| 2023 | Te Pāmu Kūmara S2 | Grace Rau | Kura Productions, dir: Te Manawani Rawiri | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | A Doll's House | Nora | The Court Theatre, dir: Mel Luckman | |
| 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