Anapela Polataivao
Anapela graduated from New Zealand’s leading Drama School: Toi Whakaari with a Bachelor of Arts Degree Majoring in Acting (BA) in 2002, since then she carved out a career not only in front of the camera but also for Theatre as an Actor, Producer & Director.
- Locations
- Auckland
- Ethnicity
- Pacific Islander
- Age Range
- 44 - 56
- Height
- 157cm / 5ft 2in
Bio
Anapela gained international acclaim for her performance in the short film Night Shift (2012) and won Best Actress in the 2018 Wellington Theatre Awards for her role in Tusiata Avia’s Wild Dogs Under My Skirt, which she also directed and then went on to make history in 2020 as the first Samoan woman to have directed a show off-Broadway when Wild Dogs Under My Skirt made its New York debut and was subsequently named the winner of the Fringe Encore Series at the SoHo Playhouse.
Screen highlights include feature films such as The Justice of Bunny King starring alongside Australian actor Essie Davis, One Thousand Ropes written & directed by Tusi Tamasese , The Changeover directed by Stuart McKenzie & Miranda Harcourt and New Zealand series such as Filthy Rich, Duckrockers & The Panthers which won 8 awards at this year’s NZ Film & Television Ceremony. Most recently Anapela starred in the Australian series The Messenger, Season 2 of Taika Waititi’s Our Flag Means Death for HBO Max and New Zealand feature film Tinā directed by Miki Magasiva playing the lead role of Mareta.
Film
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Tinā | Mareta (Lead) | Tu Fa'atasi Films, dir. Miki Magasiva | Feature Film |
| 2021 | The Justice of Bunny King | Iosefina | Bunny Productions Ltd., dir. Gaysorn Thavatt | Feature Film |
| 2017 | The Changeover | Sandra Lipton | Changeover Films Ltd, dir. Stuart McKenzie, Miranda Harcourt | Feature Film |
| 2015 | A Thousand Ropes | Dorothy (Support) | Tusi Tamasese | Feature Film |
Television
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Our Flag Means Death S2 | Auntie | Emporium Productions, HBO | Drama |
| 2022 | The Messenger | Olivia | Messenger Productions Pty Ltd | Drama |
| 2022 | Duckrockers | Aunty Sue | South Pacific Pictures | Drama |
| 2021 | The Panthers | Kong's Mum | TVNZ | Drama |
| 2017 | Filthy Rich S2 | Elei (Guest) | Filthy Productions, dir. Peter Burger | Drama |
| 2015 | Filthy Rich S1 | Elei (Guest) | Filthy Productions, dir. Peter Burger | Drama |
| 2010-2016 | Pani & Pani / Mr Lavalava / Game of Bros | Actor/Performer | TVNZ Fresh / Maori TV | Drama |
| 2010 | Eruption | Ana (Lead) | Gibson Group, dir. Danny Mulheron | Drama |
| 2005 | The Market | Ina Lima (Lead) | Isola Productions, dir. Renee Naufahu | Drama |
| 2005 | KTV | Director | Triangle TV | Drama |
Web Series
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | The Educators S2 | Parent | South Pacific Pictures | |
| 2017 | Baby Mama's Club | Lagi | BMC Productions, dir. Hanelle Harris, Roseanne Liang |
Theatre
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | The Worm | The Rat | Nightsong | |
| 2020 | Every Brilliant Thing | Performer | Silo Theatre Trust | |
| 2018 | Fresh Inc | Siana | Court Theatre Trust | |
| 2016 | Puzzy | Director | F.C.C / Lydia Zanetti/ PRIDE FESTIVAL | |
| 2015 | Girl on a Corner | Director | Multinesia Productions | |
| 2015 | Club Paradiso | Tahlz | F.C.C - dir. Vela Manusaute | |
| 2015 | 21st Narcissus | Director | ||
| 2014 | The Factory - A Pacific Musical | Director | Australian Tour | |
| 2014 | The Factory - A Pacific Musical | Director | Edinburgh Festival | |
| 2013 | The Factory - A Pacific Musical | Director | Auckland Arts Festival / KKK | |
| 2012 | Taro King | Director | Kila Kokonut Krew | |
| 2011 | Kingdom of Lote | Director | Kila Kokonut Krew | |
| 2011 | Four Women | Director | Kila Kokonut Krew / Centre Point Theatre | |
| 2011 | The Factory - A Pacific Musical | Director/Producer/writer | Kila Kokonut Krew | |
| 2009 | Yellow Man | Director | Pacific Institute of Performing Arts | |
| 2008 | Pani & Pani | Actor | Pani & Pani | |
| 2008 | Once Were Samoans | Director/Producer/writer/Actor | Fuel Festival Hamilton | |
| 2008 | Where We Once Belonged | Moa | Fuel Festival Hamiton / Auckland Theatre Co | |
| 2008 | Where We Once Belonged | Moa | International Festival Of The Arts / ATC | |
| 2008 | Super Fresh | KKK / International Comedy Festival | ||
| 2007 | My Name Is Gary Cooper | Salamoana | ATC | |
| 2007 | Frangipani Perfume | Tivi | Festival Cambridge London, dir. Makerita Urale | |
| 2007 | Frangipani Perfume | Tivi | Dreaming Festival Australia, dir. Makerita Urale | |
| 2006 | Once Were Samoans | Mama | Kila Kokonut Krew / Comedy Festival | |
| 2005 | Playez Night | Singer/Security Guard/ Mother | Dir. Vela Manu Saute | |
| 2004 | Love handles | Talau | Dir. Vela Manu Saute | |
| 2003 | Island Divas | Dancer/Actor | New York Tour | |
| 2003 | Two Days in Dream | Nurse lupe | DirColin Mitchell | |
| 2003 | Island Girls | Sina/Mother | Dir. Oscar Kightley | |
| 2003 | Songmaker's Chair | Facilitator | TIE Schools Tour | |
| 2002 | Taro King | Dir. Vela Manu Saute | ||
| 2002 | Island Girls | Mother/Sina | Dir. Oscar Kightley | |
| 2001 | Duffy Show | Te kai kapu/ Sinuki | Dir. Christian Penny | |
| 2000 | Into the Woods | Jack's Mother | Dir. Miranda Harcourt |
Short Film
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Nightshift | Salote (Lead) | Curious Films, dir. Zia Mandviwalla | Short Film |
| 1996 | Brown Sugar | Losa (Lead) | He Taonga Films | Short Film |
| 2000 | Sweet Singers | Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, dir. Ian Mune | Student Film | |
| 2022 | The Taxidermist | Taxidermist | Red Rock Films | Short Film |
Training
| Year | Description | Institution / Presenter | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Bachelor of Performing Arts: Acting | Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School |