Paul Lewis
- Locations
- Auckland
- Ethnicity
- NZ European
- Age Range
- 49 - 59
- Height
- 174cm / 5ft 9in
Bio
Paul Lewis is an actor, singer, puppeteer, and puppet-maker. A graduate of Unitec’s Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts, Paul has worked extensively in theatre and on screen. He has performed in opera and musicals that toured New Zealand & Australia and appeared in plays such as TITUS at the Pop-Up Globe, in which he played the title role.
In recent years he has discovered success as an in-demand puppeteer and puppet-maker, with his work being showcased both on stage and in television, film, short films, music videos and commercials. Recent highlights as a puppeteer include all three seasons of the Netflix hit, Sweet Tooth, in which he led the performance of the adorable gopher-boy hybrid, Bobby, the smash hit Blumhouse horror movie, M3GAN and the creature in the 2023 feature The Tank.
Film
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | The Tank | Creature Puppeteer | GFC Films, dir: Scott Walker | Feature Film |
| 2021 | M3GAN | M3PGAN - Puppeteer | Candy Cane Productions, dir: Gerard Johnstone | Feature Film |
| 2013 | Stars In Her Eyes | Waiter | Dir. Athina Toulis | Feature Film |
| 2012 | 3 Mile Limit | 3rd Dinner Guest | 3 Mile Limit Film | Feature Film |
| 2012 | Someone to Carry Me | Derek Webster | Dir. Terry Allen | Feature Film |
| 2010 | Journey of a Story | William Brown | Earthwire Productions, dir. Jonathan Rayner-Burt | Feature Film |
| 2004 | De Lovely | Photographer | MGM, dir. Irwin Winkler | Feature Film |
Television
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Sweet Tooth Season 3 | Key Puppeteer | Netflix, Manu One Ltd, dir. Various | Drama |
| 2023 | Sweet Tooth Season 2 | Bobby Puppeteer | Netflix, Manu One Ltd, dir: Various | Drama |
| 2020 | Sweet Tooth Season 1 | Bobby Puppeteer | Netflix, Manu One Ltd, dir: Various | Drama |
| 2020 | Pio Terei Tonight | Puppeteer for 'Two Cows' | Maori Television | Drama |
| 2020 | Kea Kaha | Lead Puppeteer | Whoa! Productions | Drama |
| 2018 | Custard's World | Custard / Various | Whoa! Studios | Drama |
| 2014 | Tatau | Doctor | BBC / SPP, dir. Michael Hurst, Josh Frizzell | Drama |
| 2012 | Harry | Sharks Driver | Dir. Peter Burger, Chris Dudman | Drama |
| 2009 | Shortland Street | Devlin Prince | South Pacific Pictures, dir. Various | Drama |
| 2005 | Whatever Happened to Our Big World | Gypsy | Little Gecko Productions, dir. Steven Kynman | Drama |
| 1997 | Shortland Street | Richard Lustwick | South Pacific Pictures, dir. Various | Drama |
Web Series
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Life is Easy | White Creative | Us People Productions |
Theatre
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Madagascar The Musical | Director of Puppetry | GMG Productions, dir: Nic Purdie | |
| 2019-2020 | The Whoa-To-Go Variety Show | Lead Puppeteer | Whoa! Studios | |
| 2019-2020 | Scrooge | Lead Puppeteer | Whoa! Studios | |
| 2018-2019 | Custard's World: Mission Control Kids | Lead Puppeteer | Whoa! Studios | |
| 2019 | The Mad Hatter's Funk | Actor/Puppeteer | Whoa! Studios | |
| 2017 | Buzz's Fright Night | Lead Puppeteer | Whoa! Studios | |
| 2017 | Custard of the Caribbean | Lead Puppeteer | Whoa! Studios | |
| 2017 | The Doods Dance Show | Lead Puppeteer | Whoa! Studios | |
| 2017 | Gloomio The Great | Lead Puppeteer | Whoa! Studios | |
| 2017 | Space Aliens From Outer Space | Lead Puppeteer | Whoa! Studios | |
| 2016 - 2018 | Custard's World | Custard / Various | Whoa! Studios | |
| 2016-2017 | A Very Gloomy Holidays | Lead Puppeteer | Whoa! Studios | |
| 2016 | TITUS | Titus Andronicus | Pop-Up Globe / Fractious Tash, dir. Banjamin Henson | |
| 2015 | Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story | Norman Petty | Ben McDonald Productions, dir. Matt Salisbury | |
| 2015 | South Pacific | Commander Harbison | Ben McDonald Productions, dir. Geraldine Brophy | |
| 2014 | Ghastly Dash Grimm | Grimm | Fractious Tash, dir. Banjamin Henson | |
| 2014 | Absent Friends | John | Tadpole Productions, dir. Adey Ramsel | |
| 2014 | SIN | Gregory Pryce | The Outfit Theatre Company | |
| 2014 | Oklahoma! | Cord Elam | Ben McDonald Productions, dir. Benjamin Henson | |
| 2013 | The Pirates of Penzance | Policeman | Ben McDonald Productions, dir. Raymond Hawthorne | |
| 2013 | TITUS | Titus Andronicus | Q Loft Season / Fractious Tash, dir. Benjamin Henson | |
| 2012 | Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris | Soloist | UNITEC, dir. Benjamin Henson | |
| 2012 | Supercide | Clive | Short & Sweet Festival, dir. Matt Baker | |
| 2012 | Goddess | Teacher (Voice) | UNITEC, dir. Samantha Molyneux | |
| 2012 | Alice | Heart | The Outfit Theatre Company | |
| 2012 | 8 - The Play | Dr. Ilan Meyer | Dir. Kacie Stetson | |
| 2012 | The Dining Room | Arthur / Architect / Jim | UNITEC, dir. Cameron Rhodes | |
| 2012 | TITUS | Titus Andronicus | UNITEC, dir. Benjamin Henson | |
| 2011 | Heckled | Johnny Smiles | Unitec, dir. Adam Moorhead | |
| 2011 | The Water Engine | Mr Wallace | Unitec, dir. Jeff Szusterman | |
| 2011 | The Asphalt Kiss | Aprigio | Unitec, dir. Paul Gittens | |
| 2011 | The Hospital at the Time of the Revolution | Monsieur | Unitec, dir. Jeff Szusterman | |
| 2004 | Killing Time | Pop | Jermyn St Theatre, London | |
| 2003 | Broken | Kevin | Westminster International One-Act Play Festival, London | |
| 1996 | The Pirates of Penzance | Ensemble | EssGee Productions, dir. Craig Schaeffer | |
| 1996 | The Mikado | Understudy Nanki-Poo / Ensemble | EssGee Productions, dir. Craig Schaeffer | |
| 1995 | Me and My Girl | Understudy Bill Snibson / Ensemble | Adelaide Festival Centre Trust, dir. Nigel West | |
| 1995 | Les Miserables | Thenardier | Founders Theatre,, dir. Stephen Robertson | |
| 1994 | Noddy Goes to Toyland | Mr Plod | Garry Giniven Productions, dir. Garry Giniven | |
| 1993 | Ready To Knock | Little Ted | Tim Bray Productions, dir. Tim Bray | |
| 1991–1994 | Opera | Tenor | Various Operas, NZ |
Short Film
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Growing Still | Puppet-Maker/Puppeteer | Junkyard Universe Films, dir: Alyx Duncan | Short Film |
| 2021 | Fear Becomes Her | Puppet-Maker/Puppeteer | Sneak Out Productions Ltd, dir: Alyx Duncan | Short Film |
| 2011 | Blindside | John | Zodiac Entertainment, dir. Dimi Nakov | Short Film |
| 2011 | Upside Down | Danny Carrick | Xlither Films, dir. Peter Lancet | Short Film |
| 2011 | On Europa There Are No Beaches | Lead | Dir. Arthur Innes | Short Film |
| 2009 | Fraser and Gareth | Fraser | Unitec, dir. Rose Damon | Short Film |
| 2009 | he New Commandments | Anchorman | Dir. Modus Operandi | Short Film |
| 2008 | The Portal | Lead | NZ Film Academy | Short Film |
Video
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Soulsion: Scratch the Surface | Abusive Father | Modus Operandi |
Commercial
| Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | NZ Seniors | Male Lead | FCB | |
| 2022 | KFC | Dad | Stanley Street | |
| 2019-2021 | Slingshot | Puppeteer | dir. Steven Saussey |
Training
| Year | Description | Institution / Presenter | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-2013 | Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts | Unitec | ||
| 2000–2004 | The Actor’s Centre | London | ||
| 1991-1996 | Singing Training | Janice Webb | ||
| 1994 | The Actor’s Space | Raymond Hawthorne | ||
| 1989 | Singing Training | Beatrice Webster |
Accents
Intermediate: American - Californian | American - General | American - New York | American - Southern | American - Western | Australian | British | French | German | Irish | Russian | Scottish | Standard US | UK - Cockney | UK - English | UK - Liverpool | UK - N. Ireland | UK - Scottish | Welsh
Circus & Horse
Advanced: Puppeteer
Driving & Flying
Advanced: Stick Shift
Singing Range
Baritone
Singing Styles
Advanced: Musical