1. Rachel Jessica Te Ao Maarama House was born on 20 October 1971 and is a New Zealand actress and director.
22 Facts About Rachel House
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Rachel House is best known for her roles in the films of Taika Waititi.
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Rachel House has received numerous accolades including an Arts Laureate, NZ Order of Merit, "Mana Wahine" from WIFT NZ and Te Waipuna a Rangi for her contributions as an actor and director.
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Rachel House attended the New Zealand national drama school, Toi Whakaari, graduating in 1992.
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Rachel House went into stage work with the Pacific Underground Theatre and the Auckland Theatre Company.
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In 1998 Rachel House made her screen debut in the short film Queenie and Pete.
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In 2008 Rachel House appeared in Taika Waititi's first feature film, Eagle vs Shark.
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Rachel House has gone on to become a regular collaborator with Waititi, appearing in his second film, Boy, in 2010, and providing acting coach for the young actors on set.
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Rachel House voiced Gramma Tala in the 2016 Disney animated film Moana.
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Rachel House plays one of the main roles in the Australian 2023 comedy drama series Bay of Fires, and in 2024 will reprise her role in the second season of the award-winning Netflix series Heartbreak High.
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In 2023, Rachel House portrayed the pirate Mary Read in season 2 of the HBO Max comedy Our Flag Means Death.
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Rachel House was named as part of the cast for Stan Australia series Sunny Nights.
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Rachel House has directed numerous theatrical performances, short films and a feature film released in 2024.
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In 2008, Rachel House studied directing at the Prague Film School in the Czech Republic.
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In 2012, Rachel House directed the Maori-language version of Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida, Toroihi raua ko Kahira, adapted by Te Haumihiata Mason and set in a classical Maori and a pre-colonial Maori world.
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In 2016, Rachel House directed Auckland-based theatre company Silo Theatre's production of Medea, a contemporary retelling of the Euripides myth created by Australian theatre-makers Kate Mulvany and Anne-Louise Sarks.
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Rachel House has co-directed with Tweedie Waititi of Matewa Media for the Maori language versions of Disney animated films The Lion King and Moana.
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In 1995, Rachel House won the "Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year" Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for her one-woman show Nga Pou Wahine by Briar Grace-Smith.
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Rachel House won the 2001 Director of the Year award at both the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards and the New Zealand Listener Awards for her direction of Mitch Tawhi Thomas' play Have Car Will Travel.
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Rachel House attended the Prague Film School in 2008 and was awarded Best Director and Best Film Audience Award for her two short films made while studying there.
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In 2016, Rachel House received the WIFT NZ Mana Wahine Award for her prolific contribution to theatre and film, both in front of and behind the camera.
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In 2018, Rachel House was a joint winner with Professor Derek Lardelli of the Te Waipuna-a-Rangi Award for Arts and Entertainment at the Matariki Awards, held by Whakaata Maori.