Sarah Peirse

Sarah Peirse is a New Zealand actress who works on both screen and stage. She is best known for her roles as Honora Rieper Parker in Heavenly Creatures and as Kate in Rain.

Peirse studied acting for a year at a drama school associated with Auckland's Theatre Corporate, alongside fellow actors, Donogh Rees and Phillip Gordon.^[1]

Following her studies, Peirse acted in theatrical productions such as A Bear Called Paddington and Three Sisters. In 1984, after a year in London, she began directing theatre, starting with Caryl Churchill’s Top Girls at Theatre Corporate.^[1]

Peirse’s first screen role was in the 1980 short film Queen Street, followed by a main role in the TV movie It’s Lizzie to those Close, for which she won a Feltex Best Actress award. She continued to appear in theatre, television and film, and was nominated for an award for her role in the 1985 film Arriving Tuesday, and a Best Supporting Actress award for her role in 1988 fantasy film The Navigator.^[1]

In 1989, Peirse spent two years with the Melbourne Theatre Company, before relocating to Sydney for nine years, followed by a three year stint in the United Kingdom.

Peirse briefly returned to New Zealand to star in the 1994 Peter Jackson film Heavenly Creatures, alongside Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey, playing the role of the ill-fated Honora Rieper Parker.^[1] Jackson fell in love with Peirse's acting when she starred in the film A Woman of Good Character, and regarded her as the only choice for the part of Parker. Peirse also acted as drama coach for Melanie Lynskey on the film.^[2]

She again returned to New Zealand, to star in the 2001 coming of age film Rain, playing the role of the disaffected, sophisticated Kate. Her performance earned her two Best Actress awards.^[1] Peirse's further New Zealand credits include The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell, Under the Vines, the 2011 TV movie Bliss and an award-winning turn in the TV movie Aftershock.^[1]

Her Australian TV credits include guest appearances in The Flying Doctors, Water Rats and Spirited and 1987 Australian thriller film Went Up the Hill. More recently she has featured in series such as Old School, Hunters, Seven Types of Ambiguity, Offspring, The Letdown and Love Me.^[1] On 9 December 2024, Peirse was named in the cast for season three of Foxtel legal drama The Twelve.^[3]

She starred in the 2001 British TV movie Murder Rooms.^[1]

Peirse starred as Hilda in Peter Jackson's Hobbit (2012–2014) trilogy, as well as Dr. Gladys Bell in the American fantasy drama series Sweet Tooth (2021–2023).^[1]

Peirse's stage credits include a 2018 production of Melbourne Theatre Company's The Children,^[4] as well as lead roles in Cabaret, Three Sisters, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Molly Sweeney.^[1] Peirse spent many years at both Theatre Corporate and the Mercury Theatre in New Zealand. where she eventually became Associate Director. She has also directed at the Adelaide State Theatre.^[2]

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• Sarah Peirse at IMDb