Sara Wiseman is a New Zealand actress, best known for her roles in the television series Mercy Peak as Dr. Nicky Somerville, A Place to Call Home as Carolyn Bligh and The Cult as Annabelle Willis.

Sara Wiseman
Born (1972-05-27) 27 May 1972 (age 51)
Auckland, New Zealand
OccupationActress
Years active1995–present

Beginning her career with low-profile TV roles in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1996 and 1999), Xena: Warrior Princess (1995) and Jackson's Wharf (2000). Wiseman made her first high-profile television appearance in the drama series Street Legal as Louise Jarvis in 2000, before in 2001 getting the role of Dr. Nicky Sommerville in the New Zealand TV series Mercy Peak. For her role in the show, Wiseman garnered several nominations at the New Zealand Film and Television Awards under the category "Best Actress" during 2002 and 2003 respectively,[1][2] alongside these accolades in 2005 Wiseman was nominated for the "Television - Best Performance By an Actress" award at the New Zealand Screen Award.[3][4] Wiseman starred in Mercy Peak until 2002, when she left the cast after the tenth episode of the second series. Following the conclusion of her role in the show, Wiseman went on to star in Atomic Twister, Serial Killers and Matuka. Wiseman also went on to appear in the movie Jinx Sister in 2008, for which she garnered her third New Zealand Film and Television Awards nomination under the category of "Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role".[5] Following this Wiseman went on to have recurring roles in television series such as Outrageous Fortune (2007 - 2008), Shortland Street (2011), Crownies (2011) and The Almighty Johnsons (2011–2012); whilst she also appeared in the short-lived drama series The Cult as Annabelle Willis in 2009. During 2012, Wiseman won her first-ever New Zealand Film and TV Award for her starring role in the TV movie Votes For Women: What Really Happened?. More recently, Wiseman has guest starred on The Doctor Blake Mysteries as Olivia Goldsmith and as Caitlin Farquhar in Rake during 2015 and 2016 respectively. Alongside various television appearances Wiseman has also gone on to perform in The Insatiable Moon (2010), Love Birds (2011), Nerve (2013), Venus and Mars (2015) and Human Traces (2017).

During 2013, Wiseman appeared for the first time as recurring character Carolyn Bligh, in the Australian romantic drama series A Place to Call Home. Following a successful first season, the show was renewed for a second season, in which Wiseman's character was upgraded to a main character.[6][7][8] Wiseman's storylines whilst on the show have included relevant world issues such as sexual assault, which the show explored during its third season when Wiseman's character was sexually assaulted by someone she had trusted,[9] on the subject Wiseman has stated that the storyline was a "poignant and challenging subject matter to tackle".[10] When the fourth season of A Place to Call Home was due to air in 2016, Wiseman stated that there was "a darker edge" to the upcoming series.[11][12][13] The fifth series of the show aired in 2017,[14] and the sixth, and final series, aired in 2018.[15] She played Tanya Reed in series 3 of Harrow (2021).

Early life edit

Wiseman was born in Auckland, New Zealand. She is the youngest of three children and grew up practising dance and snow skiing. She attended the classic course at Outward Bound NZ three times and is now an ambassador for Outward Bound NZ.

Career and personal life edit

Wiseman completed a Bachelor of Performing & Screen Arts at UNITEC in Auckland and has worked on both stage and screen. Wiseman has also worked as a presenter and voiceover artist. Wiseman works both in NZ and Australia. Her movie and television roles include leads, supporting and guest appearances. Wiseman has been nominated for film and television awards multiple times and in 2011 she won Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film at the Aotearoa Film and Television awards for her role in Matariki. That year she was also a finalist for Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film for her role in The Insatiable Moon. She won Best Actress for playing Kate Sheppard in What Really Happened: The Women's Vote at the NZ Television Awards in 2012. Wiseman co-founded and is a board member and tutor at NZ acting school; The Actors Program. In 2013 Wiseman joined the cast of Australian Period drama A Place To Call Home in the recurring role of Carolyn Bligh before being promoted to regular cast for the second season. Wiseman later appeared on Bevan Lee's Seven Network series Between Two Worlds with Hermione Norris, Aaron Jeffery and Alex Cubis.[16] Wiseman joined the cast of CBBC drama ''Mystic'' in 2021.[17]

Wiseman is married to actor Craig Hall.[18] She publicly came out bisexual in 2021.[19]

In August 2022, Wiseman was cast in a role in the film Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, to be directed by Wes Ball for 20th Century Studios.[20]

Wiseman was announced as part of upcoming Foxtel/Binge drama High Country[21].

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Letters About the Weather Grace Short film
2000 The Waiting Room Woman Short film
2001 Home Kill Tanya Short film
2003 The Gateway to Hell Dr. West Short film
2005 Luella Miller Lydia
2006 Sione's Wedding Yes Yes Girl
2006 Embers Beth Short film
2008 Our Secret Sarah Short film
2008 This Is Her Sandra Short film
2008 Jinx Sister Laura
2008 Bridge Bea Short film
2010 Matarika Megan
2010 The Insatiable Moon Margaret
2011 Love Birds Mum 2
2011 Rest for the Wicked Susan
2013 Nerve Jennifer
2015 Venus And Mars Sue Stewart Short Film
2022 Dark Noise[22] Senior Sergeant Joanne Kerr
2024 Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Post-production

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Xena: Warrior Princess Young Woman Episode: "Prometheus"
1996-1999 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Hephates / Mab Episode: "Heedless Hearts" /

"Once Upon a Future King"

2000 Jackson's Wharf Rebecca Priest TV series
2000 Street Legal Louise Jarvis TV series
2001-2002 Mercy Peak Dr. Nicky Somerville Main role (35 episodes)
2002 Atomic Twister Lisa Gilmore TV film
2002 Mataku Petra Episode: "The Heirloom"
2004 Serial Killers Skye Episode: "Control, Alt, Delete"
2006 Maddigan's Quest Morag Episode: "Tunnellers"
2006 Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America Susan Wood TV film
2007 The Amazing Extraordinary Friends Dr. Helen Episode: "Mad Mike Molloy"
2007-2008 Outrageous Fortune Danielle Recurring role (9 episodes)
2009 The Cult Annabelle Wills Main Role (13 episodes)
2011-22 Shortland Street[23] Jennifer Mason/ Francesca Telford Recurring role (54 episodes)
2011 Crownies Lisa Simpson Recurring role (4 episodes)
2011-2012 The Almighty Johnsons Helen Recurring role (6 episodes)
2012 Fatal Honeymoon Anchor Person TV film
2014 Auckland Daze Sara Episodes: "2.5", "2.6"
2013–2018 A Place to Call Home Carolyn Bligh Main role (67 episodes)
2016–2018 Rake Caitlin Recurring role (11 episodes)
2019 The Sounds Annette McGregor 7 episodes
2020 One Lane Bridge[24] Jackie Ryder Recurring role
2020 Between Two Worlds[25] Sophia Grey 10 episodes
2020 Inside Jean 1 episode
2021 Harrow[26] Tanya Reed 4 episodes
2021 The Gulf Valerie Wells 5 episodes
2021 Creamerie[27] Hunter 5 episodes
2021 The Brokenwood Mysteries Anne Robinson Episode: "Here's to You, Mrs. Robinson"
2021 My Life Is Murder[28] Eleanor 1 episode
2021 Mystic Lauren 1 episode
2021 Power Rangers Dino Fury Arla Season 1 (Episode 10: "Phoning Home")
2021-22 One of Us Is Lying Mayor Kelleher 3 episodes
2021-23 Under the Vines[29] Simone 7 episodes
2024 High Country[30] Helen Hartley

References edit

  1. ^ "New Zealand Film and TV Awards (I) (2002)". IMDb. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  2. ^ "TV Guide New Zealand Television Awards 2002 | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Sara Wiseman | NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. NZ On Screen. Retrieved 7 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. ^ "New Zealand Screen Awards (2005)". IMDb. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  5. ^ NZIFF: Jinx Sister, retrieved 7 January 2018
  6. ^ "Back home". Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Sara's new place to call home". Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  8. ^ "A Place To Call Home costume designer's hunt for Australia's 1950s look". Stuff. April 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  9. ^ Robinson, Jennifer. "A PLACE TO CALL HOME: Season 3". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  10. ^ "A Place To Call Home's Sara Wiseman challenged by sexual assault storyline". Stuff. 2 March 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  11. ^ "A Place To Call Home: Sara Wiseman on the dark side of Season 4". Foxtel. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  12. ^ "A Place to Call Home: Stars spill on their characters". Foxtel. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  13. ^ "A Place To Call Home: Exclusive Insider interview with Sara Wiseman & Craig Hall". Foxtel. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  14. ^ "A Place To Call Home season five: Where we left off". Now To Love. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  15. ^ "A Place To Call Home: Season 6 confirmed for 2018". Foxtel. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  16. ^ "Bevan Lee breaks the rules with 'Between Two Worlds'". IF Magazine. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  17. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (5 May 2021). "CBBC & TVNZ Re-Commission Two More Seasons Of Family Adventure 'Mystic'". Deadline. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Interview with Bevan Lee creator of A Place to Call Home". Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  19. ^ https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/australian-womens-weekly-nz/20210325/281547998663812. Retrieved 26 November 2023 – via PressReader. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. ^ Grobar, Matt (25 October 2022). "'Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes' Adds Five". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  21. ^ "Kiwi Sara Wiseman on days with apes in the city and roos in the Outback". NZ Herald. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  22. ^ Groves, Don (6 July 2020). "Philip Quast, Steve Le Marquand and Sara Wiseman join 'Dark Noise' cast". Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  23. ^ Harvey, Kerry (10 November 2021). "Shortland Street 'the toughest gig in town' says Sara Wiseman". Stuff. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  24. ^ "New drama One Lane Bridge filming in NZ for Seven | TV Tonight". 28 September 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Cameras roll on Between Two Worlds | TV Tonight". 17 April 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  26. ^ "Returning: Harrow | TV Tonight". 18 December 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  27. ^ "Airdate: Creamerie | TV Tonight". 20 May 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  28. ^ says, AEDDIE (12 August 2021). "My Life is Murder: trailer | TV Tonight". Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  29. ^ "New romantic comedy for Rebecca Gibney | TV Tonight". 24 April 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  30. ^ "Foxtel commissions new drama High Country | TV Tonight". 8 April 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.

External links edit