Nancy Brunning
Encyclopedia
Nancy Brunning is an actress and director who has won awards in film and television and has made a major contribution to the growth of Māori in the arts. Her accolades include Best Actress awards on stage and screen. She won Best Actress at the NZ Film Awards for her lead role in the movie What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?
(1999), the sequel to cult classic Once Were Warriors
. In 2000, she won Best Actress in Drama at the New Zealand Television Awards for her lead role in the television series Nga Tohu. Brunning is of Māori
descent from the tribes of Ngati Raukawa
and Ngai Tuhoe. She was the Acting Coach for the Oscar nominated short film Two Cars, One Night
directed by Taika Waititi
.
New Zealand Drama School (1990-1991).
After graduating, she played many leading roles in theatre, film and television. In 1992, she won the award for Most Promising Female Actor at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards
for the all Māori women production Nga Wahine. She also became one of the most well known faces on New Zealand television in the role Jaki Manu
in the soap Shortland Street
and other programmes. In 1994, she appeared in the classic Nga Tangata Toa play written by Hone Kouka
and directed by Colin McColl. Brunning also appeared on stage in major productions for the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts, the biggest arts event in the country, in productions such as Hide ‘n’ Seek (1992) (NZ and Australian tour) and Waiora (1996) (NZ, Brighton Festival and Hawai'i tours) and Blue Smoke. She played the role of Belle in the UK-NZ co-production of Beauty and the Beast (1998).A speaker of the indigenous Māori language
, Brunning also worked as a theatre director, cultural advisor and script consultant.She received a Best Actress nomination at the 2009 Qantas Film & TV Awards for her role in the movie Strength of Water screenplay by Briar Grace-Smith
.
. The play toured nationally and internationally to the UK. She was also assistant director with Nathaniel Lees on Awhi Tapu by Albert Belz for the Auckland Festival
. She was Assistant Director on the play The Songmaker's Chair written by Albert Wendt
and directed by Nathaniel Lees
.
and internationally including the Vladivostok Film Festival (2009) and in New York.The film starred veteran New Zealand actress Elizabeth McRae
and Nathaniel Lees
, and shot in the Ngai Tuhoe Māori community of Ruatahuna
in the central North Island of New Zealand.
What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?
What Becomes of the Broken Hearted? is a 1999 film, based on Alan Duff's 1996 novel. The film was directed by Ian Mune, and starred Temuera Morrison as abusive Māori husband Jake "the Muss" Heke. The novel is the sequel to Duff's 1990 novel Once Were Warriors, which was made into a 1994 film...
(1999), the sequel to cult classic Once Were Warriors
Once Were Warriors (film)
Once Were Warriors is a 1994 film based on New Zealand author Alan Duff's bestselling 1990 first novel. The film tells the story of an urban Māori family, the Hekes, and their problems with poverty, alcoholism and domestic violence, mostly brought on by family patriarch Jake...
. In 2000, she won Best Actress in Drama at the New Zealand Television Awards for her lead role in the television series Nga Tohu. Brunning is of Māori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
descent from the tribes of Ngati Raukawa
Ngati Raukawa
Ngāti Raukawa is a Māori iwi with traditional bases in the Waikato, Taupo and Manawatū/Horowhenua regions of New Zealand. In 2006, 29,418 Māori registered their affiliation with Ngāti Raukawa.- Early History :...
and Ngai Tuhoe. She was the Acting Coach for the Oscar nominated short film Two Cars, One Night
Two Cars, One Night
Two Cars, One Night is a short film written and directed by Taika Waititi. Released in 2003, the film is about two boys and a girl meeting in the carpark of a rural pub in Te Kaha, New Zealand...
directed by Taika Waititi
Taika Waititi
Taika Waititi , also known as Taika Cohen, is a New Zealand-born film director, writer, painter, comedian and actor named as one of Varietys "ten new directors to watch" in 2007....
.
Actress
Brunning trained for two years at Toi WhakaariToi Whakaari
Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School is New Zealand's National Drama School. It is located in Wellington, New Zealand Toi Whakaari offers training in Acting, Directing, Costume Construction, Entertainment Technology, Performing Arts Management and Design for Stage & Screen.The School offers the following...
New Zealand Drama School (1990-1991).
After graduating, she played many leading roles in theatre, film and television. In 1992, she won the award for Most Promising Female Actor at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards
Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards
The Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards are the theatre "Oscars" in New Zealand and honour the best stage talent and productions in the capital Wellington....
for the all Māori women production Nga Wahine. She also became one of the most well known faces on New Zealand television in the role Jaki Manu
Jaki Manu
Jaki Manu was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Nancy Brunning and was part of the original cast.-1992-1994:...
in the soap Shortland Street
Shortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
and other programmes. In 1994, she appeared in the classic Nga Tangata Toa play written by Hone Kouka
Hone Kouka
Hone Kouka is an acclaimed New Zealand playwright. He has written 13 plays which have been staged in New Zealand and worldwide including Canada, South Africa, New Caledonia and Britain. Kouka's plays have won multiple awards at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards, the 'Oscars' of New Zealand theatre....
and directed by Colin McColl. Brunning also appeared on stage in major productions for the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts, the biggest arts event in the country, in productions such as Hide ‘n’ Seek (1992) (NZ and Australian tour) and Waiora (1996) (NZ, Brighton Festival and Hawai'i tours) and Blue Smoke. She played the role of Belle in the UK-NZ co-production of Beauty and the Beast (1998).A speaker of the indigenous Māori language
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
, Brunning also worked as a theatre director, cultural advisor and script consultant.She received a Best Actress nomination at the 2009 Qantas Film & TV Awards for her role in the movie Strength of Water screenplay by Briar Grace-Smith
Briar Grace-Smith
Briar Grace-Smith is a playwright and screenwriter from New Zealand. Her first major play, Ngā Pou Wahine earned her the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award . Her play Purapurawhetū won Best New Zealand Play at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards. In 2000, she received the Arts Foundation Laureate Award. In...
.
Theatre
Brunning has been directing theatre and stage dramas since 1995. Her first production was Briar Grace-Smiths first full length one woman show called "Nga Pou Wahine". She also collaborated with Briar on a Taki Rua Theatre production in 1996 called "Flat out Brown"; directed Maori language play "Te Ohaki a Nihe" written by Selwyn Muru and devised/directed with Briar again on a touring show called Waitapu also in 1996. She directed Women Far Walking written by Māori writer Witi IhimaeraWiti Ihimaera
Witi Tame Ihimaera-Smiler, DCNZM, QSM , generally known as Witi Ihimaera , is a New Zealand author, and is often regarded as one of the most prominent Māori writers alive.-Biography:...
. The play toured nationally and internationally to the UK. She was also assistant director with Nathaniel Lees on Awhi Tapu by Albert Belz for the Auckland Festival
Auckland Festival
The Auckland Festival is a biennial arts and cultural festival held in New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland. The Festival features works from New Zealand, the Pacific, Asia and beyond, including world premieres of new works and international performing arts events.-History:Auckland was the first...
. She was Assistant Director on the play The Songmaker's Chair written by Albert Wendt
Albert Wendt
Albert Wendt, CNZM is a Samoan poet and writer who also lives in New Zealand. Among his works is Leaves of the Banyan Tree .-Biography:...
and directed by Nathaniel Lees
Nathaniel Lees
Nathaniel Lees is a New Zealand born actor and theatre director of Samoan descent. He is known for his role as Captain Mifune in The Matrix trilogy and his role as "Uglúk" in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. He has also had roles on the TV series Young Hercules, Hercules: The Legendary...
.
Film
Brunning directed the short film Journey to Ihipa (2008) which screened at the New Zealand International Film FestivalsNew Zealand International Film Festivals
The New Zealand International Film Festival is a film festival held annually across New Zealand throughout the latter half of the year.In 2009 for the first time the Festival relinquished its various regional names to be called the New Zealand International Film Festival...
and internationally including the Vladivostok Film Festival (2009) and in New York.The film starred veteran New Zealand actress Elizabeth McRae
Elizabeth McRae
Elizabeth McRae is a New Zealand actress, best known for her portrayal of Marjorie Brasch on the soap opera Shortland Street from 1992 until 1996 with further appearances in 1998 and 2002.Elizabeth's daughter Katherine is also an actress...
and Nathaniel Lees
Nathaniel Lees
Nathaniel Lees is a New Zealand born actor and theatre director of Samoan descent. He is known for his role as Captain Mifune in The Matrix trilogy and his role as "Uglúk" in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. He has also had roles on the TV series Young Hercules, Hercules: The Legendary...
, and shot in the Ngai Tuhoe Māori community of Ruatahuna
Ruatahuna
The town of Ruatahuna is located in the northeast of New Zealand's North Island, 90 kilometres west of Gisborne, and 18 kilometres northwest of Lake Waikaremoana...
in the central North Island of New Zealand.