Fiona Samuel Explained

Occupation:	Writer
Nationality:	New Zealand
Birth Place:	Scotland
Education:	Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School
Awards:	Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate (2012)

Fiona Samuel is a New Zealand writer, actor and director who was raised Scotland from 1961 until the age of five.^[1] She moved to New Zealand and grew up in Christchurch before moving to Wellington to train as an actor at the New Zealand Drama School. She graduated from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in 1980 with a Diploma in Acting.^[2] Samuel's award-winning career spans theatre, film, radio and television.

Plays

• 2010 – Ghost Train
• 2004 – The Liar’s Bible^[3]
• 1996 – One Flesh
• 1993 – Lashings of Whipped Cream: A Session with a Teenage Dominatrix
• 1988 – The Wedding Party

Publications

• 2013 20 New Zealand Playwrights (interview), Playmarket
• 2011 Number 8 Wire; 8 Plays, 8 Decades, Playmarket ^[4]
• 2011 One Flesh in No. 8 Wire: 8 Plays/8 Decades.^[5]
• 1995 Lashings of Whipped Cream: A Session with a Teenage Dominatrix^[6]
• 1989 Blonde Bombshell in Three Radio Plays.^[7]

Short film

• 2006 Writer and Director - The Garden of Love
• 2001 Written with Murray Keane - Falling Sparrows
• 1996 Writer and Director - Song of the Siren
• 1994 Writer - Bitch
• 1994 Written with Murray Keane - Prickle

Television

• 2014 Writer – Consent – The Louise Nicholas Story
• 2013 Head writer and episode writer – Agent Anna Series 2
• 2011–2013 Story liner and episode writer over three series – Nothing Trivial
• 2011 Episode writer – The Almighty Johnsons^[8]
• 2010 Writer and Director – Bliss – The Beginning of Katherine Mansfield^[9]
• 2008 Writer and Director – Piece of My Heart
• 2006–2009 Episode writer over three series – Outrageous Fortune
• 2006 Writer and Director – Interrogation: Girl in Woods
• 2001–2004 Episode writer over three series – Mercy Peak
• 2001 Writer and Director – Virginity – A Documentary
• 1998 Writer and Director – Home Movie
• 1994 Writer and Director – A Real Dog
• 1994 Writer – Her New Life
• 1994 Writer – House Rules
• 1987 Creator and Writer – The Marching Girls

Radio

• 1994 Don't Touch That Dial
• 1993 A Short History of Contraception
• 1991 Words of Love
• 1983 Blonde Bombshell

Awards and honours

• 2019 – Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to television and theatre.^[10]
• 2015 – NEXT Woman of the Year, Arts & Culture category.^[11]
• 2014 – NZ Film and Television Awards, Best Television Drama – The Louise Nicholas Story
• 2014 – Script Writers Awards NZ (SWANZ),Best Telefeature Script – The Louise Nicolas Story ^[12]
• 2012 – New Zealand Arts Foundation Arts Laureate ^[1]
• 2012 – New Zealand Television Awards. Best Director – Bliss ^[1]
• 2011 – New Zealand Writers Guild Award, Best Telefeature Script – Bliss ^[13]
• 2010 – New Zealand Writers Guild Awards, Best Play -Ghost Train ^[13]
• 2009 – New Zealand Screen Award, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress - Piece of My Heart
• 2006 – New Zealand Film and Television Awards Best Script: Drama – Interrogation: Girl in Woods ^[13]
• 2005 – Buddle Findlay Sargeson Fellowship ^[13]
• 1999 – University of Auckland Literary Fellowship ^[13]
• 1998 – New Zealand Film and Television Awards Best Drama – Home Movie
• 1996 – Bilboa Film Festival, Mikeldi de Ficcion D'oro, Best Short Film – Song of the Siren
• 1996 – Turin Film Festival, Audience Award – Song of the Siren
• 1994 – Mobil Awards, Best Radio Drama – A Short History of Contraception ^[13]
• 1994 – Mobil Awards, Best Radio Drama – Don't Touch That Dial ^[13]
• 1993 – National Radio's Women's Suffrage Centenary Playwriting Award – A Short History of Contraception ^[13]
• 1984 – Mobil Awards, Best Radio Drama – Blond Bombshell ^[13]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Fiona Samuel. The Arts Foundation of New Zealand. 7 August 2015.
2. Web site: Graduate. 2021-08-09. www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz.
3. Web site: Fiona Samuel. Playmarket. 7 August 2015.
4. Web site: Playmarket. Playmarket. 8 August 2015.
5. Book: O'Donnell. David. No. 8 wire: eight plays from eight decades. 2011. Playmarket. Wellington. 9780908607426.
6. Book: Samuel. Fiona. Lashings of Whipped Cream: A session with a teenage dominatrix. 1995. Women's Play Press. Wellington. 0958339341.
7. Book: Samueal. Fiona. Walker. Stephen. Hoar. Stuart. Three Radio Plays. 1989. Victoria University Press. Wellington. 086473090X.
8. Web site: NZ On Screen – Fiona Samuel – Overview & biography. NZONSCREEN. 8 August 2015.
9. Web site: NZ On Screen. nzonscreen.com. 8 August 2015.
10. Web site: New Year honours list 2019 . 31 December 2018 . Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet . 10 January 2019.
11. Web site: October 9, 2015. NEXT Woman of the Year Winners 2015. 2021-06-06. www.scoop.co.nz.
12. Web site: NZ Writers Guild – SWANZ Awards 2014. New Zealand Writer's Guild. 8 August 2015. 22 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160422133315/http://www.nzwg.org.nz/spi-news-events/industry-events/swanz-winners-2014/. dead.
13. Book: Forster. Michelanne. Plumb. Vivienne. Twenty New Zealand Playwrights. 2013. Playmarket. Wellington. 9780908607471.