| Vanessa Rare | |
| Nationality: | New Zealander |
| Alma Mater: | University of Auckland |
| Occupation: | Actress, screenwriter, director |
| Years Active: | 1990–present |
Vanessa Rare is a New Zealand film and television actress, screenwriter and director.[1] [2] She is of Ngāti Pu, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Pukenga and Ngāpuhi iwi descent.
Rare's screen debut was as Rata in the 1990 comedy film Ruby and Rata. She has acted in a number of movies, as well as holding an extended role on the soap opera Shortland Street as Te Hana Hudson from 2001 to 2005.
In the 1990s Rare studied literature and television and film studies at the University of Auckland and began to write and direct television series and short films.[3]
In 2003 Rare was nominated for Best Script, Single Episode of a Drama Series or Serial for Mataku at the New Zealand Television Awards. In 2014 she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for The Z-Nail Gang at the New Zealand Film Awards.[4]
| 1990 | Ruby and Rata | Rata | Feature film | ||
| 1991 | Te Rua | Helen Marangai | Feature film | [5] | |
| 1997 | Koa means "Joy" | Director and screenwriter | Short film | [6] | |
| 2001–2005 | Shortland Street | Te Hana Hudson | Television series | ||
| 2002–2005 | Mataku | Screenwriter | Television series | [7] | |
| 2003 | Pikowae | Director and screenwriter | Short film | ||
| 2014 | The Z-Nail Gang | Aunty | Feature film | ||
| 2020 | The Sounds | Pania Cottle | Series | ||
| 2023 | The Gone | Wiki Huia | Series | [8] |