Bree Peters

Brittany Peters (born 18 April 1985) is a New Zealand stage, film and television actress, director, stunt performer and acting coach. She is best known for her recurring roles on the soap operas Shortland Street, as Pania Stevens (2014–2015), and in Home and Away, as Gemma Parata.

Early life Peters was born in New Zealand to Louise, a primary school teacher and Winston Peters, a politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2023 to 2025. She has one older sibling – a brother, Joel.

Career Peters' acting career commenced in 2002 when she was cast in the stage production of Fame, based on the film of the same name; after which she entered formal training and attended the Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, graduating in 2006 with a Bachelor of Performing Arts degree. Following this, she attended the Actors Lab Workshop where she was trained by actress Miranda Harcourt. She continued in theatre before appearing in short films and then television, landing guest roles on The Almighty Johnsons, Go Girls, The Blue Rose and Nothing Trivial. She later underwent a Professional Practitioners course at the Massive Theatre Company.

In 2014, Peters began appearing in the medical soap opera Shortland Street as Dr. Pania Stevens. Her first major screen role, Peters' duration on the show lasted eight months on a recurring basis. Her role on the series was met with a mixed reception; viewers were highly critical of her portrayal as a villain and she was subjected to online bullying forcing her to close all her social media accounts, while others showed their support as she was praised for her performance and her acting skills.

For her performance in short film Every Moment, she earned the Te Tohu Auahatanga Award for Best Actress and the Viewers' Choice Award for Best Actress at the Tropfest New Zealand in 2015, while she was additionally nominated for a New Zealand Film Award for Best Actress in a Short Film.

In 2016, Peters travelled to the United States where she attended a three-month Summer course at the Atlantic Theater Company. Her subsequent television work followed with guest appearances on Find Me a Māori Bride, The Dead Lands and Fresh Eggs. She appeared as Gemma Parata, part of a Māori family who moves to Summer Bay under tragic circumstances. She made her first appearance in the ninety-minute opening episode of the 2020 season on 27 January. She departed the series in July 2020.

Theatre credits Fame – as Lambchops (2002) Antony and Cleopatra – as Cleopatra (2004) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School Pegasus Moon – as Dancer (2005) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School Stop Kiss – as Callie (2005) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School Battles of the Heart – as Neva (2005) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School The Seagull – as Polina (2005) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School Stuff Happens – as Condoleezza Rice (2005) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School Cabaret – as Lead Soloist (2005) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School Tape – as Amy (2006) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School People Don't Sing When They're Feeling Sensible – as Lead (2006) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School Peer Gynt – as Various roles (2006) – Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School The Crucible – as Mercy Lewis (2007) – Auckland Theatre Company Whero's New Net – as Whero (2008) – Massive Theatre Company Life as a Dream – Various roles (2009) – Silo Theatre Whero's New Net (National Tour) – as Whero (2009) – Silo Theatre Havoc in the Garden – as Jani (2011) – Massive Theatre Company A Basement Christmas Carol – as Bobby Cratchet (2013) – Silo Theatre Hauraki Horror – Paikea (2014) – Silo Theatre Generation Z: Edinburgh Fringe Festival – as Frosty (2014) – Royale Productions Generation Z: Zombie Red Zone – as Frosty (2014) – Royale Productions The Wholehearted – as Performer/deviser (2016) Burn Her – as Lead (2018) – Massive Theatre Company Emilia – as Mary Sidney (2020)

Filmography + Film Year Title Role Notes 2004 This Topia Holly Wills Short film; Toi Whakaari production 2005 A&E: Accident and Eternity Doctor Bailey Short film; Toi Whakaari production 2006 Motivation Sam Short film 2012 Night Shift Supervisor Short film 2012 The Weight of Elephants Miss Pryor Feature film 2013 Enemy Within Kalima Kekoa Feature film 2014 Every Moment Annie Short film 2016 Hillary Clinton/Young Lover Norma Leota Short film 2018 Bellbird Ana Feature film; "Northland" (working title) 2019 Oranges and Lemons Teacher Short film; R&G (working title) 2019 Runaway Millionaires Aroha Hurring Television film 2020 Baby Done Sonographer Feature film 2025 Forgive Us All Scout Feature film 2025 Bring Her Back Goalball Coach Feature film The Canyon Grayce Post-production

+ Television Year Title Role Notes 2009 Feedback Various roles 2012 The Almighty Johnsons Shona Season 2; guest role (1 episode) 2013 The Blue Rose Kat Season 1; guest role (1 episode) 2013 Go Girls Barmaid Season 5; guest role (1 episode) 2012–13 Nothing Trivial Karen Seasons 2–3; guest role (3 episodes) 2014–15, 2023 Shortland Street Pania Stevens Seasons 23–24, 32; recurring role 2015 Funny Girls Various roles 2016 Tinderellas Stephanie Pilot (not picked up) (also wardrobe supervisor) 2016 Find Me a Māori Bride Susan Season 2; recurring role (3 episodes) 2015–16 2Kaha Herself/Presenter 2018 Only in Aotearoa Various roles 2018 Third Term Zambesi Pilot; webseries (not yet released) 2019 Fresh Eggs Tina 2020 The Dead Lands Marama Season 1; guest role (2 episodes) 2020 Home and Away Gemma Parata Season 33; recurring role (40 episodes) 2020 Mean Mums Ms. Lightfoot Season 2; guest role (recurring) 2020 The Wilds Susan Pilot 2021 Good Grief Trisha Season 1 (4 episodes) 2022 The Brokenwood Mysteries Karla Whitimai Season 8; guest role (1 episode) 2023 Sweet Tooth Dolly Season 2; guest role (2 episodes) 2023 Double Parked Cass Season 1; guest role (1 episode) 2024 Spinal Destination Tessa Rivers Season 1; main role (6 episodes) 2024 Friends Like Her Stacey TV series 2024 N00b Aroha Bennett Recurring role

+ Non-acting work Year Title Notes 2020 The New Legends of Monkey Chaperone (Season 2, episode 1) 2021 Sweet Tooth Child acting coach (Season 1 – 7 episodes) 2022 Raised by Refugees Director (Season 1 – 3 episodes) 2024 Pack Rat Intimacy coordinator (short film) 2024 Went Up the Hill Child performance coach (feature film) 2025 He Had It Coming Intimacy coordinator (TV series; post-production)