Fiona Samuel

Fiona Samuel (born 1961) is a New Zealand writer, actor and director. Her career spans theatre, film, radio and television.

Early life Samuel was raised in Scotland from 1961 until the age of five. 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.

Selected works Plays 2010 – Ghost Train 2004 – The Liar’s Bible 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 One Flesh in No. 8 Wire: 8 Plays/8 Decades. 1995 Lashings of Whipped Cream: A Session with a Teenage Dominatrix 1989 Blonde Bombshell in Three Radio Plays.

Filmography Short films 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 2010 Writer and Director – Bliss – The Beginning of Katherine Mansfield 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 1997 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. 2015 – NEXT Woman of the Year, Arts & Culture category. 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 2012 – New Zealand Arts Foundation Arts Laureate 2010 – New Zealand Writers Guild Awards, Best Play -Ghost Train 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 2005 – Buddle Findlay Sargeson Fellowship 1999 – University of Auckland Literary Fellowship 1998 – New Zealand Film and Television Awards Best Drama – Home Movie 1996 – Bilbao 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 1994 – Mobil Awards, Best Radio Drama – Don't Touch That Dial 1993 – National Radio's Women's Suffrage Centenary Playwriting Award – A Short History of Contraception 1984 – Mobil Awards, Best Radio Drama – Blond Bombshell