Sarah Peirse

Sarah Peirse is a New Zealand actress who works on both screen and stage. She is best known for her roles as Honora Rieper Parker in Heavenly Creatures and as Kate in Rain.

Early life and education Sarah Peirse studied acting for a year at a drama school associated with Theatre Corporate in Auckland, alongside fellow actors Donogh Rees and Phillip Gordon.

Career Following her studies, Peirse acted in theatrical productions such as A Bear Called Paddington and Three Sisters. In 1984, after a year in London, she began directing theatre, starting with Caryl Churchill’s Top Girls at Theatre Corporate.

Peirse again returned to New Zealand, to star in the 2001 coming of age film Rain, playing the role of the disaffected, sophisticated Kate. Her performance earned her two Best Actress awards. as well as lead roles in Cabaret, Three Sisters, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Molly Sweeney. which premiered on 4 August 2025. On 20 November 2025, Peirse was named in the cast for the ABC series Treasure & Dirt. She plays a tough town police sergeant, Pat Richter, in the series, which premiered in July 2026.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role 1980 A Woman of Good Character Lizzie 1985 Sylvia Vivian Wallop 1986 My Letter to George (aka Mesmerized or Shocked) Victoria's mother Arriving Tuesday Carol 1987 Young Detectives on Wheels Auntie Kim 1988 The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey Linnet 1994 Heavenly Creatures Honora Parker Rieper 2001 Rain Kate 2002 Unconditional Love Florist 2010 The Hopes & Dreams of Gazza Snell Dr. Riebeeck 2011 Bliss: The Beginning of Katherine Mansfield Annie Beauchamp 2013 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Hilda Blanca 2014 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Hilda Blanca 2018 Mortal Engines Dr. Twix 2022 Nude Tuesday Felicity 2024 A Mistake Mary, Head of Surgery Went Up the Hill Helen Addition

Television

As director YearTitleRoleNotesRef1984 Top Girls Director Theatre Corporate, Auckland Wednesday to Come Director 1986 The Trojan Women Director Auckland Domain with Public Works 1987 Squatter Director Mercury Theatre, Auckland Les Liaisons Dangereuses Director 1989 Mrs Klein Director 1991 A Delicate Balance Director Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA 1994 Someone Who'll Watch Over Me Director Herald Theatre, Auckland with ATC 1995 Dancing at Lughnasa Director 1997 Master Class Director 2003 A Doll's House Director UNITEC Theatre, Auckland 2004 The Bach Director Herald Theatre, Auckland with ATC

Awards YearWorkAwardCategoryResultRef 1983 A Woman of Good Character (aka It's Lizzie to those Close) Feltex Awards Best Actress 1985 Arriving Tuesday NZ Listener GOFTA Awards Best Supporting Actress 2015 Endgame Helpmann Awards Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play