Donna Akersten MNZM

Vitals

Gender
Female
Age Range
60 - 69
Ethnicity
New Zealand
Height
165cm
Base Location
Wellington
Available In
Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, International, Sydney, Wellington
Skills
Actor, Voice Artist
Hair
Grey
Eye
Blue

Agent

New Zealand Agent
RBA Management

Australian Agent
The Robert Bruce Agency (Aus)
Feature Photo
Donna Akersten MNZM

Credits

Feature Film

2009
Greta
Separation City
Separation City Ltd
Paul Middleditch
1998
Joyce
Via Satellite
Satellite Films
Anthony McCarten
1994
Mrs Mackersey
Bread and Roses
Preston Laing Productions
Gaylene Preston
1994
Mrs Monaghan
The Last Tattoo
Plumb Productions
John Reid
1991
Fiona
Te Rua
Pacific Films (Berlin)
Barry Barclay
1985
Malvina Jacobs
Dangerous Orphans
Cinepro & New Zealand Film Commission
John Laing
1982
Doreen
Bad Blood
Southern Pictures
Mike Newell
1980
Joy
Squeeze
Trilogic Film Productions
Richard Turner
1979
Judy
Middle-Age Spread
Endeavour Productions
John Reid
1977
Mary
Sleeping Dogs
Aardvark Films
Roger Donaldson

Television

2013
Judy Cooper
Shortland Street
South Pacific Pictures
Various
2011
Susan Ward
The Mystery of the Opals
Polyphon International Film und Fernseh
Thomas Hezel
2002
Rebecca
Revelations
Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment Group New Zealand
Various
2002
Clare
The Strip
Gibson Group
Various
1999
Prue Digby
Jacksons Wharf
South Pacific PIctures
Various
1998
Guest Role
William Tell
Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment Group New Zealand
Various
1997
Marilyn Bluck
Shortland Street 1995-1997
South Pacific Pictures
Various
1997
Leonie Coigley
Mirror Mirror 1995-1997
Gibson Group
Various
1992
Mary
Matrons of Honour
Meridian Film Productions
Pat Robins
1990
Anges Brock
The Ray Bradbury Theatre
TVNZ
Roger Tompkins

Stage

2012
Chris
Calendar Girls
Fortune Theatre
Shane Anthony
2012
Laura
A Shortcut to Happiness
Circa Theatre
Ross Jolly
2011
Elizabeth (the older)
When the Rain Stops Falling
Circa Theatre
Susan Wilson
2010
Mrs Gottlieb
Dead Man's Cell Phone
Circa Theatre
Susan Wilson
2010
Rita
The Birthday Boy
Circa Theatre
Jane Waddell
2009
Mother
Red Riding Hood
Circa Theatre
Ross Jolly
2009
Ludmilla
Where are You My Only Love
Circa Theatre
Susan Wilson
2007
Voinitskaia
Uncle Vanya
Circa Theatre
Susan Wilson
2006
Deborah
The Book Club
Auckland Theatre Company
Colin McColl
2005
Aunty
U-Boat
Downstage
Peter Tait
2005
Charlotta
The Cherry Orchard
Circa Theatre
Susan Wilson
2004
Ursula Loyer
Vincent in Brixton
Circa Theatre
Susan Wilson
2004
Frances Beale
The Breath of Life
Circa Theatre
Susan Wilson
2003
Flora Humble
Humble Boy
Circa Theatre
Ross Jolly
2003
Julienne
Conversations After a Burial
Circa Theatre
Ross Jolly
2002
Miss Prism
The Importance of Being Ernest
Circa Theatre
Susan Wilson
2002
Meg
The Birthday Party
Circa Theatre
Ross Jolly
2001
Lorraine
Take a Chance on Me
Circa Theatre
Susan Wilson
2000
Claire
A Delicate Balance
Circa Theatre
Bruce Philips
2000
Irena
The Seagull
Circa Theatre
Susan Wilson

Voice Over

1989
Samantha the Cat/The Sheep
Meet The Feebles
WingNut Film
Peter Jackson

Video

2004
Donna Akersten
The Making of 'Sleeping Dogs' Documentary
Anchor Bay Entertainment
John Reid

Skills & Attributes

Shoe Size
8.5
Clothing Size
Female - 12
Waist
76cm
Neck
35cm
Bust
92cm
Hip
96cm
Natural Accent
New Zealand
Accents
American Standard, Australian, English, New Zealand
Languages
English
Hair Length
Shoulder Length
Hair Style
Wavy
Sport
Cycling, Swimming
Drivers Licences
Car
Professional Skills
Actor, Voice Artist

Photos


Notes

DONNA AKERSTEN MNZM Donna was born in Auckland and was educated in Pakuranga College and Auckland Teachers’ College where she completed training as a primary school teacher, later teaching at Owairoa School and Elm Park School in Auckland. With a strong interest in theatre she started acting professionally in 1970, touring schools with the New Zealand Players Drama Quartet. This led to a change of career to one in theatre and film, with occasional periods of relief teaching in New Zealand and Australia. Donna has worked with all the major theatre companies in New Zealand and for The Nimrod Theatre, J C Williamson, Q Theatre and the Adelaide Arts Festival in Australia. Among her favourite roles are Mary Mooney in Once A Catholic at Mercury, Carlotta in The Cherry Orchard at Downstage, Meg in The Birthday Party at Circa (Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress) and Deborah in The Book Club for the Auckland Theatre Company (Audience Award for Best Actress). She last appeared at Fortune Theatre in the role of Honor in an ATC touring production of Honour. Donna has twice won the Wellington Critics’ Award for Best Actress. She has had extensive television experience on boh sides of the Tasman. Principal in New Zealand, being lead roles in Country GP, Shortland Street, Jackson Wharf, Bread and Roses, Mirror Mirror and the German tele-feature The Mystery of the Opals. Her feature films include Middle-Age Spread, Bad Blood, Sleeping Dogs, Te Rua, Via Satellite and Donna has also worked widely in Radio and voice presentations. In 2002 she was awarded the MNZM for services to acting. In addition to her acting, in 2007 Donna re-entered teaching in early childhood and in 2009 she started working as a relief teacher in the Primary Service in Wellington. She is passionately interested in food, wine and cooking. She has over twentry years experience as senior partner in a boutique catering company, preparing menus and organising functions for its private, corporate and diplomatic clientele. It also had as one of its principal aims, to provide work for actors between engagements. Her other interests include cats, serious gardening, fashion, reading and petanque. Donna is married to Wellington actor and food writer Gerald Bryan and they have a cat called Parker. Awards 2002 New Zealand Order of Merrit (MNZM) For services to Acting 2002 Winner Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for 'The Birthday Party’ 1999 Winner ATC Audience Award Best Actress for ‘The Book Club’ 1984 Winner Wellington Critics Award Best Actress for ‘Insignificance’ 1978 Winner Wellington Critics Award Best Actress for ‘Old Flames’ Nominations 1998 Honour / Theatre 1997 Via Satellite / Film 1991 Te Rua / Film Donna has extensive experience in all aspects of voice acting for radio dramas, short stories and documentary narrations.