Sara Wiseman

Sara Wiseman is a New Zealand actress, best known for her roles as Dr. Nicky Somerville in the television series Mercy Peak (2001–2004), Annabelle Willis in The Cult (2009), and Carolyn Bligh in A Place to Call Home (2013–2018).

Sara Wiseman
Born	Auckland, New Zealand
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1995–present
Spouse	Craig Hall ​ ​ (m. 2007; div. 2023)​

Early life and education

Sara Wiseman was born in Auckland, New Zealand.^{[citation needed]}

She completed a Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts at Unitec Institute of Technology in Auckland.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Wiseman has worked on both stage and screen, and has also worked as a presenter and voiceover artist. She works both in NZ and Australia.^{[citation needed]}

Beginning her career with low-profile TV roles in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1996 and 1999), Xena: Warrior Princess (1995) and Jackson's Wharf (2000). Wiseman made her first high-profile television appearance in the drama series Street Legal as Louise Jarvis in 2000,^{[citation needed]} before in 2001 getting the role of Dr. Nicky Sommerville in the New Zealand TV series Mercy Peak. Wiseman starred in Mercy Peak until 2002, when she left the cast after the tenth episode of the second series.^{[citation needed]}

Following the conclusion of her role in the show, Wiseman went on to star in Atomic Twister, Serial Killers, and Matuka.^{[citation needed]}

Wiseman also appeared in the movie Jinx Sister in 2008, for which she garnered her third New Zealand Film and Television Awards nomination under the category of "Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role".^[1]

Following this she went had recurring roles in television series such as Outrageous Fortune (2007–2008), Shortland Street (2011), Crownies (2011), and The Almighty Johnsons (2011–2012).^{[citation needed]} She also appeared in the short-lived drama series The Cult as Annabelle Willis in 2009.^{[citation needed]}

Wiseman guest starred on The Doctor Blake Mysteries as Olivia Goldsmith and as Caitlin Farquhar in Rake during 2015 and 2016 respectively.^{[citation needed]} She also performed in the films The Insatiable Moon (2010), Love Birds (2011), Nerve (2013), Venus and Mars (2015) and Human Traces (2017).^{[citation needed]}

During 2013, Wiseman appeared for the first time as recurring character Carolyn Bligh, in the Australian romantic drama series A Place to Call Home. Following a successful first season, the show was renewed for a second season, in which Wiseman's character was upgraded to a main character.^[2][3][4] Wiseman's storylines whilst on the show have included relevant world issues such as sexual assault, which the show explored during its third season when Wiseman's character was sexually assaulted by someone she had trusted,^[5] on the subject Wiseman has stated that the storyline was a "poignant and challenging subject matter to tackle".^[6] When the fourth season was due to air in 2016, Wiseman stated that there was "a darker edge" to the upcoming series.^[7][8][9] The fifth series of the show aired in 2017,^[10] and the sixth, and final series, aired in 2018.^[11]

Wiseman later appeared on Bevan Lee's Seven Network series Between Two Worlds with Hermione Norris, Aaron Jeffery and Alex Cubis.^[12] She joined the cast of CBBC drama Mystic in 2021.^[13] She also played Tanya Reed in series 3 of Harrow (2021).

In August 2022, Wiseman was cast in a role in the film Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, directed by Wes Ball for 20th Century Studios.^[14]

In 2024 she had parts in two Australian drama series: the Foxtel/Binge series High Country, ^[15] and the Netflix series Territory, set on a cattle station in the Northern Territory of Australia.^[16]

Other activities

Wiseman co-founded and is a board member and tutor at NZ acting school; The Actors Program.^{[citation needed]}

Accolades

Wiseman has been nominated for film and television awards multiple times and in 2011 she won Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film at the Aotearoa Film and Television awards for her role in Matariki. That year she was also a finalist for Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film for her role in The Insatiable Moon. She won Best Actress for playing Kate Sheppard in What Really Happened: The Women's Vote at the NZ Television Awards in 2012.^{[citation needed]}

For her role in Mercy Peak, Wiseman garnered several nominations at the New Zealand Film and Television Awards under the category "Best Actress" in 2002^[17]

In 2005 Wiseman was nominated for the "Television - Best Performance By an Actress" award at the New Zealand Screen Award.^[18]

During 2012, Wiseman won her first-ever New Zealand Film and TV Award for her starring role in the TV movie Votes For Women: What Really Happened?.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Wiseman was married to actor Craig Hall for sixteen years, before splitting in 2023.^[19][20][21] She publicly came out as bisexual in 2021.^[22]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2005	Luella Miller	Lydia
2006	Sione's Wedding	Yes Yes Girl
2008	Jinx Sister	Laura
2010	Matarika	Megan
	The Insatiable Moon	Margaret
2011	Love Birds	Mum #2
	Rest for the Wicked	Susan
2013	Nerve	Jennifer
2017	Human Traces	Tanya
2022	Dark Noise	Senior Sergeant Joanne Kerr	[23]
2024	Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes	Dar

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1995, 2001	Xena: Warrior Princess	Young Woman / Amazon #1	Episodes: "Prometheus" & "Dangerous Prey"
1996, 1999	Hercules: The Legendary Journeys	Hephates / Mab	Episodes: "Heedless Hearts" & "Once Upon a Future King"
2000	Jackson's Wharf	Rebecca Priest	TV series
	Street Legal	Louise Jarvis	TV series
2001–2004	Mercy Peak	Dr. Nicky Somerville	Main role
2002	Atomic Twister	Lisa Gilmore	TV film
	Mataku	Petra	Episode: "The Heirloom"
2004	Serial Killers	Skye	Episode: "Control, Alt, Delete"
2006	Maddigan's Quest	Morag	Episode: "Tunnellers"
	Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America	Susan Wood	TV film
2007–2008	Outrageous Fortune	Danielle	Recurring role
2008	The Amazing Extraordinary Friends	Dr. Helen	Episode: "Mad Mike Molloy"
2009	The Cult	Annabelle Wills	Main role
2011	Crownies	Lisa Simpson	Recurring role
2011–2012	The Almighty Johnsons	Helen	Recurring role
2011–2022	Shortland Street	Jennifer Mason / Francesca Telford	Recurring role[24]
2012	Fatal Honeymoon	Anchor Person	TV film
2013–2018	A Place to Call Home	Carolyn Bligh	Main role
2014	Auckland Daze	Sara	2 episodes
2015	The Doctor Blake Mysteries	Olivia Goldsmith	Episode: "This Time and This Place"
	Venus and Mars	Sue Stewart	TV film
2016–2018	Rake	Caitlin	Recurring role
2017	Auckward Love	Olivia	7 episodes
2019	The Sounds	Annette McGregor	7 episodes
2020	One Lane Bridge	Jackie Ryder	Recurring role[25]
	Between Two Worlds	Sophia Grey	10 episodes[26]
	Inside	Jean	Episode #1.6
	The Sounds	Annette McGregor	7 episodes
2021	Harrow	Tanya Reed	4 episodes[27]
	The Gulf	Valerie Wells	5 episodes
	Creamerie	Hunter	5 episodes[28]
	The Brokenwood Mysteries	Anne Robinson	Episode: "Here's to You, Mrs. Robinson"
	My Life Is Murder	Eleanor	1 episode[29]
	Mystic	Lauren	1 episode
	Power Rangers Dino Fury	Arla	Episode: "Phoning Home"
2021–2022	One of Us Is Lying	Mayor Kelleher	3 episodes
2021–2023	Under the Vines	Simone	7 episodes[30]
2024	High Country	Helen Hartley	8 episodes[31]
	Territory	Sandra Kirby	6 episodes

References

1. NZIFF: Jinx Sister, retrieved 7 January 2018
2. Woolford, Lisa (8 October 2017). "A Place to Call Home stars Sara Wiseman, Craig Hall and Brett Climo are loving being back on set". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Retrieved 7 January 2018.
3. White, Naomi (18 November 2017). "Actor Sara Wiseman of A Place to Call Home counts her blessings". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
4. Clarke, Jenna (1 April 2017). "A Place To Call Home costume designer's hunt for Australia's 1950s look". Stuff. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
5. Robinson, Jennifer. "A Place To Call Home: Season 3". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
6. "A Place To Call Home's Sara Wiseman challenged by sexual assault storyline". Stuff. 2 March 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
7. "A Place To Call Home: Sara Wiseman on the dark side of Season 4". Foxtel. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
8. "A Place to Call Home: Stars spill on their characters". Foxtel. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
9. "A Place To Call Home: Exclusive Insider interview with Sara Wiseman & Craig Hall". Foxtel. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
10. "A Place To Call Home season five: Where we left off". Now To Love. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
11. "A Place To Call Home: Season 6 confirmed for 2018". Foxtel. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
12. Groves, Don (24 July 2020). "Bevan Lee breaks the rules with 'Between Two Worlds'". IF Magazine. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
13. Wiseman, Andreas (5 May 2021). "CBBC & TVNZ Re-Commission Two More Seasons Of Family Adventure 'Mystic'". Deadline. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
14. Grobar, Matt (25 October 2022). "'Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes' Adds Five". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
15. Simich, Ricardo (26 November 2023). "Kiwi Sara Wiseman on days with apes in the city and roos in the Outback". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
16. Knox, David (18 July 2024). "Airdate: Territory | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
17. "TV Guide New Zealand Television Awards 2002 | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
18. "Sara Wiseman | NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. NZ On Screen. Retrieved 7 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
19. "Interview with Bevan Lee creator of A Place to Call Home". Retrieved 14 June 2014.
20. Spy: Kiwi acting duo Sara Wiseman and Craig Hall split after 16 years of marriage The New Zealand Herald. 29 July 2023
21. High Country’s Sara Wiseman: 'It takes 20 years to become an actor' Sydney Morning Herald. 24 March 2024
22. Bailey, Judy (25 March 2021). "Sara Wiseman: 'I'm fortunate to find someone who accepts me'". The Australian Women's Weekly. Retrieved 26 November 2023 – via PressReader.
23. Groves, Don (6 July 2020). "Philip Quast, Steve Le Marquand and Sara Wiseman join 'Dark Noise' cast". If Magazine. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
24. Harvey, Kerry (10 November 2021). "Shortland Street 'the toughest gig in town' says Sara Wiseman". Stuff. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
25. Knox, David (28 September 2019). "New drama One Lane Bridge filming in NZ for Seven | TV Tonight". Retrieved 26 November 2023.
26. Knox, David (17 April 2019). "Cameras roll on Between Two Worlds | TV Tonight". Retrieved 26 November 2023.
27. "Returning: Harrow | TV Tonight". 18 December 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
28. Knox, David (20 May 2021). "Airdate: Creamerie | TV Tonight". Retrieved 26 November 2023.
29. Knox, David (12 August 2021). "My Life is Murder: trailer | TV Tonight". Retrieved 26 November 2023.
30. Knox, David (24 April 2021). "New romantic comedy for Rebecca Gibney | TV Tonight". Retrieved 26 November 2023.
31. Knox, David (8 April 2023). "Foxtel commissions new drama High Country | TV Tonight". Retrieved 26 November 2023.

External links

• Sara Wiseman at IMDb