Brooke Williams
New Zealand actress

Brooke Williams

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New Zealand actress
Gender:
Female
Birth:
3 January 1984(Christchurch, New Zealand)
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The details
Biography

Introduction

Brooke Williams (born 3 January 1984) is a New Zealand actress, best known for her role as Jennsen Rahl in Legend of the Seeker, Aurelia in Spartacus: Blood and Sand and Eva in The Almighty Johnsons.

Early life and education

Williams was born in Christchurch, where she spent her childhood. At a very young age, she decided to become an actress and started performing in amateur theatre and attending acting courses.

She moved to London, where, starting in 2001, she trained at Mme Course, Acting for Screen and the Globe Theatre, joining its theatre company. In 2002 she participated in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe acting in Gogo the Boy with Magic Feet, for which she won a Total Theatre Award. After going back to New Zealand, she worked at the Court Theatre in Christchurch; she moved North in 2004 to graduate in Performing and Screen Arts at the New Zealand Drama School: she gained the degree in 2006.

Career

In 2007 she moved to Auckland, where she joined the Auckland Theatre Company, playing the lead role in Romeo & Juliet.

Her television career began in 2005, acting in the movie Meet Me in Miami; then appearing in the television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, its prequel Spartacus: Gods of the Arena and Legend of the Seeker. In 2008, Williams acted in a spot for Griffin Solay. Two years later, she won two NZ Herald Best of Theatre Awards.

In 2011, she appeared in the video of the song Myth Reducer by Sleeping Dogs and joined Shortland Street, playing Lana. In 2012, Williams portraited Aurelia in Spartacus: Vengeance again.

She resigned from Shortland Street in early 2013.

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Hansel & Gretel Various Court Theatre, Christchurch
2002 A Midsummer Night's Dream Hermia Globe Theatre, London
2002 Puff, the Magic Dragon Little Jackie Parker Court Theatre, Christchurch
2002 The Gingerhead Man Ensemble Court Theatre, Christchurch
2002 Gogo the Boy with Magic Feet Various Edinburgh Festival Fringe
2002 The Lesson The Girl Court Theatre, Christchurch
2002 The Cherry Orchard Anya Court Theatre, Christchurch
2003 Sleeping Beauty Ensemble Court Theatre, Christchurch
2003 South Pacific Chorus / Nurse Court Theatre, Christchurch
2003 Great Expectations Estella Court Theatre, Christchurch
2005 Mean Jean the Pirate Queen Ensemble Court Theatre, Christchurch
2007 Jack & the Beanstalk Ensemble Kidstuff Theatre, Wellington
2007 Porcelain Grin Lead role (solo show)
2007 The Pillowman The Girl Auckland Theatre Company, Auckland
2007 The Crucible Mary Warren Auckland Theatre Company, Auckland
2007 I'm Not Rappaport Laurie Downstage Theatre, Wellington
2007 Urinetown the Musical Little Sally Downstage Theatre, Wellington
2008 The Tempest Ariel / Trinculo Hawke Sea Scout Hall, Cox's Bay
2008 The Female of the Species Molly Rivers Maidment Theatre, Auckland
2008 Mr Marmalade Lucy BATS Theatre, Wellington
2008 Three Sisters The Birdcage, Auckland
2010 Romeo & Juliet Juliet Maidment Theatre, Auckland
2010 Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead Basement Theatre, Auckland

Other roles

Year Title Role Notes
2015 Path of Exile Merveil (voice) video game
2015 June Jamie Short
2016 A Woman's Right to Shoes Alice Short

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Refs
2002 Total Theatre Awards Theatrum Botanicum – shared with the cast Gogo the Boy with Magic Feet Won
2008 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year Mr Marmalade Won
2010 NZ Herald Best of Theatre Awards Best Performance Romeo & Juliet Won
2010 NZ Herald Best of Theatre Awards Best of Theatre 2010 Romeo & Juliet Won
2010 The Hackman Theatre Awards Best Break Up of the Year – shared with Michael Whalley Romeo & Juliet Nominated
2010 The Hackman Theatre Awards Best Pash of the Year – shared with Michael Whalley Romeo & Juliet Nominated