Sarah Thomson (actress)

Sarah Thomson
Sarah Thomson
Born	17 June 1985 (age 39); New Zealand
Occupation(s)	Actress, puppeteer, writer
Years active	2005–present

Sarah Thomson (born 17 June 1985) is a New Zealand actress, known for playing roles in two series of the Power Rangers franchise, for her role in New Zealand's longest running soap opera, Shortland Street, and for playing a lead role in puppet show The Moe Show.

Career

Thomson's early roles included playing the "rich bitch" character Tiffany in New Zealand reality show Living the Dream (2004),^[1]^[2] the role of Diane/Hydrax in Power Rangers S.P.D. (2005)^[3]^[4] and a role in the film Meet Me in Miami (released 2005). She has a bachelor of arts from the University of Auckland.^[5]

In 2006, Thomson and eleven others were chosen out of 260 applicants to participate in Auckland theatre company Silo Theatre's talent project for new actors, The Ensemble Project.^[6] Other participants included Morgana O'Reilly and Bonnie Soper. The company performed in a season of two plays. One of them was an interpretation of 'Tis Pity She's a Whore directed by Michael Hurst, and the other was a company-devised piece called Based On Auckland, led by director Oliver Driver.^[7]^[8] Both works played in the 2008 Auckland Festival.

Thomson appeared as undercover policewoman/nurse Tracey Morrison on New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street from 2007 to 2011.^[9]^[10] In a 2008 interview with The Daily Post, she explained that her character would be leaving the police force after a brush with the Ferndale Strangler and returning to a nursing career in the upcoming season.^[11] Her character's 2011 wedding to James "Scotty" Scott featured in a Woman's Day list of favourite Shortland Street weddings.^[12]

During her time on Shortland Street she also played the role of Fran in the 2008 series Power Rangers Jungle Fury; she noted "it's a hilarious coincidence that I got pyjama pants and croc shoes as my main costume in both Power Rangers and Shorty Street".^[11] In 2013 she played a supporting role in a one-month run of Tribes at the Fortune Theatre, Dunedin, directed by Lara McGregor.^[13]

Beginning in 2014, Thomson wrote and performed for five seasons of the children's puppet television show, The Moe Show, performing and voicing Fern the Fairy.^[14]^[15]^[16] She describes The Muppet Show as a major influence and one of her favourite shows as a child.^[17] Following the show's final season, she performed in a radio show and live shows, and in 2022 an animated series.^[16]

From 2018 to 2021, she was the programme director of New Zealand's largest independent radio station, 95bFM,^[18] having initially taken the role on a three month secondment.^[19] She hosted an afternoon show each Saturday until September 2022.^[20] In 2021, Thomson moved to NZ On Air in Auckland, where she is the music contracts and funding coordinator.^[5] She is also a relief newsreader at Radio New Zealand.^[21]

Film work

Meet Me in Miami – Jennifer (2005)

TV work

The Moe Show – Fern (2014–present)
Power Rangers Jungle Fury – Fran, Lepus (2008)
Alt TV's Fresh Produce, The Residents & Lamest Girl Alive – Presenter/Herself (2007–08)
Shortland Street – Tracey Morrison (17 episodes, 2007, core cast, 2008–2011)
Power Rangers SPD – Diane/Hydrax (2005)
Living the Dream – Tiffany (2004)

Other credits

Alt TV – Station Music Producer (2007–08)
Rip It Up, among others – Freelance Music Writer (2011–2015)
95bFM – ex-Breakfast Producer; ex-Programme Director (2018-2021); Saturday 2–4pm host (2015–present)

References

^ "Living the Dream - Full Series". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
^ Barry, Rebecca (5 August 2004). "The untrue man show". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
^ "Sarah Thomson | Credits". TV Guide. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
^ "Power Rangers S.P.D (2005)". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Our team". NZ On Air. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
^ "Flash: Preview performance of The Ensemble Project". The New Zealand Herald. 19 March 2007. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
^ "Silo Delivers The Next Generation Of Performance". Scoop Independent News. Silo Theatre. 16 December 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
^ van Beek, Kathryn (16 March 2007). "Topical, authentic, close to home". Theatreview. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
^ "TV Pick of the week: Shortland Street". The New Zealand Herald. 16 December 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
^ "Dramatic start for Shortland St". Otago Daily Times. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
^ ^a ^b "You just can't keep her away". The Daily Post. 28 July 2008. p. A20. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
^ "Our favourite Shortland Street weddings". Woman's Day. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
^ MacTavish, Terry (17 June 2013). "Tribes: Funny, daring, hopeful, insightful". Theatreview. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
^ Awarau, Aroha (29 August 2014). "How I Live: My job is child's play". Australian Women's Weekly. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
^ Croot, James (3 July 2014). "Furry monster back for second season". Stuff. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
^ ^a ^b Harvey, Kerry (12 January 2022). "Kiwi tree monster Moe goes global". Stuff. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
^ "Screen test". The Dominion Post. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
^ "Soundtrack to my Life: Sarah Thomson". The New Zealand Herald. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
^ Parker, Katie (25 January 2018). "95bFM: Turning the page on a new chapter". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
^ "Saturday Afternoon with Sarah". 95bFM. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
^ "RNZ news reader Sarah Thomson on songs that stay in your life". RNZ. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.