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 returning to New Zealand, she worked at the Court Theatre in Christchurch; she moved North in 2004 and graduated with a Bachelor of Performing Arts from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School 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.[citation needed]

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.

Filmography

Film

Film roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
2005Meet Me in MiamiWaitress
2007Kissy KissyErin
2010PredicamentMargot Bramwell
2015Slow WestMaria

Television

Television roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
2009Go GirlsWanda3 episodes
2009–2010Legend of the SeekerJennsen RahlEpisodes: "Bloodline", "Fever" and "Unbroken"
2010This Is Not My LifeCrystalEpisode #1.3
2010Outrageous FortuneElena4 episodes
2011IceMillyTelevision miniseries
2010–2012Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Spartacus: VengeanceAureliaRecurring role, 6 episodes
2011Spartacus: Gods of the ArenaAureliaEpisode: "Past Transgressions"
2011–2012The Almighty JohnsonsEvaRecurring role, 8 episodes
2011–2013Shortland StreetLana JacobsRecurring role, 204 episodes
2014Anzac GirlsSister Edith 'Poppy' Popplewell2 episodes
2015True Crime: Venus and MarsCaroline BlakeTelevision film
2016-2017The Shannara ChroniclesCataniaRecurring role
2016–201812 MonkeysHannahRecurring role (season 2–4)
2019Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.SnowflakeRecurring role (season 6); 7 episodes
2021Love KnotsJody CarpenterTelevision film
2023Power Rangers Cosmic FurySquillia NaireRecurring role

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001Hansel & GretelVariousCourt Theatre, Christchurch
2002A Midsummer Night's DreamHermiaGlobe Theatre, London
2002Puff, the Magic DragonLittle Jackie ParkerCourt Theatre, Christchurch
2002The Gingerhead ManEnsemble
2002Gogo the Boy with Magic FeetVariousEdinburgh Festival Fringe
2002The LessonThe GirlCourt Theatre, Christchurch
2002The Cherry OrchardAnya
2003Sleeping BeautyEnsemble
2003South PacificChorus / Nurse
2003Great ExpectationsEstella
2005Mean Jean the Pirate QueenEnsemble
2007Jack & the BeanstalkEnsembleKidstuff Theatre, Wellington
2007Porcelain GrinLead role (solo show)
2007The PillowmanThe GirlAuckland Theatre Company, Auckland
2007The CrucibleMary Warren
2007I'm Not RappaportLaurieDownstage Theatre, Wellington
2007Urinetown the MusicalLittle Sally
2008The TempestAriel / TrinculoHawke Sea Scout Hall, Cox's Bay
2008The Female of the SpeciesMolly RiversMaidment Theatre, Auckland
2008Mr MarmaladeLucyBATS Theatre, Wellington
2008Three SistersThe Birdcage, Auckland
2010Romeo & JulietJulietMaidment Theatre, Auckland
2010Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage BlockheadBasement Theatre, Auckland

Other roles

YearTitleRoleNotes
2015Path of ExileMerveil(voice) video game
2015JuneJamieShort
2016A Woman's Right to ShoesAlice
2020Dota 2HoodwinkVoice Actor

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRefs
2002Total Theatre AwardsTheatrum Botanicum – shared with the castGogo the Boy with Magic FeetWon
2008Chapman Tripp Theatre AwardsMost Promising Female Newcomer of the YearMr MarmaladeWon
2010NZ Herald Best of Theatre AwardsBest PerformanceRomeo & JulietWon
2010NZ Herald Best of Theatre AwardsBest of Theatre 2010Won
2010The Hackman Theatre AwardsBest Break Up of the Year – shared with Michael WhalleyNominated
2010The Hackman Theatre AwardsBest Pash of the Year – shared with Michael WhalleyNominated

External links

  • at IMDb
  • on X
  • Brooke Williams at .