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Lara works as an actor, director, and performance coach around New Zealand.

She studied acting in New York City with Uta Hagen, Anthony Abeson and Tony Greco and subsequently worked for ten years as an actor in the U.S. She holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Directing from The National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney and has directed over 40 productions in the last decade.

In 2009, Lara was appointed Associate Artistic Director at The Court Theatre, and in 2010 became Artistic Director at Fortune Theatre in Dunedin. Her directing and acting highlights at The Court Theatre include Misery; When the Rain Stops Falling; Things I Know to Be True; The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and the musical RENT. 

She currently free-lances across all disciplines with multiple companies including South Pacific Pictures, Auckland Theatre Company, The Court Theatre, Circa Theatre, Centrepoint Theatre, The Actors’ Program, the Pan Asian Theatre Collective and the University of Otago Theatre Studies.

Recent Film and TV acting credits include Deborah in Bad Behaviour; Dir: Alice Englert; Mrs Roidern in One of Us is Lying; Sgt Gillian Carmichael in Clickbait on Netflix and currently Moira Pierce on Shortland Street.

Lara is Chairperson for He Waka Eke Noa Charitable Arts Trust, and has played an integral part in supporting the development of The Factory Theatre and Kete Aronui venues in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Lara is represented by the wonderful team at Gail Cowan Management.

Court Shows