Lara Headshot web crop

Lara works primarily as an actor, director, dramaturg and performance coach in 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 in Christchurch and, in 2010 went on to become Artistic Director at Fortune Theatre in Dunedin. Directing highlights include Red; In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play); Tribes; Souvenir; The Caretaker; Punk Rock and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. 

Since 2015 she has been freelancing with multiple companies including Auckland Theatre Company, Circa Theatre, Centrepoint Theatre, The Actors’ Program, National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA) and the University of Otago Theatre Studies. 

Recent acting credits include Annie Wilkes in Misery (The Court Theatre), Sgt Gillian Carmichael in Clickbait (Netflix), Fran in Things I Know to Be True (The Court / Circa Theatre), Mrs Roidern in One of Us Is Lying (Netflix) and Deborah in the soon-to-be-released feature film Bad Behaviour, directed by Alice Englert. 

When she has time outside the theatre and film world, Lara is an avid photographer. She enjoys taking actors’ headshots, can often be found on set as a stills photographer, and is currently working on a solo photography project - Six Degrees of Inspiration: NZ’s Unsung Heroes.  

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

Court Shows

  • 2022 - RENT - Director
  • 2021 - Things I Know to be True - Fran Price
  • 2019 - Elling - Director
  • 2018 - Stephen King's Misery - Annie Wilkes
  • 2017 - Venus in Fur - Director
  • 2017 - Steel Magnolias - M'Lynn
  • 2017 - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Director
  • 2017 - Ropable - Aunty Prudence
  • 2016 - Macbeth - Lady Macbeth
  • 2016 - Winston's Birthday - Director
  • 2014 - White Rabbit, Red Rabbit - Actor
  • 2014 - When the Rain Stops Falling - Elizabeth Law (younger)
  • 2012 - Heroes - Assistant Director
  • 2011 - Five Women Wearing the Same Dress - Director
  • 2010 - Saving Grace - Director
  • 2010 - On the Rocks - Director
  • 2010 - The Perfumed Garden - Director
  • 2010 - Don't Mention Casablanca - Thilde Foerster
  • 2010 - God of Carnage - Véronique Vallon
  • 2009 - The Tutor - Director
  • 2009 - My Name is Rachel Corrie - Director
  • 2009 - Four Flat Whites in Italy - Italian Woman
  • 2009 - Poe - Director
  • 2008 - The Birthday Boy - AV Co-ordinator