Michaela Te Awa Bird Actor Profile

Profile

Pronoun

She/Her

Ethnicity

Māori

Iwi

Te Arawa, Ngāti Manawa, Ngāpuhi

Location

Auckland, New Zealand

Height

164 cm

Age Range

28–35

Career Highlights

Rain Te'i is a talented actress, model, and dancer of Māori and Samoan heritage. A graduate of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School (2025), Rain has quickly established herself as an exciting emerging performer with a growing body of screen work. Most recently, she starred in the lead role of Tiki Lounge Productions' web series "First Place." Her screen credits also include the short films "Papa's Chair" for Māoriland Productions and "Our Party", directed by Joshua Prendeville. Passionate about storytelling and representing her culture through performance, Rain brings a dynamic presence to every project and continues to build a promising career across New Zealand's film and television industry.

Awards.

2021Ahikāroa

Television.

2024Only In AotearoaMereana (Mama 3)Kura Productions
Dir. Maruia Jensen
2023End of the ValleyMaika (Supporting)Dir. Various
2022Brokenwood Mysteries Donna Guest South Pacific Pictures
Dir. Caroline Bell-Booth

Theatre.

2024Red White and BrassArohaAuckland Theatre Company
Dir. Anapela Polataivao
2023Things That Matter April Auckland Theatre Company
Dir. Anapela Polataivao
2022Nora: A Doll's House Christine Dir. Kitan Petkovski
2022Table Read: The Miracle That Is Larry Rice Jordan Dir. Ian Hughes
2022The Wheel Beatriz (Lead )Dir. Benjamin Henson

Short Film.

2022I Hate This Dance Her Lead Avis Panthera
Dir. Leo Allan & Michaela Bird
2022Think TankZoeActors Program
Dir. Caroline Bell-Booth
2022What A View Kay Lead Avis Panthera
Dir. Leo Allan
2021RentersParis Lead South Seas Film & TV
Dir. Ruth Dudding
2021Unwind Sachi CoreSouth Seas Film & TV
Dir. Everett Marston
2020Anywhere But HereNikki (Lead)South Seas Film & TV
Dir. Luca Dombroski
2020Fly Trap Layla (Lead)South Seas Film & TV
Dir. Mitchell Murphy-Reid
2020Te Wairua Manaia (Lead)South Seas Film & TV
Dir. Lainey Bishop

Voice.

2020Limbo Animation Pogo (Core)Auckland University of Technology

Training.

Actors Program - One Year Intensive Practical Workshop - 2022
David Van Horn - Self Tape Workshop - 2022
Gavin McGibbon - Script to Screen - 2022
Jennifer Ward-Lealand - Intimacy Workshop - 2022
Kacie Steton - Screen Acting Technique - 2022
Miranda Harcourt - Screen Acting - 2022
Jacque Drew - American Accent - 2021
Andrea Kelland & Vicky Yiannoutsos - Workshop for film, TV & auditioning - 2020
Erroll Shand 1-on-1 Audition Workshops - 2020
South Seas Film & Television - Diploma on Screen Acting - 2020