Rachel House

Rachel House (born October 20, 1971, in Auckland, New Zealand) is a celebrated New Zealand screen artist known primarily for her acting, with a parallel career as a director. Also credited as Rachel Jessica Te Ao Maarama House, she has become a distinctive presence in contemporary New Zealand cinema and television through her sharp character work and memorable voice performances.

House is widely associated with the creative world surrounding filmmaker Taika Waititi, appearing in projects that helped define a modern wave of Kiwi storytelling. Her film credits include Whale Rider (as Shilo) and Eagle vs Shark (as Nancy), along with roles in White Lies (Maraea), Millie Lies Low (Marlene), and The Moon Is Upside Down (Tuffy).

Beyond live-action roles, she has lent her voice to screen work such as Tales from the Apocalypse (System, voice) and Rhys Darby: Mystic Time Bird (Voice of The Shaman), and appears in Team Darryl as Topaz. Across genres—drama, comedy, and animation—House is recognized for bringing warmth, authority, and wit to every performance.

Her impact has been acknowledged with major honors in New Zealand’s arts community, including recognition as an Arts Laureate, appointment to the New Zealand Order of Merit, WIFT NZ’s “Mana Wahine,” and a Matariki Award (Te Waipuna a Rangi) celebrating her contributions as both actor and director.