Miriama McDowell (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi) is an award-winning actor, director, and writer dedicated to uplifting Māori and indigenous voices through her storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has enriched Aotearoa New Zealand’s theatre and film landscape, fostering cultural dialogue and challenging societal norms.

A graduate of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, Miriama further honed her craft at École Philippe Gaulier, focusing on Clown and Le Jeu. Her directorial debut, Ngā Pou Wahine, with Taki Rua Theatre, earned her the 2015 George Webby Most Promising New Director Award. Miriama co-directed a successful Pasifika version of Much Ado About Nothing at the Pop-Up Globe, attracting over 100,000 audience members.

She has a long association with Massive Theatre Company, directing The Island, which toured Scotland, and writing Te Whare Kapua: The Cloud House for the company’s 30th anniversary. Her play Cellfish, co-written with Jason Te Kare and Rob Mokaraka, was shortlisted for the Adam Play Awards and received Best Actress and Best Actor awards at the Wellington Theatre Awards.

Miriama’s work spans the big and small screens as well as the stage. She won the Best Actress award at the 2017 NZ Film Awards for her role in The Great Maiden’s Blush, followed by a 2020 NZ TV Award for Best Actress for her lead role in Head High. In 2022, She portrayed Younger Whina in the critically acclaimed feature film Whina. Despite her love for screen acting, theatre remains her artistic home, and she has worked with many of Aotearoa’s major theatre companies, including Taki Rua, Massive Company, Auckland Theatre Company, and Te Pou.

Miriama is a founding member of Intimacy Coordinators Aotearoa and as a board Member of Equity NZ advocates for improved working conditions for actors. In 2022, Miriama committed to learning Te Reo Māori, calling it “the best commitment to my role as a Māori storyteller that I could ever have made.” 

Panel statement: “Miriama is a multi-hyphenate practitioner who excels onstage and behind the scenes. She is constantly working to grow her performance practice, incorporating te reo Māori into her writing, and forging new ground with her intimacy coaching.” 

Thank you to Corner Store for helping us tell these stories of impact, and to these contributors to the video: Massive Theatre Company, and 2000 Laureate Briar Grace-Smith ONZM.