Sara Wiseman is a New Zealand actress, best known for her roles as Dr. Nicky Somerville in the television series Mercy Peak (2001–2004), Annabelle Willis in The Cult (2009), and Carolyn Bligh in A Place to Call Home (2013–2018).
Wiseman has worked on both stage and screen, and has also worked as a presenter and voiceover artist. She works both in NZ and Australia.[citation needed]
Beginning her career with low-profile TV roles in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1996 and 1999), Xena: Warrior Princess (1995) and Jackson's Wharf (2000). Wiseman made her first high-profile television appearance in the drama series Street Legal as Louise Jarvis in 2000,[citation needed] before in 2001 getting the role of Dr. Nicky Sommerville in the New Zealand TV series Mercy Peak. Wiseman starred in Mercy Peak until 2002, when she left the cast after the tenth episode of the second series.[citation needed]
Following the conclusion of her role in the show, Wiseman went on to star in Atomic Twister, Serial Killers, and Matuka.[citation needed]
Wiseman also appeared in the movie Jinx Sister in 2008, for which she garnered her third New Zealand Film and Television Awards nomination under the category of "Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role".[1]
During 2013, Wiseman appeared for the first time as recurring character Carolyn Bligh, in the Australian romantic drama series A Place to Call Home. Following a successful first season, the show was renewed for a second season, in which Wiseman's character was upgraded to a main character.[2][3][4] Wiseman's storylines whilst on the show have included relevant world issues such as sexual assault, which the show explored during its third season when Wiseman's character was sexually assaulted by someone she had trusted,[5] on the subject Wiseman has stated that the storyline was a "poignant and challenging subject matter to tackle".[6] When the fourth season was due to air in 2016, Wiseman stated that there was "a darker edge" to the upcoming series.[7][8][9] The fifth series of the show aired in 2017,[10] and the sixth, and final series, aired in 2018.[11]
Wiseman co-founded and is a board member and tutor at NZ acting school; The Actors Program.[citation needed]
Accolades
Wiseman has been nominated for film and television awards multiple times and in 2011 she won Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film at the Aotearoa Film and Television awards for her role in Matariki. That year she was also a finalist for Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film for her role in The Insatiable Moon. She won Best Actress for playing Kate Sheppard in What Really Happened: The Women's Vote at the NZ Television Awards in 2012.[citation needed]