Kali Kopae

Kali Kopae’s got that rare spark—one of those performers who doesn’t just dabble in a little bit of everything, she straight up owns it. Born and raised in Invercargill, she’s been hustling in the arts scene since she was a kid, cutting her teeth on local theatre and belting out tunes before most people even knew what stage fright was. She’s trained hard, and you can tell—her theatre credits are stacked. Hikoi, The Beautiful Ones, A Doll’s House… all heavy hitters, and she delivers every time. There’s just something about her presence; she’s got that ability to flip from drama to musical without missing a beat. And then she took it up a notch, landing a role in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Not exactly a small gig, right? Playing The Ascetic, she managed to snag attention from audiences way beyond New Zealand. She’s also popped up in Whina as Mira Szaszy and cracked us up on Wellington Paranormal. Watching her move from local stages to big-budget international stuff, you just get the sense she’s always leveling up. But, honestly, it’s not just about acting with her. Kali’s got a serious love for music and she weaves her Maori roots into everything she does. She’s out there in the community, championing indigenous stories, making sure those voices don’t get drowned out. Her work isn’t just about her—it’s about lifting others up, too. That’s the kind of impact you don’t see every day.