kura forrester
Ngāti Porou | Comedian and Actress.
Kura Forrester was born and raised in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. She graduated from studying Performing Arts at UNITEC in 2005 and has since worked throughout the country as an actor, writer and comedian.
As a graduate, Kura won television roles in Kai Kōrero and comedy A Thousand Apologies. Heading off to Europe, she studied at Paris clown school École Philippe Gaulier and tried stand-up comedy in London.
Back home, she’s written for and acted in small-town sitcom Golden Boy, and played a melodramatic drama teacher in The Educators. She has starred in Shortland Street, Taskmaster and acclaimed docu-drama Belief.
Kura is known for her roles in Adventures of Suzy Boon as an imprisoned immigration officer and What We Do in the Shadows. In 2019 she became the first Māori woman to win the Billy T comedy award with her show Kura Shoulda Woulda. She recently enjoyed performing her brand new hour, Here if you Need, in a sold out season during the 2023 NZ International Comedy Festival. Kura continues to be an inspiration in the film, stage and television industry for wahine Māori.