Frances Rose McIver (born 10 October 1988) is a New Zealander actress. She portrays Samantha Arondekar in the CBS supernatural sitcom Ghosts (2021–present), Olivia "Liv" Moore in The CW supernatural comedy-drama series iZombie (2015–2019), Summer Landsdown the Yellow Ranger in Power Rangers RPM (2009), and Amber Moore in the romantic comedy film A Christmas Prince (2017) and its two sequels, The Royal Wedding (2018) and The Royal Baby (2019).
McIver began her career with guest appearances in New Zealand–based series, such as Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Legend of the Seeker. She had recurring roles in the Showtime period drama series Masters of Sex (2013–14) and the ABC fantasy adventure drama series Once Upon a Time (2013–2017).
McIver made her film debut in the period drama The Piano (1993). Since then, she has starred in the drama The Lovely Bones (2009), the horror comedy Predicament (2010), the sports drama Blinder (2013), the romance drama Petals on the Wind (2014), and the musical drama Daffodils (2019).
Early life McIver was born in Auckland and was raised in Titirangi by her father, John George Whitfield "Mac" McIver (b. 1951), a photographer, and her mother, Ann "Annie" (née Coney), an artist. Her parents still reside in the house in which she grew up. She has an older brother, Paul McIver, who is a musician and former actor. She studied ballet and jazz dance until she was 13.
McIver attended Avondale College and was a prefect in her final year. She graduated in 2006. She studied at the University of Auckland, and majored in Psychology and Linguistics, but did not complete her degree. Between acting jobs, she was a babysitter and worked part-time importing bananas with Fair Trade. She took part in their "All Good Bananas" promotion, as the voice of the listener's conscience.
Career At the age of two, McIver began appearing in commercials; at three, she received the role of an angel in the film The Piano.
McIver has worked for New Zealand television, from fantasy-based series such as Maddigan's Quest to dramas such as Rude Awakenings. She has starred in television films such as the Hercules film series and Maiden Voyage, as well as two Disney Channel films: Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off in 2003 and Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board in 2007, which is the sequel to the 1999 film Johnny Tsunami. From March to December 2009, she portrayed Summer Landsdown / Ranger Yellow in the television series Power Rangers RPM for 32 episodes. She also had a role in the comedy series Super City, playing cheerleader Candice. In 2011, McIver appeared in the television film Tangiwai: A Love Story, based on the 1953 Tangiwai rail disaster. In the film, she played Nerissa Love, the fiancée of New Zealand cricketer Bob Blair and one of the victims of the disaster.
Her further TV roles were as the lead character in MTV's unsold pilot Cassandra French's Finishing School for Boys, based on the book by Eric Garcia and produced by Garcia and Krysten Ritter, in Showtime's Masters of Sex, based on the book Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, the Couple Who Taught America How to Love by Thomas Maier, as Tinker Bell for a multi-episode story arc on the series Once Upon a Time, and as adult Cathy Dollanganger in the Lifetime television film Petals on the Wind, adapted from the book by V. C. Andrews.
In March 2015, McIver starred in The CW's series iZombie as Olivia "Liv" Moore. The series ended on 1 August 2019 after five seasons.
McIver appeared in Peter Jackson's film adaptation of The Lovely Bones, which received its U.S. release on 11 December 2009. In the film, she played Lindsey Salmon, the younger sister of the main character. From there she appeared in the film Predicament, based on the novel by Ronald Hugh Morrieson, which was released in New Zealand and Australia on 26 August 2010. She put her studies at the University of Auckland on hold, and traveled to Los Angeles for "a couple of top-secret projects". She was cast opposite Chris Lowell in the indie film Light Years, and in Australian rules football film, Blinder, which began filming in Torquay on 20 February 2012, before moving to Boston. McIver was cast in the musical feature, Daffodils. Filming began February 2018 in Wellington, Waikato, and Wairarapa, and was released in New Zealand and Australia in 2019.
In March 2017, it was reported that McIver was in Romania, filming A Christmas Prince for Netflix which was released 17 November 2017. She reprised her role as Amber Moore in the 2018 sequel film A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding and the 2019 threequel A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby.
In October 2021, McIver began starring in the CBS sitcom Ghosts as Samantha "Sam" Arondekar, one of the leads.
Personal life McIver has been an ambassador for the airline Emirates. She enjoys writing and is inspired by the works of John Steinbeck, Wally Lamb and Franz Kafka. She also enjoys crossword puzzles and Sudoku.
On 2 January 2023, McIver eloped with Australian artist George Byrne in Santa Barbara, California, after six years of dating. Through their marriage, she is the sister-in-law of actress Rose Byrne. The couple had a daughter in 2024, and a second child in 2026.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1993 The Piano Angel 1997 Topless Women Talk About Their Lives Sally 1998 Flying Josie Short film 2001 Ozzie Caitlin 2002 Toy Love Lucy 2007 Knickers EmilyShort film 2008 So Fresh & So Keen Sally Poste 2009 The Lovely Bones Lindsey Salmon2010 Predicament Maybelle Zimmerman Dangerous Ride ReneeShort film 2012 The Dinner Party Heather "Rose"2013 Blinder Sammy Walton Brightest Star Charlotte Cates2014Petals on the Wind Cathy Dollanganger2015 Warning Labels JessieShort film Coward Ophelia Mattresside Sue Queen of Carthage Jane Voice The Answers Paige Short film 2017 A Christmas Prince Amber Moore 2018 A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding Brampton's Own Rachel Kinley 2019 Daffodils Rose A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby Queen Amber Moore 2020The Princess Switch: Switched Again Cameo 2022 Next Exit Heather
Television Year Title Role Notes 1992 Shortland Street Holly 1994 Hercules and the Amazon Women Girl (Hydra)Television film Hercules in the UnderworldIlea Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur 1995, 1997 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys 2 episodes 1995 Riding High Billy Unknown episodes 1996 City Life Sophie Unknown episodes 1999 Xena: Warrior Princess Daphne / Xena Episode: "Little Problems"2002 Murder in Greenwich Sheila McGuire Television film Mercy Peak Gwyneth Couch Episode: "Cruel to Be Kind"2003 P.E.T. Detectives Genevieve Episode: "Play It Again, Evan" Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off HannahTelevision film 2004 Maiden Voyage Jenny 2006 Maddigan's Quest GarlandMain role2007 Rude Awakenings Constance Short Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board Val Television film2009 Legend of the Seeker Alice Episode: "Reckoning" Power Rangers RPM Summer Landsdown / Ranger Yellow Main role2011 Tangiwai: A Love Story Nerissa Love Television film Super City Candice Main role2012 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Bridget Byron Episode: "Tressed to Kill" Cassandra French's Finishing School for Boys Cassandra French Unsold television pilot 2013–2014 Masters of Sex Vivian Scully 8 episodes 2013–2014, 2017 Once Upon a Time Tinker Bell 9 episodes2014 Petals on the Wind Adult Cathy Dollanganger Television film Play It Again, Dick Skank with Attitude 7 episodes 2015–2019 iZombie Olivia "Liv" Moore Main role2017 A Bunch of Dicks Johnny Funny or Die short DreamWorks Dragons Atali Voice; 3 episodes 2018 I'm Sorry Elizabeth Episode: "The Small of My Back" 2020–2022 Woke Adrienne Main role 2021–present Ghosts Samantha "Sam" Arondekar Main role, directed "Ghostfellas" and "St. Hetty's Day 2: The Help" 2021 Unwanted Kate / Emily
Video games Year Title Role Notes 2017 Access Code Eve Voice; Google Daydream
Music videos Year Title ArtistNotes 2015 "Demon Days (Do It All Again)"Wild Wild Horses "Ordinary Life" 2016 "Heartlines" Broods
Other works Year Title Notes 2013 Blood Punch Producer 2019 Nice Ride Director and writer
Theatre Year Title Role Venue 2003 Arcadia Thomasina Coverly Titirangi Theatre, Auckland 2008 Blood Brothers Various Peach Theatre Company, Auckland 2010 That Face Izzy Silo Theatre Company, Auckland 2019 Key Largo Nora D'Alcala Geffen Playhouse, Los Angeles
Awards and nominations Year Association Category Work Result Ref. 2002 TV Guide NZ Television Awards Best Juvenile Actor/ActressXena Warrior Princess 2007 Air New Zealand Screen Awards Best Performance by an ActressMaddigan's Quest 2010 Visa Entertainment Screen Awards Best NZ Actress The Lovely Bones 2012 Monte Carlo Film Festival Outstanding Actress Tangiwai 2017 Teen Choice Awards Choice Comedy TV ActressiZombie 2018 Teen Choice Awards Choice Sci-Fi/Fantasy Actress 2019 Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer TV Actress 2022Hollywood Critics Association TV AwardsBest Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, ComedyGhosts Saturn AwardsBest Actress in a Network or Cable Television Series 2026 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actress in a Comedy Series “Nominations announced for the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards hosted by Chelsea Handler,” Critics Choice Association, December 5, 2025.
References
External links
Rose McIver at the NZ on Screen
Rose McIver Online | rose-mciver.com, rose-mciver.net ( fansite) Rose McIver Source | rosemciversource.net, mciver-rose.com ( fansite)