Alison Bruce is a New Zealand television and film actress, who starred in the 2001 feature film Magik and Rose. She also appeared in the teen series Being Eve and Xena: Warrior Princess, and had a recurring role as Simula in Young Hercules.
Early life and education Bruce was born in Tanzania to a Scottish father and an English mother. Her family moved to New Zealand when she was around eight.
She trained at Auckland's Theatre Corporate in the early 1980s.
Career Bruce soon began a busy acting career with stage roles that include starring in Hamlet (as Ophelia) and Cyrano de Bergerac (as Roxane).
She made her screen debut in the 1984 teleplay The Minders. Since then she has acted in more than 30 screen roles, including sizeable parts in two feature films: the 1990 chase comedy User Friendly, in which her character steals a keenly-sought dog statue from a crazed former boss; and 2001 feature Magik and Rose, which Bruce later described as a turning point in terms of the type of roles she is offered. The comedy-drama saw Bruce playing Magik, a fortune-teller who arrives in a Kiwi town in a house-truck, seeking the daughter she gave up for adoption many years before.
Bruce also acted in the based-on-a-true-story feature The World's Fastest Indian (as a doctor) and the short film Mon Desir, which was selected to play in the Un Certain Regard section of the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.
Television Bruce's television roles include the eccentric mother of Eve, the main character in award-winning series Being Eve, and the hospital personal assistant who falls pregnant in Mercy Peak. The latter part would win Bruce two consecutive New Zealand television awards for best supporting actor. She also had a number of small roles on the Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys franchise, including playing an Amazon Queen (Queen Melosa). Bruce enjoyed the chance to take part in fight scenes, and "do all this stuff you normally don't get to do in television".
Bruce played estranged mother to a family of gods in the first two seasons (2010–2011) of the television series The Almighty Johnsons, and worked with New Zealand director Jane Campion on the 2012 series Top of the Lake.
Personal life Bruce's long-term partner is casting director and actor Neill Rea. they were living in central Auckland.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1990User FriendlyAugusta1990Dora1991Auntie Kass1991Old ScoresNgaire Morgan1991Mon DesirShort1992AlexFemale Journo1999Willy NillyCarolShort2001Magik and RoseMagik2003SylviaElizabeth2004SpookedSheila Miller2004As Dreams Are Made OnRuthShort2005Doctor2005UsWomanShort2006Perfect CreatureTV Presenter2007Charge Nurse2012DottyCarolShort2017SandraShort2018Sail AwayMargaretShort, completed2024TināCarolineFeature film
Television Year Title Role Notes1986HeroesGlenda"2.2"1987AdventurerSovay Banks"Sovay, Parts 1 & 2"1990Shark in the ParkChristina Long"Fall from Grace"1990Star RunnerTV film1993Leslie HolbrookTV film1994CoverstoryKaren ParkerTV film1995Hercules: The Legendary JourneysPostera"Gladiator"1995Xena: Warrior PrincessQueen Melosa"Hooves and Harlots"1998City LifeKatherine Dwyer"1.15", "1.24"1998Shortland StreetDanni Brown / Lindsay MaguireTV series1998DeniseTV film1998–99Young HerculesSimulaRecurring role1999Xena: Warrior PrincessTalia"Animal Attraction"2000Xena: Warrior PrincessKahina"Legacy"2001–02Mercy PeakLouise DuvalMain role2001–02Being EveVivienne BaxterMain role2006Maddigan's QuestWitch-Finder"Witch-Finder"2007Reckless Behavior: Caught on TapeGrace LeisterTV film2009Life's a RiotNell EdmondsTV film2010Legend of the SeekerSister VernaRecurring role2010This Is Not My LifeJudeRecurring role2010Avalon HighCoach MiganovTV film2011–12AgnethaRecurring role2013Top of the LakeAnne-MarieRecurring role2014Sheryll DonaldTV film2016HillaryPhyllis RoseTV series2016Dirty LaundryDeliaTV series2018The Brokenwood MysteriesFiona"The Dark Angel"2019–presentSen. Sgt. Denise Abernethy TV series2019–20Golden BoySusanTV series, 16 episodes, 2 seasons2020The WildsCoach Ellen RoseTV series2020One Lane BridgeLois TremaineTV series2020MysticJuliaTV series
Awards and nominations Year Association Category Nominated work Result2000New Zealand Film and TV AwardsBest ActressMagik and Rose2002New Zealand Film and TV AwardsBest Supporting ActressMercy Peak2005Gemini AwardsBest Lifestyle/Practical Information SegmentZeD, "Pumpkin Boats"2006New Zealand Screen AwardsBest Performance in a Short FilmUs2010New Zealand Film and TV AwardsBest Lead Actress in a Feature FilmLife's a Riot
References
External links
Alison Bruce FanSite An interview with Alison Bruce