Cian Elyse White is a New Zealand actress. She is best known for playing Toni Poulan in the drama series Vegas and Hannah in the comedy drama series 800 Words.
Early life White was born in Rotorua, New Zealand. She attended St Michael's Primary School and John Paul College before getting an art degree at Toi Whakaari. Her first major performance out of drama school was in Bruce Mason's Awatea, a study of Māori rural communities in the 50s and 60s. She shared the stage with theatre veteran George Henare who reprised the role he played in the original 1968 production.
Career In 2011 her play Hear to See won Most Original Production at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards. She played Leanne in a one off appearance in the drama series The Blue Rose. Her first big role came playing Hannah in the comedy drama series 800 Words. For her performance she was nominated for a Logie Award. She made her directing debut in 2019 with the short film Daddy’s Girl/Kōtiro and followed it up in 2021 with another short film called PIIKSI/Huia. Both films represented Te Ao Māori and wāhine Māori on-screen. She played Toni Poulan, one of the lead characters in the drama series Vegas. She portrayed the adult version of Gloria in the film Cousins.
Personal life She is the founder of Māori production company, WAITĪ Productions. She is a huge fan of singers Ella Fitzgerald, Dorothy Moore, Sam Cooke, The Hi-Marks, The Inkspots and Kenny Rogers.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2013 Fantail Kapa Haka Girl Short 2017 Meke Rita Short 2021 Cousins Adult Gloria
Television Year Title Role Notes 2011 Underbelly NZ: Land of the Long Green Cloud Andy 3 episodes 2013 The Blue Rose Leanne Episode; Paint a Vulgar Picture 2015 Tatau Lara Morgan 8 episodes 2015-2018 800 Words Hannah 39 episodes 2018 The Brokenwood Mysteries Chontelle 2 episodes 2021 Vegas Toni Poulan 6 episodes 2021 My Life Is Murder Nicki Balodis Episode; Ghost Town Tricks 2022 Moe & Friends Narrator 2022 Beyond the Veil Manaia Episode; Te Kohu-The Mist
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