Talia Pua

Talia Pua is an actor, theatre-maker, and interaction designer who recently portrayed Meiling in the feature film Tinā, directed by Miki Magasiva. The film has hit NZ box office expectations, and recently opened the Hawai'i Internetaional Film Festival.

As co-founder and Creative Director of Hand-Pulled Collective, Talia leads the creation of original, independent theatre in Aotearoa. In 2021, she made her award-winning debut as a playwright and director with Pork and Poll Taxes, a poignant Chinese family drama set during New Zealand’s poll tax era.

With a degree in Creative Technologies, Talia merges physical theatre with design to create visually compelling and emotionally layered work. Her innovative methods are evident in projects such as Not Woman Enough, where she transformed second-hand textiles into biomorphic sculptures, using set and prop design to examine themes of womanhood.

Talia's screen presence extends beyond Tinā. She appeared in Into the Rainbow (2017) and the web series Asian 8 (2023), delivering grounded and memorable performances. Her international experience includes a residency with Indonesia's Papermoon Puppet Theatre, where she honed her puppet-making and visual storytelling skills.

Through both theatre and film, Talia continues to craft bold, visually arresting stories that resonate with diverse audiences.