Profile
Notes
Photographs by Andi Crown
Notes
Photographs by Andi Crown
View Show Reel
Donna BrookbanksACP_3441_web_8x10
Donna BrookbanksACP_3337_web_8x10
Donna BrookbanksACP_3386_web_8x10
Donna BrookbanksACP_3349_web_8x10
Donna BrookbanksACP_3389_web_8x10
Donna BrookbanksACP_3417_web_8x10
Donna BrookbanksACP_3441_web_8x10
Donna BrookbanksACP_3337_web_8x10
Donna BrookbanksACP_3386_web_8x10
Donna BrookbanksACP_3349_web_8x10
Donna BrookbanksACP_3389_web_8x10
Donna BrookbanksACP_3417_web_8x10
Acting
Skills
Artist, Ballet Dancer, Ballroom Dancer, Comedian (Stand-Up), Dancer, Full Licence, Jazz Dancing, Mezzo Soprano, Netball, Piano, Singer, Stage Combat Training, Swimming, Theatre Sports
Accents
American (standard), Australian, British, Bronx, Cockney, New York, RP, South African, Southern American, Welsh
Acting Experience
Feature Film
2021Mother of the Revolution, 'Helen John'
GFC Dir: Briar March
2017The Breaker Upperers, 'Bride to be'
Miss Piki Films Ltd Dir: Jackie van Beek & Madeleine Sami
2010The Ambitious Gentlemen, 'Henchwoman'
Benjamin Bode Dir: Benjamin Bode
Television
2024Madam, 'PC Marie'
Tavake, Te Puna Kairangi, Warner Bros, XYZ Films Dir: Various
2024My Favourite Dead Person, 'Teacher'
Thedownlowconcept, TVNZ Dir: Various
2023Double Parked, 'Beth'
Kevin & Co Dir: Madeleine Sami
2023Creamerie, 'Donna'
Kevin & Co Dir: Roseanne Liang
2021SIS, 'Susan'
Dir: Various
2021Mean Mums: season III, 'Beths Mum'
South Pacific Pictures Dir: Various
2021Raised by Refugees, 'Trish/Client'
Kevin & Co Dir: Various
2019Golden Boy, 'Betty'
Mediaworks Dir: Various
2018Funny Girls (NZ Suffragette Special), 'Various'
Mediaworks Dir: Various
2018Funny Girls: season III, 'Various'
Mediaworks Dir: Various
2017Shortland Street, 'Leonie McDowell'
South Pacific Pictures Dir: Various
2017Jono & Ben (sketch show), 'Various'
Mediaworks Dir: Various
2016Funny Girls: season II, 'Various'
Mediaworks Dir: Madeleine Sami
2015Funny Girls: season I, 'Various'
Mediaworks Dir: Johnny Barker
2015Shortland Street, 'Leonie McDowell'
South Pacific Pictures Dir: Various
2015Jono & Ben, 'Donna'
Mediaworks Dir: Various
2001Dark Knight, 'Catherine'
Palana Productions Dir: Various
Theatre
2024The Odyssey, 'Various roles'
Christchurch Botanic Gardens Dir: Dan Bain
2023The Appleton Ladies Potato Race, 'Penny'
The Court Theatre Dir: Anthea Williams
2016Benedict Cumberbatch Must Die, 'Genevieve'
Basement Theatre Dir: Kate McGill
2016Next Big Things, 'Comedian'
NZ Comedy Trust/ Q Theatre Dir: Various
2015Social Climbers, 'Sinead'
Tadpole Productions Dir: Janice Finn
2014There's a Bluebird Inside My Heart But I Tell it to Shut Up, 'Various'
Playfight Productions/ Basement Theatre Dir: Jessica Joy Wood
2013Looking at Stuff in Clouds, 'Various'
Basement Theatre Dir: Jessica Joy Wood
2013The Women, 'Peggy'
The Court Theatre Dir: Ross Gumbley
Web Series
2024My Favourite Dead Person; Season II, 'Teacher'
Thedownlowconcept Dir: Jamaine Ross
2022My Favourite Dead Person; Season I, 'Teacher'
Thedownlowconcept Dir: Jamaine Ross
Television Commercials
2022 - 2024Tower Insurance
NZ
2019New World RWC
NZ, 7 Weeks
17-18TAB - Melbourne Cup Season
NZ
Online Commercials
2022Sustainable Business Network - 20th year mockumentary, 'Te Radar's lawyer'
NZ
Television Appearances
2020Best Food Comedy Gala, 'Herself'
Mediaworks Dir: Various
19-217 Days (panel show), 'Herself'
Mediaworks Dir: Various
2018Brainstorm (panel show), 'Herself'
TVNZ Dir: Various
2018The Spinoff TV: season I, 'Herself '
Great Southern TV Ltd Dir: Various
Voice Work
22-25Night Eyes (animated series), 'Vim '
Mukpuddy
2024Tumeke Space, 'Princess Snub'
Mukpuddy
2023Home & Family Counselling, 'Voiceover'
2021The Adventures of Tumeke Space, 'Princess Snub'
Mukpuddy Dir: Ryan Cooper
Stand Up Comedy
2020Best Foods Christmas Comedy Gala 2020, 'Self'
2019Heroic, 'Herself/Comedian'
Notorious- Billy T Award Nominee
2018You Do You Babes , 'Herself/Comedian'
Julie Zhu - Billy T Award Nominee
2017Cat Lady in Waiting, 'Herself/Comedian'
Zanetti Productions
13-17Snort, 'Various (founding member)'
Basement Theatre Dir: Various
Voice
Voice Characteristics
Retail, Narrative, Bubbly, Cartoon, Comedy, Confident, Energetic, Friendly, Kiwi, Upbeat, WarmComedy
View Comedy Reel
Comedy
Biography
Donna Brookbanks is a two time Billy T nominee who combines characters, sketch and physical comedy into her observational stand-up. She’s created 4 solo shows; her most recent being ‘Green Fingered’, which she has toured around the country.
Donna has appeared on 7 Days and performed at Melbourne International Comedy Festival and The Comedy Store in Sydney.
She has trained in improv at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade in New York City and Los Angeles, and co-founded cult hit improv group, Snort.
Her comedy is silly and relatable.
2018/2019 Billy T Nominee
2016 Raw Comedy Semi-Finalist
Testimonials
Brookbanks delivers countless phenomenal jokes throughout the show. Her trademark flights-of-fancy keep the show consistently hilarious.
Reuben Crimp, 2025, review of Green Fingered
Brookbanks breathes life into all her characters, and her improv background allows for some fast interactions with the audience
NZ Herald, 2025, review of Green Fingered
A joy to watch and the kind of personality you need in your life
