Narelle Ahrens is a multifaceted New Zealand actor, voice over artist, singer, and foley artist who has been actively working in the industry since graduating from Victoria University of Wellington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Film, and English Literature in 1995.
Throughout her illustrious career, Narelle has performed in over 30 productions in television and film, earning numerous accolades and recognition. Notably, she was nominated for Best Actress at the New Zealand Film Awards for her outstanding performance in the internationally acclaimed short film "I'm Going to Mum's", which premiered at the prestigious Berlinale International Film Festival.
Narelle has also had the privilege of playing the lead role of DeeDee Blancharde in the US TV show James Patterson's "Murder Is Forever". Her extensive work in theatres throughout New Zealand, including Bats Theatre, Downstage, Circa, and the Fortune Theatre in Dunedin, has resulted in notable roles in two acclaimed New Zealand premieres, the award-winning "The Love of HumanKind" by Brian Sergent at Circa Theatre and "The Paradise Package" by Geraldine Brophy at the Fortune.
Under the guidance of renowned tutors such as Perry Piercy, Tina Regtien, Diana Rowan, and Vicky Yiannoutsos, Narelle has honed her skills in screen acting. Her training in the Meisner Technique with Michael Saccente led to a summer season training program at the prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse in New York in 2004. Most recently, she has had the opportunity to participate in masterclasses with the inspiring talents of Stuart Devenie, Fiona Samuel, Jennifer Ward-Lealand, and Miranda Harcourt.
In addition to her acting career, Narelle has been an integral part of New Zealand's favorite girl-group, The BeatGirls, for the past 20 years. The group has performed extensively throughout New Zealand and internationally, with a highlight performance as the headline act for Sports Illustrated and Holden at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
As a voice over artist, Narelle has been in high demand for short films, radio, and television, and has become a recognized voice for some of New Zealand's biggest brands. Furthermore, she is one of the most experienced Foley artists in New Zealand, having performed foley work for feature films such as Lord of the Rings and numerous successful New Zealand TV shows, telefeatures, and short films, including Outrageous Fortune, Westside, Fresh Eggs, and The Deadlands, since 2001.
