Please Rewind Talent Wall

Angela Bloomfield

Angela Bloomfield’s screen career is anchored by one of New Zealand television’s enduring character journeys. Born in New Zealand on December 11, 1972, and educated at Massey High School in West Auckland, Bloomfield became closely associated with Shortland Street through her long-running role as Rachel McKenna. Played on and off across 24 years, Rachel changed considerably with the series. She began as the schoolgirl daughter of the clinic boss, later became a university student and clinic employee, and eventually rose to CEO of Shortland Street Hospital. That progression gave Bloomfield the unusual opportunity to revisit the same character at markedly different stages of her life. She returned as a series regular in October 2009, departed again in 2016 and made another return in 2026. Bloomfield’s work has also extended beyond the soap. Her feature-film appearances include Bonjour Timothy and The Frighteners, while her smaller television roles include The Adventures of the Black Stallion, Betty’s Bunch, Ride with the Devil and Power Rangers Ninja Storm. Together, those credits place her across a varied stretch of New Zealand film and television, even as Rachel McKenna remained the defining thread. Acting is only part of Bloomfield’s screen career. She is also associated with television and film directing, and when she paused acting for three years after becoming a mother of two, she continued directing episodes of Shortland Street. That move behind the camera added another dimension to a career already shaped by longevity and change. Away from scripted work, Bloomfield competed on New Zealand’s Dancing with the Stars and joined the 2021 season of Celebrity Treasure Island. Whether acting, directing or returning once more to Rachel, her career reflects a lasting connection to New Zealand screens.