Rose McIver

Early life

McIver was born in Auckland and was raised in Titirangi by her father, John George Whitfield "Mac" McIver (b. 1951), a photographer, and her mother, Ann "Annie" (née Coney), an artist. Her parents still reside in the house in which she grew up. She has an older brother, Paul McIver, who is a musician and former actor. She studied ballet and jazz dance until she was 13.

McIver attended Avondale College and was a prefect in her final year. She graduated in 2006. She studied at the University of Auckland, and majored in Psychology and Linguistics, but did not complete her degree. Between acting jobs, she was a babysitter and worked part-time importing bananas with Fair Trade. She took part in their "All Good Bananas" promotion, as the voice of the listener's conscience.

Career

At the age of two, McIver began appearing in commercials; at three, she received the role of an angel in the film The Piano.

McIver has worked for New Zealand television, from fantasy-based series such as Maddigan's Quest to dramas such as Rude Awakenings. She has starred in television films such as the Hercules film series and Maiden Voyage, as well as two Disney Channel films: Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off in 2003 and Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board in 2007, which is the sequel to the 1999 film Johnny Tsunami. From March to December 2009, she portrayed Summer Landsdown / Ranger Yellow in the television series Power Rangers RPM for 32 episodes. She also had a role in the comedy series Super City, playing cheerleader Candice. In 2011, McIver appeared in the television film Tangiwai, based on the 1953 Tangiwai rail disaster. In the film, she played Nerissa Love, the fiancée of New Zealand cricketer Bob Blair and one of the victims of the disaster.

Her further TV roles were as the lead character in MTV's unsold pilot Cassandra French's Finishing School for Boys, based on the book by Eric Garcia and produced by Garcia and Krysten Ritter, in Showtime's Masters of Sex, based on the book Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, the Couple Who Taught America How to Love by Thomas Maier, as Tinker Bell for a multi-episode story arc on the series Once Upon a Time, and as adult Cathy Dollanganger in the Lifetime television film Petals on the Wind, adapted from the book by V. C. Andrews.

In March 2015, McIver starred in The CW's series iZombie as Olivia "Liv" Moore. The series ended on 1 August 2019 after five seasons.

McIver appeared in Peter Jackson's film adaptation of The Lovely Bones, which received its U.S. release on 11 December 2009. In the film, she played Lindsey Salmon, the younger sister of the main character. From there she appeared in the film Predicament, based on the novel by Ronald Hugh Morrieson, which was released in New Zealand and Australia on 26 August 2010. She put her studies at the University of Auckland on hold, and traveled to Los Angeles for "a couple of top-secret projects". She was cast opposite Chris Lowell in the indie film Light Years, and in Australian rules football film, Blinder, which began filming in Torquay on 20 February 2012, before moving to Boston. McIver was cast in the musical feature, Daffodils. Filming began February 2018 in Wellington, Waikato, and Wairarapa, and was released in New Zealand and Australia in 2019.

In March 2017, it was reported that McIver was in Romania, filming A Christmas Prince for Netflix which was released 17 November 2017. She reprised her role as Amber Moore in the 2018 sequel film A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding and the 2019 threequel A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby.

In October 2021, McIver began starring in the CBS sitcom Ghosts as Samantha "Sam" Arondekar, one of the leads.

Personal life

McIver has been an ambassador for the airline Emirates.

McIver enjoys writing and is inspired by the works of John Steinbeck, Wally Lamb and Franz Kafka. She also enjoys crossword puzzles and Sudoku.

On 2 January 2023, McIver married Australian artist George Byrne in Santa Barbara, California after six years of dating. They had a daughter in 2024.

McIver is the sister-in-law of actress Rose Byrne.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Music videos

Other works

Theatre

Awards and nominations

References

References

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2. (18 April 2012). "Rose McIvor: taking on Tinseltown". NZ Woman's Weekly.
3. (26 May 2014). "Meet Petals in the Wind Star Rose McIver". YouTube.
4. Rae, Fiona. (7 April 2007). "Rose McIver – Commentary". NZ Listener.
5. Thomas, Carolyn. (17 December 2009). "Meet our lovely star". Western Leader (via Stuff.co.nz).
6. Young, John. (6 November 2009). "Entertainment Weekly Interview".
7. (26 October 2010). "Bananas to humans: "this time it's personal"". StopPress.
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15. (28 August 2007). "Lindsey and Ruth roles cast for The Lovely Bones". Black Magic — NZ Film News.
16. (24 March 2010). "Predicament — Movie Preview". Flicks.co.nz.
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20. (19 January 2012). "Blinder begins production next month, casts Oliver Ackland, Rose McIver". If.com.au.
21. (23 February 2018). "Kimbra, iZombie's Rose McIver to star in Kiwi musical feature Daffodils". [[Stuff (website).
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23. Simich, Ricardo. (25 March 2017). "Kiwi stars hit Europe for new projects". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
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46. "Arcadia".
47. (August 2023). "Show Cast".
48. (29 June 2002). "NZ Television Awards 2002 Winners List". Scoop.co.nz.
49. (3 July 2007). "Outrageous Fortune, Maddigan's Quest lead pack in Screen Award nominations". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
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55. Verhoeven, Beatrice. (7 July 2022). "'This Is Us,' 'Succession,' 'Severance' Lead 2022 HCA TV Nominations".
56. Tinoco, Armando. (12 August 2022). "Saturn Awards Nominations: 'The Batman', 'Nightmare Alley', 'Spider-Man', 'Better Call Saul' Top List".
57. “Nominations announced for the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards hosted by Chelsea Handler,” Critics Choice Association, December 5, 2025.