Lisa Chappell

While maintaining her continued success on screen, Chappell has had also appeared in films, such as Desperate Remedies (1993), Jack Brown Genius (1996), and Coffin Rock (2009), and further television roles, in City Life (1996–1998), The Cult (2009), Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires (2025) for which she was the recipient of a Qantas Film and Television Award for Best Performance by a Supporting Actress – General Television, and most recently as Michelle Beaufort in the soap opera, Shortland Street (2020–2022).

• Name — Lisa Chappell • Born — 18 October 1968 • Birthplace — Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand • Birth Name — Lisa Irene Chappell • Occupation — Actress, singer • Years Active — 1987–present • Notable Works — * Gloss (1987–1990) • McLeod's Daughters (2001–2003) • Height — 1.74 m • Awards — * Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent (2002) • Logie Award for Most Popular Actress (2004) • Qantas Film and Television Awards (2010) • (See all awards) • Website — http: www.lisachappell.net

Lisa Chappell was born in Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand and grew up in Mairangi Bay. She has two older siblings, a brother, Mark, and a sister, Catherine. Chappell studied acting in the 1980s, and was educated at Rangitoto College, where she took drama classes and performed in school musicals, as well as singing and dancing tuition.

Chappell's big break came in the late 1980s when she was a student, and while in Christchurch attending a Fringe Festival, she was lodging with Michelle Hine, who was teaching clown at the time, when Chappell was offered to audition for the upcoming television drama, Gloss. Hine coached her for the part, which she eventually received. Chappell made her on-screen debut in 1987 when she was cast as Chelsea Redfern in the TV2 series which lasted three seasons, until 1990. This was followed by a short stint in the police procedural series, Shark in the Park, and guest roles in shows, such as, soap opera Shortland Street, Mysterious Island, and multiple roles on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. In 1996, she began appearing in a regular role on the short-lived TV2 soap opera, City Life, as Bronwyn Kellett. In 1998, Chappell had relocated to Australia and completed "The Journey" program at the Actors Centre Australia in Sydney, Australia, graduating in 2000. After which, she auditioned for the role of Claire McLeod on the Nine Network rural drama series, McLeod's Daughters, a role which was originally intended for actor Laurie Foell during which Chappell was in the process of establishing a theatre company; she successfully secured the role following her audition. During production of the series, Chappell gained the skills in how to ride a horse and sheering sheep, and also made the decision to become a vegetarian. She appeared in the series for three seasons, from 2001 to 2003, before her character was killed off in a car accident. For her performance, Chappell was nominated for several Logie Awards, receiving two, for Most Popular New Female Talent and Most Popular Actress in 2002 and 2004, respectively, and has gained a cult following among both Australian and international audiences. Chappell continued in Australian television, and would later appear in a recurring role on the police drama, Stingers, as Constable Megan Walsh for its eighth and final season, the television film, Small Claims: The Reunion, the serial drama The Cult, in a role with earned her a Qantas Film and Television Award, and guest appearances in Rescue: Special Ops and Cops L.A.C.. In 2020, Chappell returned to Shortland Street, and was cast in the regular role of Michelle Beaufort. In 2024, it was announced that Chappell would be appearing in a supporting role in the upcoming television film sequel Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires, which is set to premiere on Disney+ and Disney Channel in 2025.

Chappell is a well established theatre performer, having appeared in numerous stage productions for more three decades, and has worked extensively in New Zealand, particularly with the Auckland Theatre Company. Early in her career, she appeared in classical theatre productions, including William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, the musical, Chicago, and Arthur Miller's All My Sons. She has also directed and performed in two plays at Auckland's Rose Theatre – Up the Garden Path and Girl Talk in 1993 and 1994, respectively. Following her graduation from the Actor's Centre Australia, Chappell has performed as the titular character in Educating Rita, which toured Australia in 2007, before returning to New Zealand to appear in productions, such as, Design for Living, The Thirty-Nine Steps, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Vagina Monologues, The Wizard of Oz, and Much Ado About Nothing. Chappell has, more recently, appeared in roles in contemporary works, including Fallen Angels, The Pink Hammer, That Bloody Woman, Bright Star, and Shortland Street – The Musical, and three plays which she wrote and produced – On/Off, Fred, and Bad Day Insurance. She is a member of Equity New Zealand.

Chappell's debut album, When Then Is Now, was released on 1 May 2006. She did some minor touring in Australia and New Zealand to support the album's release.

Chappell met Chris Taylor in August 2001 when they both attended her McLeod's Daughters co-star, Rachael Carpani's 21st birthday; they married in December 2001, and divorced in 2005. She currently resides in Puhoi, New Zealand.

Film • Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. Reference • 1993 — Desperate Remedies — Anne Cooper • 1995 — Dirty Dave — Lucy — Short • 1996 — Jack Brown Genius — Sylvia • 2007 — Crossbow — Mum — Short • 2008 — Beneath The Tides — Jane — Short • 2009 — Coffin Rock — Jessie Willis • 2010 — Be Careful... — Fi — Short • 2017 — Out of the Shadows — Linda Dee Television • Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. Reference • 1987–90 — Gloss — Chelsea Redfern — Main role: Seasons 1–3 — 55 episodes • 1990–91 — Shark in the Park — Tanya — Recurring role: Seasons 2–3 — 13 episodes • 1992 — Shortland Street — Deborah Walters — Guest role: Season 1, episodes 5 & 6 • 1994 — Hercules and the Circle of Fire — Daughter #1 — TV film • 1995 — Mysterious Island — Jane Morecombe — Guest role: Season 1, episode 16 • 1995–99 — Hercules: The Legendary Journeys — Various — Guest role: Seasons 1–5 — 7 episodes • 1996 — Letter to Blanchy — Monica — Guest role: Season 2, episode 5 • 1996–98 — City Life — Bronwyn Kellett — Main role: Season 1 — 26 episodes • 1999 — A — Aunt Linda — Guest role: Season 1, episode 11 • 2001–03 — McLeod's Daughters — Claire McLeod — Main role: Seasons 1–3 — 73 episodes • 2004 — Stingers — Megan Walsh — Recurring role: Season 8 — 9 episodes • 2005 — Intrepid Journeys — Herself — Episode: Season 3, episode 7 – "Malaysia" • 2006 — Small Claims: The Reunion — Louise Page — TV film • 2009 — The — Sophie McIntyre — Main role: Season 1 — 13 episodes • 2010 — Rescue: Special Ops — Vivian Walker — Guest role: Season 2, episode 9 • 2010 — Cops L.A.C. — Justine Taylor — Guest role: Season 1, episode 5 • 2011 — Emilie Richards – Der Zauber von Neuseeland — Daisy — TV film • 2012 — True Crime: Siege — Robyn Diver — TV film • 2013 — Agent Anna — Marina — Guest role: Season 1, episode 3 • 2014 — Auckland Daze — Lisa — Guest role: Season 2, episode 4 • 2016 — Jean — Mrs. Shepherd — TV film • 2016 — Friday Night Bites — Mum — Guest role: Season 1, episode 7 • 2016 — Roman Empire — Faustina — Guest role: Season 1, episode 1 • 2018 — James Patterson's Murder is Forever — Dr. Claire Hunter — Guest role: Season 1, episode 4 • 2018 — Tongue Tied — Annie — Main role: Season 1 — 7 episodes • 2020–22 — Shortland Street — Michelle Beaufort — Main role: Seasons 29–31 — 194 episodes • 2022 — The Brokenwood Mysteries — Polly McAlpine — Guest role: Season 8, episode 5 • 2023 — Blind Bitter Happiness — Helen — TV series • 2024 — My Life is Murder — Christine — Guest role: Season 4, episode 2 • 2024 — Camp Be Better — Sloan — Guest role: Season 1, episode 2 • 2025 — Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires — Eldress — TV film • 2025–26 — Spartacus: House of Ashur — Horatia — Recurring role: Season 1 — 3 episodes

• The Merchant of Venice (Rose Theatre, 1991) • Chicago (Auckland Operatic, 1992) • Up the Garden Path (Rose Theatre, 1993) • Girl Talk (Rose Theatre, 1994) • The Lover (The PumpHouse Theatre, 1995) • All My Sons (Maidment Theatre, 1997) • The Herbal Bed (Court Theatre, 1998) • Hamlet (Actors Centre Australia, 2000) • A.R. Gurney's Love Letters (2005) • The Homecoming (Auckland Arts Festival, 2007) • Educating Rita (toured in Australia, 2007) • Design for Living (Maidment Theatre, 2008) • The Thirty-Nine Steps (Maidment Theatre, 2009) • Don't Hold Your Breath (Maidment Theatre, 2009) • The Importance of Being Earnest (Maidment Theatre, 2010) • The Vagina Monologues (Basement Theatre, 2010) • Mike & Virginia (Herald Theatre, 2011) • The Wizard of Oz (Peach Theatre Company, 2011) • The Motor Camp (Maidment Theatre, 2012) • Much Ado About Nothing (Court Theatre, 2012) • Badjelly the Witch (Bruce Mason Centre, 2013) • On/Off (Bordello Theatre, 2013) • Fallen Angels (Q Theatre, 2014) • Fred (The Basement Theatre, 2014) • Bad Day Insurance (Old 505 Theatre, 2014) • Detroit (Darlinghurst Theatre, 2015) • Social Climbers (The PumpHouse Theatre, 2015) • Polo (Sky City Theatre, 2016) • The Pink Hammer (The PumpHouse Theatre, 2016) • Menopause The Musical (2016) • Peer Gynt (ASB Waterfront Theatre, 2017) • Two (2017) • That Bloody Woman (Centrepoint Theatre, 2018) • Bright Star (Herald Theatre, 2018) • Shortland Street – The Musical (ASB Waterfront Theatre, 2018) • The Next Step (Warkworth Town Hall, 2019) • Six Degrees of Separation (ASB Waterfront Theatre, 2019) • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (ASB Waterfront Theatre, 2019) • Di and Viv and Rose (The Pumphouse Theatre, 2022)

Lisa Chappell is recorded as actress and singer.