Daniel Watterson is a stage and screen actor based in New Zealand and Australia, where he has quickly established himself as an exceptional and dynamic talent, cited for his passion, authenticity, charisma, and commitment to craft.
Daniel first gained notoriety in a sell-out 12-week season of Twelfth Night at the Pop Up Globe, the largest theatrical event of 2016, in which his performance as Olivia received critical acclaim. That year critics also praised his work in distinguished theatrical debut productions of Ain’t That A Bitch, and Lucrece (Auckland Shakespeare Company). The same year he featured also in the hit Basement Theatre show Close City. In 2017 he stunned theatre-audiences again as Tristan in The Effect at Q Theatre, and Thomas in Venus in Fur at The Court Theatre.
2016 also marked his screen debut as regular guest (and popular antagonist) Nathan on TVNZ’s Dirty Laundry. Since then he has appeared regularly on NZ and International screens, most recently as the mysterious villain The Shaman in The New Legends of Monkey, released on Netflix, ABC, and TVNZ in 2018.
In 2019 he will appear on screens in the romantic comedy Falling Inn Love (Netflix), Power Rangers, New Zealand television favourite Westside, and in a leading role in the tele-feature Ablaze telling the story of the 1947 Ballantynes Fire, the deadliest fire in NZ history. He’s also returned to The Court Theatre to perform in Christopher Hampton’s classic, Les Liaisons Dangereuses.
Daniel graduated from one of New Zealand’s eminent acting schools, The Actor’s Program, in 2014. He continues training through regular participation in acting Masterclasses with such greats as Howard Fine and Miranda Harcourt, and annual auditing of the legendary Larry Moss’ Masterclass.
In a former life, Daniel practiced law as a Barrister and Crown Prosecutor, appearing as sole counsel in many criminal jury trials, and many contentious commercial cases. He holds a BA with double majors in Theatre and English Literature, and an LLB (Hons 1st).
"Watterson as the play’s love object is outstanding though. There’s never a moment he doesn’t shine, perfectly balancing both the coldness of a grieving sister with the passion of a newly awoken heart."
- Theatre Scenes
"A passionate display that was at times electrifying."
- NBR
"Player of the day for me was another female role - Daniel Watterson's Olivia was a hilarious and at times tender portrayal that sparkled with wit and maintained a beautifully accurate caricature of a woman overcome with desire. Also features one hell of a falsetto."
- New Zealand Herald
"Gorgeous" ... "deliciously roguish" ... "the level of authenticity is exceptional"
- Theatreview
"But the casting for Olivia and Maria is so perfect...Regardless of gender, you are unlikely to see better portrayals of either character in a long time..."
- Theatre Scenes
"Sublime" ... "Watterson is an actor who has woven femininity into his countenance; his portrayal of Olivia is not merely a study in character, but the living of it. Olivia is delicate yet forward, bossy yet pleading, embarrassed yet audacious."
- Tearaway
"Daniel Watterson plays the somewhat enigmatic cellist Tom Clearwater who is, to Claire (and the audience), at times adorable and effortlessly charismatic (sometimes infuriatingly so) and at others morally questionable, naïve and somewhat cruel."
- Theatreview
“Watterson (who looks like he’d fit perfectly on the set of the erotic romance Fifty Shades of Grey ... ) was outstanding in this role. He’s charismatic and interesting, and switched between his two roles seamlessly.”
- Backstage Review
"As Thomas and Vanda, in multiple reconfigurations of status and control, Daniel Watterson and Jessie Lawrence deal with the challenges effortlessly. Both have roles and roles within roles to create, without losing the thread of either plot or the overall momentum of the play. They are endlessly locked in response to each other and the controlled intensity of the interaction is a tribute to their craft, acknowledged on opening night by warm and sustained applause."
- Theatreview
“Both [production and cast] simply couldn't be faulted. This is theatre which demands that a spark is immediately struck between the protagonists and both Watterson and Lawrence obliged to inject their sexual ballet with highly charged energy and passion ... there are moments in the Court Theatre's new production of Venus in Fur when everybody is understandably breathless.”
- The Press
“Watterson gave a performance of equal excellence, both as Thomas and Severin, unpeeling layers of male pretence and misogyny until his ultimate weakness lay exposed. It was a powerful and perfectly balanced interpretation, one which provided the perfect foil to Lawrence's highly combustible performance.”
- The Press
"Daniel Watterson is equally compelling as Thomas. Both are funny and dramatic in equal measure - seamlessly flipping from one to the next and back again as easily as Vanda swaps outfits. The dialogue rivals the Gilmore Girls for quantity and speed and not a beat was missed."
- We Built This City
“The chemistry between actors Jessie Lawrence and Daniel Watterson is an enormous asset to the play. The tension that builds between them is electric, and absolutely captivating.“
- Whats Good
"The upbeat and lovable Irish rogue, Tristan (Daniel Watterson)" ... "immediately engaging" ... "magnetic acting talent" ... "Daniel Watterson and Jessie Lawrence wowed, with their intense passion and believable interpretation of love, which had me so involved, if not perhaps, emotionally a bit wrought at the end, yet delivered with great intention and just the right dose of humor"
- Mac and Mae
"the excellent Daniel Watterson..."
- New Zealand Herald
"Daniel Watterston is delightful as Tristan, trying his luck in life and falling into obsession with emotional honesty and flashes of fear expressed through aggression."
- Pantograph Punch
"Watterson stands out with the clarity and delivery of the language and the thoughts informing this, as well as with the connections he makes with the audience ..." "... Watterson shines with the way he displays a deep connection with Hill's Lucrece. " "I find that the most affecting performance moments for me are small ones such as Watterson's silent but impassioned responses to Lucrece's impending doom and his failed attempts to protect her..."
- Theatreview
"Watterson is outstanding in his delivery; he takes every line and carefully unfolds it for his audience to devour..."
- Theatre Scenes
"Watterson is particularly good, playing the classy male prostitute with ease" "beguilingly sensual yet aloof..."
- Theatre Scenes, Theatreview
"Ailis Oliver-Kerby and Daniel Watterson, as the young lovers Cécile de Volanges and Chevalier Danceny, have a youthful vibrancy and innocence that brightens the whole stage."
- Backstage Christchurch
"[Valmont's] death at the hands of the socially blundering Chevalier Danceny (a superb portrayal by Daniel Watterson) had perhaps earned him redemption."
- The Press
Year |
Production |
Role |
Production Company / Director |
Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Ablaze | Cyril Fender (lead) | Screentime, dir. Josh Frizzell | Feature Film |
2019 | Falling Inn Love | Chad | Netflix, dir. Roger Kumble | Feature Film |
2017 | Why Does Love? | Peter Waller | Great Southern Television | Feature Film |
2015 | Abandoned | Journalist | Making Movies, dir. John Liang | Tele-Feature Film |
TBR | Augustine / Hope | Augustine (Lead) | Pictures Films, dir. Greg Lewis | Feature Film |
2008 | Avatar | Officer | 880 Productions, dir. James Cameron | Feature Film |
Year |
Production |
Role |
Production Company / Director |
Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Power Rangers | Copier Man / Drillton | Power Rangers Productions Ltd | Drama |
2019 | Westside | Vern Gardner | South Pacific Pictures | Drama |
2018 | The New Legends of Monkey | Shaman | See-Saw Films, Netflix, Dir. Gerard Jonstone | Drama |
2018 | Murder is Forever | Det. Welles | Stephen David Entertainment, dir. David O'Neill | Drama |
2017 | American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story | Ron Scharf | Stephen David Entertainment, dir. Rick Lopez | Drama |
2017 | Dear Murderer | William Kaneley | Screentime NZ, dir. John Liang | Drama |
2016 | Dirty Laundry | Nathan (series regular) | Filthy Productions | Drama |
Year |
Production |
Role |
Production Company / Director |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | The Effect | Tristan (lead) | Fractious Tash, dir. Ben Henson |
2017 | Venus In Fur | Thomas Novacheck (lead) | The Court, dir. Lara McGregor |
2016 | Twelfth Night | Olivia (lead) | Pop Up Globe, dir. Miles Gregory |
2016 | Romeo and Juliet | Benvolio (core) | Pop Up Globe, dir. Ben Naylor |
2016 | Ain't That a Bitch | Tom (lead) | Fox Rabbit Bear, dir. Jonathan Hodge |
2016 | Close City | Lars Jensen (core) | Paper Plane Factory, dir. Egle Simkeviciute |
2016 | Lucrece | Collatine (core) | Auckland Shakespeare Company, dir. Rita Stone |
2015 | The First Time I Stood | Man (solo) | Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra / Auckland Museum |
2014 | Sheep | Samuel Butler | Q Theatre / Basement Theatre, dir. Benjamin Henson |
2013 | Pride and Prejudice | Mr Darcy | Gryphon Theatre, dirs. Paul Kay, Joy Hellyer |