Beryl Te Wiata
Beryl Margaret Te Wiata (née McMillan, 15 April 1925 – 4 May 2017) was a New Zealand actor, author, and scriptwriter. Early life and family. Born in Christchurch on 15 April 1925, Te Wiata was the daughter of Ethel Laura McMillan (née Hamilton) and Archibald Neil McMillan. She was educated at Wellington East Girls' College from 1939 to 1941, and the Central School of Speech and Drama in London from 1949 to 1950. In 1948 she was working as a secretary in London when she met opera singer Inia Te Wiata. They married on 24 October 1959 at  Evesham, Worcestershire, England, and had one daughter, Rima, who became an actor and entertainer. Inia Te Wiata died in 1971, and Beryl Te Wiata returned to New Zealand with her daughter two years later. Career. Beryl Te Wiata was a film, television and stage actress. Her television appearances included roles on "Shortland Street", "Mercy Peak", "Outrageous Fortune", "", and "". She was also a panelist on the New Zealand version of the television advice show "Beauty and the Beast", hosted by Selwyn Toogood. She appeared in movies including the 1981 mystery horror "Strange Behavior", "Mesmerized" in 1986, and the 1993 biopic "Bread  & Roses" based on the life of Sonja Davies. She wrote most of the comic sketches for, and starred in, two one-woman stage shows, "Mrs. Kiwi Arthur presents" and "Mrs. Kiwi Arthur presents … more" in the early 1980s. She wrote a biography of her late husband, titled "Most happy fella: a biography of Inia Te Wiata", first published in 1976, as well as his biography for the "Dictionary of New Zealand Biography". In 2007, she compiled and wrote the liner notes for 49 tracks performed by Inia Te Wiata, released by the National Library of New Zealand. Death. Beryl Te  Wiata died on 4 May 2017, aged 92. She is survived by her daughter, Rima Te Wiata.