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Robyn Malcolm

Robyn Malcolm

Actor · Born March 15, 1965 (61) · Ashburton, New Zealand

BAFTA Award nominee

Robyn Malcolm is a New Zealander actress known for her work in New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. She has worked in film, television and theatre, in a wide range of roles in both comedies and dramas. Malcolm became widely known and loved as the tough matriarch Cheryl West in New Zealand's acclaimed television dramedy Outrageous Fortune (2005). During the show's six seasons, Malcolm won 11 awards for her acting and was hailed as "New Zealand's Sexiest Woman" four years in a row. She became known internationally for her portrayal of the comically-troubled Anita in Jane Campion's television series Top of the Lake (2013). Malcolm has garnered more than 15 awards for her skillful and versatile work in New Zealand and Australia, and was the Co-Director of The New Zealand Actors Company. She lives in New Zealand with her two sons.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
March 15, 1965 (61)
From
Ashburton, New Zealand
Works as
Actor
Titles
23 on MovieCove · 42 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Up 13% in 30 days

What are Robyn Malcolm's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 13th percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
23%
Self
20%
Survival
17%
Society
17%
Bonds
16%
Ideas
5%
Power
1%
Justice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 4 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 0 · Dark 3

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 2 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 3 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 1 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 0 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 2

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 2 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Shapeshifter: 2 of 7 analyzed roles.

Shapeshifter
2 of 7
Threshold guardian
2 of 7
Hero
2 of 7
Mentor
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Dread
8
Melancholic
6
Hopeful
3
Contemplative
4
Other
9

How their films linger

Unsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Bittersweet11
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Robyn Malcolm's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 23 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Robyn Malcolm's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

42 credits, 23 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 6 episodes · as Thelma

  • Pike River(2025)

    as Sonya Rockhouse

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Survivors(2025)

    Show 6 episodes · as Verity Elliott

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • The Moon Is Upside Down (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Hilary

  • After the Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 6 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · as Penny

  • Far North(2023)

    Show 6 episodes · as Heather

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Heartbreak High(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Cait

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Black Bird(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · as Sammy Keene

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Mystery Road: Origin(2022)

    Show as Simmo

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Sweet Tooth(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gillian Washington

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • This Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Pam

  • My Life Is Murder(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Tamara Innes

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Twenty One Points (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Mum

  • Charmer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Woman

  • The Outpost(2018)

    Show 23 episodes · as Elinor

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted to You(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · as Irene Newton-John

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Harrow(2018)

    Show 20 episodes · as Maxine Pavich

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Hostiles(2017)

    as Minnie McCowan

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Wake in Fright(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ursula Hynes

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • Wanted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 10 episodes · as Donna Walsh

  • Goodness Grows Here (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Trish

  • Dream Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Marianne

  • The Principal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Sonya

  • The Brokenwood Mysteries(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Ruth Phelps

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • The Code(2014)

    Show 6 episodes · as Marina Baxter

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Upper Middle Bogan(2013)

    Show 24 episodes · as Julie Wheeler

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Drift(2013)

    as Kat Kelly

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Top of the Lake(2013)

    Show 7 episodes · as Anita

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Agent Anna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 16 episodes · as Anna Kingston

  • Burning Man(2011)

    as Kathryn Dent

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Rake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Kirsty · as Kirsty Corella

  • The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Gail

  • Outrageous Fortune: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Cheryl West

  • Outrageous Fortune (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 106 episodes · as Cheryl West

  • Boogeyman(2005)

    as Dr. Matheson

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Serial Killers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 7 episodes · as Pauline

  • Perfect Strangers(2003)

    as Aileen

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers(2002)

    as Morwen

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Atlantis High(2001)

    Show as Violet

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Joyful and Triumphant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Raewyn Bishop

  • Absent Without Leave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Betty

  • Shortland Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 501 episodes · as Ellen Crozier

Career shape

Star power in the 92nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 40 titles from 1992 to 2026; peak year 2017.

Biggest box office

Boogeyman (2005)

$67M worldwide

Highest rated

Black Bird (2022)

Midcredits 96th

Film career

19922026

Peak 2017 · steadily prominent in film for years. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting40 of 40: 39 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thProducing1 of 40: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 40: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1990s3 · acting2000s6 · acting2010s21 · acting2020s10 · 10 acting · 1 crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

Awards

Nominated for a BAFTA Award in 2025, International.

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Robyn Malcolm's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 7; across a limited sample of 4 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 33rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Approval · how many liked their films

37thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Reach · how many have seen their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 23 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

The Outpost (2018)

64th percentile spread · 15% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 60/100 in their films, across 4 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Robyn Malcolm's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles48–75 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles30–66 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles32–70 · median 50 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles34–53 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles42–67 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Robyn Malcolm work with?

People who share at least 2 of Robyn Malcolm's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Damien Garvey shares the most, 2.

Actors

Cinematographers