Life, love, and the triumph of the human spirit – Gina brings it all to her work.
Born in Wellington to a Greek father and Kiwi mother, Gina Varela has lived a truly international life, bringing with her a wealth of creative experience across acting, producing, writing, and the visual arts. From her teens, she was immersed in the world of film and documentary, working with her parents’ production company on political and historical projects in Greece before setting out on her own creative journey.
Her first spark for acting came at 18, while living in Greece, when she was invited to audition for Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Although the role ultimately went to Penélope Cruz, the experience set her on a path that would take her to New York, Rome, London, and back to Aotearoa. Along the way she studied acting and writing, worked in the fashion industry, taught drama therapy in schools, wrote and photographed travel features, and developed her voice as a storyteller across multiple mediums.
Gina’s acting credits include New Zealand film and television roles, with her performance in the award-winning horror The Devil’s Rock taking her to London and the international festival circuit. More recently, she has worked as a creative producer on music videos and co-produced a feature film that premiered at SXSW 2025 in Austin, Texas.
With her global outlook and passion for telling “poignant, illuminating and truthful” stories, Gin continues to draw on a lifetime of diverse experiences to create work that celebrates life, love, and the resilience of the human spirit.
