Rose Matafeo

Rose Matafeo was born in Auckland in 1990 to a Samoan mother and a father of European descent. She began performing stand-up at age 16, quickly becoming a regular on the New Zealand comedy circuit. In 2013 she moved to London, where she honed her craft and became a familiar face on the UK comedy scene. She was a finalist in the So You Think You're Funny? competition and later became a writer and performer on the New Zealand satire show Jono and Ben.¹

Matafeo's breakthrough came in 2018 when her show Horndog won the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show, making her the first New Zealand woman to win the prize. The success led to her own BBC Three series, Starstruck, which she co-created and starred in, premiering in 2021. The show, about a woman who hooks up with a movie star, was praised for its fresh take on romantic comedy and ran for three seasons, earning a BAFTA nomination.

Matafeo has released two stand-up specials: Horndog (2020) and On and On (2023), both on Netflix. Her comedy often explores themes of love, sex, and self-deprecation, delivered with a distinctive energetic style. Beyond stand-up, she has appeared in films such as Nude Tuesday and Baby Done, and has hosted the podcast Bone Palace Ballet with fellow comedian Alice Snedden.²

Matafeo is also a skilled improviser, having trained with the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York. She has a background in music, playing guitar and singing in her shows, and has cited influences ranging from Maria Bamford to Flight of the Conchords. In 2023 she directed an episode of the comedy series Such Brave Girls, marking her directorial debut. She is also known for her love of 90s pop culture, which often surfaces in her material.³

Edinburgh Comedy Award

Annual prize for the best comedy show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

BBC Three

British television channel known for comedy and youth-oriented programming.

HBO Max

American streaming service that co-produced Starstruck.