Thomas Sainsbury (born 1982) is a New Zealand actor, writer, comedian and filmmaker.[1][2][3] Sainsbury began his acting and writing career in theatre. He became well known in New Zealand from 2017 for his short form comedy videos released on social media. As a screenwriter and performer he has contributed to many local television shows, including Wellington Paranormal, and feature films Pork Pie and Loop Track. With Madeline Sami he co-wrote Super City, which won the SWANZ Scriptwriters Best Comedy Script Award in 2011.[1][4]
Early life
Sainsbury was born in Matamata and is the youngest of three children.[5] He was raised on a dairy farm and attended Matamata College.[1][6] Sainsbury was encouraged in acting and drama by his parents, including at age 9, accompanying them to the Matamata Operatic Society rendition of Little Shop of Horrors. He was immediately inspired to write a sequel for his school assembly and thrived in the creative process of writing and performing it.[5]
After graduating from the University of Auckland in 2004, Sainsbury went on to become a prolific playwright in New Zealand. He has produced over 50 plays and several of them, including And Then You Die,The Christmas Monologues, The Mall, Loser, A Simple Procedure and Sunday Roast have been performed internationally.[5][9][10]
In 2010, Sainsbury and Madeline Sami co-wrote Super City, a TV comedy series set in Auckland, New Zealand. It won the 2011 SWANZ Best Comedy Script award and was optioned by American network ABC in 2012.[1][9]
Sainsbury has performed in New Zealand as a comic since 2014.[4]
As a comedian, he is best known for his short form comedy videos released on social media that satirise New Zealand politicians and parody New Zealand stereotypes and culture. Since 2017, some of his most popular videos are of politicians Paula Bennett, Simon Bridges and Jacinda Ardern.[16][17][18] He uses wigs, costumes and Snapchat face manipulation.
He has written, co-written and performed in multiple live comedy theatre shows including The Opening Night Before Christmas,Infectious, Camping, D.O.C.ing, Giggly Gerties, Dynamotion, Gays in Space, and Hauraki Horror. These productions often included other local comedians such as Kura Forrester, Brynley Stent and Chris Parker.[19][20][21]
In 2020, Sainsbury was awarded the New Zealand Herald's Entertainment Hero of the Year.[22] During the same year, he released a non-fiction book called New Zealanders: A Field Guide. The book is an extension of his Snapchat videos and provides detailed descriptions of his favourite Kiwi archetypes.[23][24]
In 2021 and 2022, he was the team captain (regular) on the TVNZ revival of the British game show Give Us a Clue and co-hosted Snack Masters.[25][26]
In 2023, Sainsbury was presented with the Rielly Comedy Award from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand for his contribution to New Zealand entertainment.[27]
