House attended the New Zealand national drama school, Toi Whakaari, graduating in 1992.From here she went into stage work with Pacific Underground Theatre and Auckland Theatre Company. In 1995, she won the Chapman Tripp Theatre Award Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year Award for her performance in the one-woman show Nga Pou Wahine by Briar Grace-Smith. This was followed by other awards in 2000 (Most Outstanding Performance) for Witi Ihimaera's critically acclaimed Woman Far Walking (in which she played the key role of Tiriti, a 160-year-old woman) and 2003 (Best Supporting Actress) in Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People.
She has acted in several major productions that have toured both nationally and internationally, including Hone Kouka's Waiora, Carol Anne Duffy's The Worlds Wife and the UK/New Zealand co-production of Beauty and the Beast.
House's film work has included roles in Whale Rider, Eagle vs Shark, Boy, and White Lies.Her television appearances include Maddigan's Quest and Gaylene Preston's series Hope and Wire. Jason Buchanan of the Rovi corporation says of her "While she may not necessarily possess traditional Hollywood good looks, House has an undeniably distinct persona onscreen and exhibits just the kind of charisma that could prove the foundation for an enduring career."
In 2016, House appeared in Taika Waititi's feature film Hunt for the Wilderpeople. The film became the top grossing New Zealand film of all time at the New Zealand box office.
House voiced the character of Gramma Tala in the 2016 Disney animated film Moana.In 2017, she played Grandmaster's bodyguard Topaz in Thor: Ragnarok.
House is a frequent collaborator of director Taika Waititi, acting in four of his films (Eagle vs Shark, Boy, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Thor: Ragnarok) while also serving as acting coach for the young actors on Boy, ... Wilderpeople and Jojo Rabbit. She also worked as acting coach in Everything We Loved, The Dark Horse, The Rehearsal and the second season of the series Top of the Lake.
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