PHOTOGRAPHY & INTERVIEW David K Shields
FASHION EDITOR Liliana Tierney
HAIR Sara Allsop MAKEUP Esperanza Avila
Davida wears PRADA throughout
Davida McKenzie: A talented young actress from New Zealand who is now making bold moves on the International stage, shot for It’s Interval just before relocating to London for a short sojourn. Joining her sister – acclaimed actress Thomasin McKenzie – as she stepped into this new chapter of her life and career, we asked her to share with us a little of how the adventures are going so far.
She’s already turning heads with her recent roles, which include Klara and the Sun, directed by Taika Waititi, Our Party, a moving short film in which she played the lead alongside her sister Thomasin, with writer/director Joshua Prendeville, and most recently Leviticus with director Adrian Chiarella, which just debuted at Sundance 2026. The move marked a big shift for her personally, giving her the chance to explore fresh opportunities, take on new challenges, and grow her craft in one of the world’s biggest creative hubs. All that, and getting to experience life away from home and her ‘comfort zone’.
“I definitely feel the weight of my own expectations coming from a family like mine. My parents and all of my siblings, Sara, Pete and Tom, have created unique and successful creative careers for themselves. Being the youngest, I feel a pressure to live up to that standard of success, even though I’ve been the one to put that upon myself. I just really want to find as much joy in my career, as they do in theirs.”
“Growing up I was adamant that I didn’t want to be an actress, and I wanted to stray away from that world. However, as I got older I realised how much I loved stepping into a character, and creating a family with the cast and crew on sets. I think coming from a creative/film family, we have the ability to value all career paths.”
“One thing I love about the New Zealand film industry is the strong sense of community. Everyone really supports one another, because we know it can be just as hard in such a small place as it can be in a big place. I think New Zealand has been producing such beautiful films and really pinpointing that idea of community – films such as Miki Magasiva’s TINÄ€, which I loved.”
“Quite honestly I’m not sure what my career will look like in 5 years. I’m more interested in the message and story of a film than whether it’s an independent project or a blockbuster. I think in the world of acting and performing arts, success is attached to the idea of being seen by audiences. After all, ultimately film is a business. But to me personally, success means finding joy and purpose in what you do and how you lead your life. “
With an open mind to all possibilities, big dreams, and an ingrained love for storytelling – having grown up with it – keep an eye on this one, her journey’s just getting started!
