About Tom Sainsbury
Thomas Sainsbury is a New Zealand actor, writer, comedian, and filmmaker. He began his career in theatre as an actor and playwright before gaining widespread recognition 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. He was born in Matamata, New Zealand, the youngest of three children, and was raised on a dairy farm. In 2000 he moved to Auckland to study for a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Auckland.
Sainsbury established himself as a playwright in New Zealand, producing over 50 plays, and is a four-time winner of the Playmarket Young Playwright of the Year. From 2017 he gained widespread recognition for short-form comedy videos released on social media, which combined character comedy with satire of New Zealand culture and public figures; his most viewed videos featured impersonations of politicians, including Paula Bennett, Simon Bridges and Jacinda Ardern. His social media work earned widespread recognition, including being named the New Zealand Herald's Entertainment Hero of the Year in 2020.
As an actor, he has appeared in Shortland Street as Jason Kirkpatrick and in TV comedy series including Wellington Paranormal. In 2020 he co-wrote and starred in the horror comedy feature film Dead, and in 2023 he wrote, directed and starred in the horror film Loop Track. His 2023 podcast Small Town Scandal won Podcast of the Year and Best Comedy Podcast at the 2024 New Zealand Radio & Podcast Awards, and a television version was released in 2026. In 2023 he received the Rielly Comedy Award from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand. Sainsbury is openly gay.
Videos (5)
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Frequently asked questions
Where was Tom Sainsbury born?
Thomas Sainsbury was born in Matamata, New Zealand, the youngest of three children, and was raised on a dairy farm.
How did Tom Sainsbury gain widespread recognition?
From 2017 he gained widespread recognition for short-form comedy videos released on social media, combining character comedy with satire of New Zealand culture and public figures, including impersonations of politicians such as Paula Bennett, Simon Bridges and Jacinda Ardern.
What is Tom Sainsbury's background in theatre?
He established himself as a playwright in New Zealand, producing over 50 plays, and is a four-time winner of the Playmarket Young Playwright of the Year.
What is the podcast Small Town Scandal?
Small Town Scandal is Sainsbury's 2023 fictional comedy murder-mystery podcast series, which won Podcast of the Year and Best Comedy Podcast at the 2024 New Zealand Radio & Podcast Awards. A television version was released in 2026.
What films has Tom Sainsbury worked on?
He contributed to feature films Pork Pie and Loop Track, co-wrote and starred in the horror comedy Dead (2020), wrote, directed and starred in the horror film Loop Track (2023), and appeared in The Rule of Jenny Pen (2024).
