Sarah Mcleod

Sarah McLeod was born on July 18, 1971, in Putaruru, New Zealand. She has established a career as an actress and talent agent. Her most recognized role came in the early 2000s in Peter Jackson’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ film series. McLeod was cast as Rosie Cotton, a hobbit who marries Samwise Gamgee. Her involvement in the production began when she was six months pregnant, and her own daughter, Maisy, later appeared as Rosie and Samwise’s infant son in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’.

Beyond her work in the acclaimed fantasy trilogy, McLeod has also made contributions to New Zealand television. From 2008 to 2009, she co-starred in the New Zealand soap opera ‘Shortland Street’, portraying the character Cindy Watson across 40 episodes. For this role, McLeod undertook research on surrogacy, aligning with her character’s storyline. In 2010, she appeared as herself on an episode of ‘America’s Next Top Model’, filmed on the set of Hobbiton, during which contestants participated in a ‘Lord of the Rings’-themed photoshoot.

McLeod’s career also includes early collaborations with director Peter Jackson, specifically on the mockumentary ‘Forgotten Silver’ in 1995, where she provided assistance with research. She also has credits as additional crew on ‘Icons Unearthed’ in 2024. In addition to her acting work, McLeod is involved in talent management, owning BigMouth Voices and McLeod Management. Her acting credits span from the mid-1990s through to the early 2020s, including roles in ‘Jackson’s Wharf’, ‘A Twist in the Tale’, ‘Doves of War’, ‘We’re Here to Help’, ‘Hugh & Heke’, ‘Auckland Daze’, ‘Princess of Chaos’, and ‘Kid Sister’.