New Zealand-born actress Rose McIver has steadily risen through her career from more minor background roles to starring in a wide variety of series and films. She has showcased an incredible ability to portray a wide range of characters, from nostalgic action heroes to Rom-com leads, showing versatility and craft beyond her years. Noted earlier in her career as one of the brightest young talents in acting, McIver has cemented her status as someone who can lead a long-running series or play the lead in a blockbuster film.

McIver's most prominent role has been her depiction of medical resident turned zombie Olivia "Liv" Moore, in the hit series iZombie, showing an ability to blend horror and comedy in a way few can. She is one of a list of Power Rangers actors who have gone on to star in numerous acclaimed works, such as her role of Heather in the sci-fi drama Next Exit, where she showed her ability to convey a more nuanced and mature performance. Her escalating work and continued success in the business show a creative talent and dedication that make her elevate any project she is involved in.

10 Flowers In The Attic 2: Petals On The Wind (2014)

As Cathy Dollanganger

Based on V. C. Andrews' 1980 novel and the second in the Dollanganger series, the Lifetime movie Petals on the Wind is a sequel to the previous adaptation, Flowers in the Attic. The film's plot follows the surviving Dollanganger siblings, Cathy (McIver), Chris, and Carrie, a decade after they escaped their traumatic past in the attic. Cathy - and her siblings - after many attempts to move on and forget their issues, decide they need to take revenge on their mother in order to overcome their demons and finally free themselves of the shackles of their upbringing.

McIver delivers an incredible performance as Cathy, bringing numerous layered qualities to the character that add depth to the storyline and the chemistry between the family . Her portrayal shows anger, resilience, and vulnerability, a mix that is hard to pull off and even harder to show in a variety of combinations, but she does so with consummate ease. Though the film received mixed reviews from critics and fans alike, the depiction by McIver was definitely a highlight of the film that was faithful and, at times, elevated the original novel's narrative.

9 Maddigan's Quest (2006)

As Garland

Maddigan's Quest is a popular New Zealand fantasy-based series adapted from an original concept by esteemed children's author Margaret Mahy. The series is set in a post-apocalyptic future and follows the circus troupe 'Maddigan's Fantasia' who leave their incredible home in order to earn money and also repair the power source for their city. McIver plays 14-year-old Garldand - the last member of the Maddigan family line - who embarks as one of the main stars in the group in a series that blends sci-fi, drama, and fantasy to create a compelling show.

Maddigan's Quest won The Screen Director's Guild of New Zealand's Best Children's Programme Award in 2007.

In one of her first leading roles, McIver brought a commanding and engaging presence to Garland that cemented her as an acting talent capable of fronting a popular series. McIver shows an excellent range, able to convey poignant moments in one scene and then fantasy-laden action sequences in the next, in a show that displayed adventures in both the outside world and in the character's connections. Though it was predominantly aimed at a younger audience, Maddigan's Quest was an excellent base for McIver to develop her craft, showcasing her versatility and development throughout the series.

8 The Lovely Bones (2009)

As Lindsey Salmon

Peter Jackson - The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit director - turned his creative mind to supernatural drama The Lovely Bones in 2009, an adaptation of Alice Sebold's 2002 novel of the same name. The film's plot follows the haunting tale of Susie Salmon, a young girl who was brutally murdered and now watches over her killer and her family from beyond the grave. McIver portrays Susie's younger sister, Lindsey, who plays a pivotal role in the film, being the first to suspect the killer and providing much of the emotion and tension within the film.

The film has exceptionally talented creatives both in front of and behind the camera, with Jackson's direction adding a special quality that helps elevate the supernatural elements of the film. McIver delivers an exceptional depiction of a sister who is both heartbroken and resilient and leads the quest for justice for her sister, providing one of her first true breakout performances. Though the film was criticized for its contrasting themes, both supernatural mystery and family drama, these elements are exactly what McIver nails, as she finds the perfect balance of both.

7 Daffodils (2019)

As Rose

In one of the first films that allowed McIver to show off her range of remarkable talents, Daffodils is a musical drama directed by David Stubbs that sees Rose McIver and George Mason star as the two romantic leads. The film is inspired by a true story and is based on the award-winning New Zealand stage play that sees an indie musician recount her mother (McIver) and father's love story. The film is a tour de force of music and emotion, highlighting themes of love and loss while also interposing with iconic Kiwi songs from Crowded House, Bic Runga, and Dave Dobbyn.

Daffodils has a rating of 60% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The musical plays out not like a traditional love story, but in a disted and fragmented truth of a genuine relationship being recounted through two different people's versions, the musicians and her late fathers. McIver delivers potentially the most bittersweet and mature performance of her career as a young woman madly in love, while also showing the authentic ups and downs of marriage and performing irably in the musical sequences. McIver's role once again showcases her ability to emotionally anchor a story and provide many of the smiles, laughs, and emotions throughout the film.

6 Power Rangers RPM (2009)

As Summer M. Landsdown

The wildly underappreciated Power Rangers RPM is the seventeenth season of the Power Rangers TV series, which is an adaptation of Engine Sentai Go-onger (a Japanese Super Sentai series). McIver stars as the Yellow Power Ranger, Summer M. Landsdown, in a dystopian future where a computer virus named Venjix takes over the world's computing system and hopes to enslave mankind. The beloved series provides both entertainment and nostalgia for older viewers, with the usual blend of science fiction and ranger action to create a series that is easy to binge-watch.

McIver's role as the Yellow Ranger is criminally looked over, delivering an impeccable performance in one of the most underrated series of her career. With films like Daffodils showcasing McIver's vocal abilities, series like Power Rangers RPM reveal her physicality and ability to perform combat sequences and stunts. While on the surface, it would be easy to write this off as a series long past its best, McIver's honest and comionate portrayal adds to the grittier and more mature feel to the show, crafting a compelling piece of TV that is genuinely fun to watch.

5 A Christmas Prince (2017)

As Amber Moore

Alex Zamm's romantic comedy, A Christmas Prince, is, as the name implies, a love story about a member of a royal family that takes place over the festive period. McIver plays ambitious journalist Amber Moore, who is sent to the fictional European country of Aldovia in order to uncover the story of a handsome prince in line for the throne after his father's ing. McIver hits all the right notes, with the film playing into many classic rom-com tropes like misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and love between two people from different worlds that cannot be.

Though the film could be written off as another bland rom-com that offers little in of the story or characters, A Christmas Prince deviates from the usual pitfalls to create a charming and intriguing love story. McIver and Ben Lamb (The Prince) share a remarkable chemistry that adds an authentic quality to the story, and even though it's set in a fairytale land with esteemed royalty, it still feels everyday and relatable. The film was popular enough to spawn two sequels that continue on their romantic journey, in no small part to McIver's captivating portrayal of a journalist turned princess.

4 Woke (2020-2022)

As Adrienne

Woke is an acclaimed comedy series that focuses on cartoonist Keef Knight (Lamorne Morris), whose life changes dramatically after he gets into a racially motivated confrontation with local cops. Co-created by Keith Knight and Marshall Todd, Keef becomes more 'woke' to his surroundings and other social issues, causing a drastic change in how he lives his life while also entering into a new relationship with free-spirited artist Adrienne (McIver). The show, while on the surface a comedy, has a biting take on society as a whole and some systemic issues that are examined and probed in the show.

Though reviews were generally mixed for Woke, what some didn't like with the contrast in tones and genres is actually what makes it such a stand-out work that really has something to say and says it well. McIver's role as Adrienne isn't the most impactful of the show, but she consistently brings a relatable and endearing quality to her time on the screen, adding moments of empathy and levity through some of the heavier sequences. It is a smaller but pivotal role that shows McIver is able to translate well in a ing role and can be the highlight of a crowded ensemble cast.

3 Next Exit (2022)

As Heather

Next Exit is a sci-fi comedy-drama written and directed by the talented Mali Elfman in her directorial debut, a work that she completed and refined almost a decade before it saw the screen. The film's plot follows two strangers, Rose and Teddy, who both travel across the country to do a landmark study and experiment about life, death, and what comes after. The journey of the two leads is captivating and enthralling to watch, as the viewer is brought along for the ride, discovering elements at the same point as the characters.

Elfman's dedication and fine-tuning of the script are evident as the story is flawlessly polished, and the characters experience full development throughout the runtime. McIver takes on the role of Rose's sister, Heather, with a subtle and emotional performance that shows somebody at their most vulnerable. Her chemistry with co-stars Katie Parker and Rahul Kohli is incredible, as they share poignant but limited moments and explore their own complex emotions that showcase McIver's ability to convey many emotions in a short period convincingly.

2 Ghosts (2021–Present)

As Samantha

Ghosts is CBS' American adaptation of the wildly popular British series by the same name, which hoped to recapture the same magic and humor as the original show. The series' plot follows newlyweds Samantha (Rose McIver) and her husband Jay as they randomly inherit a dilapidated mansion that happens to be haunted by a collection of eclectic ghosts from various time periods. Samantha, after 'dying' for three minutes on the property due to an accident, ends up with the ability to see and communicate with the ghosts, which leads to a series of misunderstandings, adventures, and heartwarming stories.

Though McIver is best known for her fantasy work and romantic leading roles, her comedic timing and humorous delivery are vastly underrated, as she is laugh-out-loud funny as Samantha. Playing a character who can see ghostly figures that no one else can is hard to pull off, but McIver nails it with an exasperated but relatable depiction that adds warmth and laughter to the series that is exceptionally well-written and produced. The show and McIver have earned widespread acclaim, with the show quickly becoming a fan favorite and being commissioned for a further three series, with potentially more on the way.

1 iZombie (2015-2019)

As Olivia "Liv" Moore

Undoubtedly, McIver's most acclaimed and celebrated work, iZombie, is a supernatural drama series adapted from Chris Roberson and Michael Allred's DC comic book series of the same name. McIver stars as the lead character, medical resident Olivia "Liv" Moore, who gets transformed into a zombie who uses her newfound 'condition' in order to help solve crimes, able to eat murder victim's brains to regain their memories and skills. The show is as crazy and unpredictable as it sounds, blending elements from almost every genre, from horror, crime, sci-fi, comedy, and procedural dramas.

McIver delivers the most extraordinary performance of her career; as the series blends genres, McIver combines elements and aspects of various personas and personalities, effortlessly embodying a wide range of characters throughout the series. The show is a satirical look at society and also has a self-awareness of its own creation, crafting an exceptional comedy that also fully fleshes out all its other characteristics to create one of the most unique shows in recent years. Rose McIver's humor, creativity, and captivating presence are all on display in her finest work in her career so far.