2010
Shortland Street
Played Ula Levi in the New Zealand television series.
FLM.REDFRANKIE
ADAMS
แฟรงกี อดัมส์
From a New Zealand hospital drama to the stars and the shores of Motunui.
Frankie Adams is a Samoan New Zealand actor known for The Expanse and Moana.
Savaiʻi, Samoa
A journey across genres
Born in Savaiʻi, Samoa, Frankie Adams began her screen career in New Zealand television. NZ On Screen identifies Shortland Street as an early role, where she played teenager Ula Levi.
Her role as Martian marine Bobbie Draper in The Expanse introduced her to an international science-fiction audience. Adams joined the series in its second season and continued through its final season, taking the character from military duty into a story spanning the solar system.
Her credits also include the film One Thousand Ropes, directed by Tusi Tamasese, and The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart. These projects place her in family dramas as well as the speculative world of The Expanse.
In Disney’s live-action Moana, Adams plays Sina, Moana’s mother. Her casting places her alongside Catherine Lagaʻaia as Moana and John Tui as Chief Tui in the family at the centre of Motunui.
The films below are those available on FLM.RED, not her complete filmography.
Selected work
2017
The Expanse
Joined the science-fiction series as Bobbie Draper.
2017
One Thousand Ropes
Played Ilisa in Tusi Tamasese’s drama.
2026
Moana
Played Sina, Moana’s mother, in the live-action film.
Performance readings are FLM.RED editorial interpretation.
Films in FLM.RED
Titles in this collection; not a complete filmography.
Sources & image notes
- NZ On Screen — Frankie Adams
- Johnson & Laird — acting credits
- SYFY — The Expanse
- Transmission Films — One Thousand Ropes
- Disney — Moana cast
- TVmaze — biography
Portrait illustration: FLM.RED.