# Tessa Rao
**Tessa Rao** (born 1998) is a New Zealand actress and singer-songwriter best known for playing Izzy Garcia, the Green Ranger, in *[Power Rangers Dino Fury](https://www.edgepedia.org/power-rangers-dino-fury)* and *[Power Rangers Cosmic Fury](https://www.edgepedia.org/power-rangers-cosmic-fury)*, and for playing Dr. Poppy Achari on the New Zealand soap opera *Shortland Street*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8277172/) • [2](https://www.tessarao.com/) One database lists her birth date as 1997 on the [North Island](https://www.edgepedia.org/north-island),[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/292009/tessa-rao) but IMDb, her own site, and most film databases give 20 February 1998.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8277172/) • [4](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-952110/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1998, New Zealand[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8277172/) |
| Signature role | Izzy Garcia, the Green Ranger, in *Power Rangers Dino Fury* (2021–2022, 41 episodes) and *Power Rangers Cosmic Fury* (2023, 10 episodes)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8277172/) |
| Franchise first | Izzy is the first LGBTQ+ Ranger in Power Rangers television history[5](https://comicbook.com/power-rangers/news/power-rangers-dino-furys-tessa-rao-talks-izzys-biggest-moments-being-franchises-first-lgbtq-ranger-and-more/) |
| Current role | Dr. Poppy Achari, an A+E registrar, on *Shortland Street* (2025– )[2](https://www.tessarao.com/) • [6](https://shortlandstreet.fandom.com/wiki/Tessa_Rao) |
| Training | American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Los Angeles (A.O.S. degree, 2019); ATCL Diploma in Performance from Trinity College London (2016)[7](https://www.tessarao.com/portfolio) |
| Other work | Singer-songwriter; theater roles including Abigail in *The Crucible* and Vanessa in *In the Heights*[2](https://www.tessarao.com/) • [8](https://www.backstage.com/u/tessa-rao/) |
## Early life and training
Rao was born in New Zealand and is based in Auckland.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8277172/) • [2](https://www.tessarao.com/) Her introduction to acting began at an early age through music and theater, and after finishing school she traveled to [Shakespeare's Globe](https://www.edgepedia.org/shakespeares-globe) in London to perform as Celia in *As You Like It* and appeared opposite [Willow Shields](https://www.edgepedia.org/willow-shields) in the feature film *Into the Rainbow*.[9](https://comicbook.com/power-rangers/news/power-rangers-dino-fury-cast-reveal-interview-exclusive/) She was then accepted into the [American Academy of Dramatic Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-academy-of-dramatic-arts) in Los Angeles, graduating in 2019, and holds an ATCL Diploma in Performance from Trinity College London with distinction.[9](https://comicbook.com/power-rangers/news/power-rangers-dino-fury-cast-reveal-interview-exclusive/) • [7](https://www.tessarao.com/portfolio)
Her theater credits in Los Angeles and Auckland include Abigail in *The Crucible* (2019), R.P. McMurphy in a gender-swapped *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest* (2019), and Vanessa in *In the Heights* (2017).[8](https://www.backstage.com/u/tessa-rao/) She describes herself as an actor and singer-songwriter and has performed and written music alongside her screen work.[2](https://www.tessarao.com/)
## Power Rangers
**Casting and character.** Hasbro revealed Rao as the Green Ranger Izzy in October 2020, in the core cast alongside Russell Curry (Red), Kai Moya (Blue), Hunter Deno (Pink), and Chance Perez (Black).[9](https://comicbook.com/power-rangers/news/power-rangers-dino-fury-cast-reveal-interview-exclusive/) *Power Rangers Dino Fury*, the 28th season of the franchise adapted from the Japanese Super Sentai series *Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger*, premiered on [Nickelodeon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nickelodeon) on 20 February 2021.[10](https://newsroom.hasbro.com/node/32841/pdf) Izzy is written as a highly competitive and ambitious athlete, close with her step-brother Javi; her dinosaur is the Saber-toothed Tiger and her Zord the Tiger Claw Zord.[10](https://newsroom.hasbro.com/node/32841/pdf) Rao appeared in 41 episodes across 2021 and 2022.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8277172/)
**A franchise first.** In the episode "The Matchmaker," Izzy was revealed to be LGBTQ+, making her the first LGBTQ+ Ranger in the franchise's television history.[5](https://comicbook.com/power-rangers/news/power-rangers-dino-furys-tessa-rao-talks-izzys-biggest-moments-being-franchises-first-lgbtq-ranger-and-more/) Rao learned of the storyline by email after being offered the role, alongside the news that the character would cut her hair; she later said the haircut felt scarier than the representation milestone, and that once filming began she understood the weight of the moment.[5](https://comicbook.com/power-rangers/news/power-rangers-dino-furys-tessa-rao-talks-izzys-biggest-moments-being-franchises-first-lgbtq-ranger-and-more/) Another widely shared moment came early in the season, when Izzy rips the skirt off the standard female Ranger costume.[5](https://comicbook.com/power-rangers/news/power-rangers-dino-furys-tessa-rao-talks-izzys-biggest-moments-being-franchises-first-lgbtq-ranger-and-more/)
**Cosmic Fury.** Rao reprised Izzy in *Power Rangers Cosmic Fury*, the 30th-anniversary season, streaming on Netflix in 2023, appearing in 10 episodes and credited as both Green Cosmic Fury Ranger and Green Dino Fury Ranger.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8277172/) • [11](https://comicbook.com/power-rangers/news/power-rangers-dino-fury-kai-moya-tessa-rao-netflix-season-2-cosmic-fury-evolution/) She also appeared once as Izzy in the *Power Rangers* (1993) series listing for 2023.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8277172/)
## Shortland Street and recent work
Since 2025 Rao has played Dr. Poppy Achari, an A+E registrar, on TVNZ's *Shortland Street*, New Zealand's long-running serial drama, which celebrated its 33rd anniversary in May 2025.[2](https://www.tessarao.com/) • [12](https://www.southpacificpictures.com/productions/shortland-street) IMDb credits her with 132 episodes in 2025.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8277172/)
Her other screen credits include a guest role as Georgia in *[A Remarkable Place to Die](https://www.edgepedia.org/a-remarkable-place-to-die)* (2024), Ashleigh in the film *Project MKHEXE* (2025), Sam in the series *Sims Logic* (2025), and earlier roles as Koia in *Into the Rainbow* (2017), Eveline in *Auckward Love* (2017), and parts in the shorts *Behind the Cover* (2018), *Moving Day* (2019), and *Zozo* (2020).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8277172/) She has also worked in the make-up department on the shorts *Skit Row* (2019) and *Zozo* (2020).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8277172/)
## References
1. [Tessa Rao, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8277172/)
2. [TESSA RAO, official website](https://www.tessarao.com/)
3. [Tessa Rao, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/292009/tessa-rao)
4. [Tessa Rao, SensaCine](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-952110/)
5. [Power Rangers Dino Fury's Tessa Rao Talks Izzy's Biggest Moments, Being Franchise's First LGBTQ+ Ranger, and More, ComicBook.com](https://comicbook.com/power-rangers/news/power-rangers-dino-furys-tessa-rao-talks-izzys-biggest-moments-being-franchises-first-lgbtq-ranger-and-more/)
6. [Tessa Rao, Shortland Street Wiki](https://shortlandstreet.fandom.com/wiki/Tessa_Rao)
7. [Portfolio — TESSA RAO](https://www.tessarao.com/portfolio)
8. [Tessa Rao, Backstage profile](https://www.backstage.com/u/tessa-rao/)
9. [Power Rangers: Get To Know The Cast of Dino Fury (Exclusive), ComicBook.com](https://comicbook.com/power-rangers/news/power-rangers-dino-fury-cast-reveal-interview-exclusive/)
10. ["Power Rangers Dino Fury" Premieres Feb 20th on Nickelodeon, Hasbro newsroom](https://newsroom.hasbro.com/node/32841/pdf)
11. [Power Rangers Dino Fury's Kai Moya and Tessa Rao Talk Season 2, Cosmic Fury Evolution, and More, ComicBook.com](https://comicbook.com/power-rangers/news/power-rangers-dino-fury-kai-moya-tessa-rao-netflix-season-2-cosmic-fury-evolution/)
12. [Shortland Street, South Pacific Pictures](https://www.southpacificpictures.com/productions/shortland-street)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › New Zealand actors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license