Photography: Eye Institute
By day, Dr Narme Deva is an ophthalmologist performing intricate surgery to improve and restore her patients’ sight. But when she clocks off, the mother of two steps into a very different world, swapping the operating theatre for the stage.
For Narme, medicine and performance have never been competing passions, but instead two sides of a life she has worked hard to make her own.
“I’ve needed both,” says Narme.
“I’ve wanted both and I’ve worked very hard to have both in my life.”
Growing up in Wellington, Narme’s creative streak emerged early. The eldest daughter of Sri Lankan parents, she was just five when she began learning bharatanatyam, one of India’s oldest classical dance forms.
Narme’s two passions
Her mother was determined to find her a teacher, even if it meant travelling. So in her early years, the family would make the four-hour round trip to Palmerston North every other weekend for lessons.
“As a child growing up in New Zealand, there were not a lot of Sri Lankan Tamils, so this was really the way I learned about my heritage. It gave me a sense of dentity,” recalls Narme, who has since gone on to perform the dance form in Aotearoa, Australia and the UK.
She excelled academically and earned a place at medical school straight out of high school. Law was originally her plan, but when someone suggested medicine might be too difficult for her, her competitive streak kicked in.
“If you tell me I may not be able to do it, it becomes a bit of a priority for me,” smiles Narme.
She also distinctly recalls a close mentor in the dance world encouraging her to continue her creative pursuits, despite the intense demands of becoming a doctor.
“He said, ‘You know, you could do both,’ and those words have always stayed with me.”
Finding the balance
Through an intense 15 years of medical studies and training, dance and performing gave Narme a place to express herself. Taking a year out to backpack around Europe as a newlywed with her husband, fellow doctor Sanjeev, was also integral in helping her survive the heavy study demands.
As a couple, they decided to have children during Narme’s surgical training rather than put their lives on hold.
“It was difficult because we had to do really long hours, like 80-plus hours a week and I had lots of exams during that time – plus the pregnancies and all of the on-call work. I don’t know how, but we just did it,” remembers Narme, who is now mum to daughters Anjali, 17, and Avani, 15.
Today, Narme works across both public hospitals and her private clinic, Eye Institute. It’s a career she still finds deeply satisfying.
“If I do cataract surgery, it’s done and that person’s life is better forever, so that gives me a huge sense of job satisfaction.”
More than 25 years into her career, the pull to perform has never left Narme. She’s currently in rehearsals for Prayas Theatre’s production of Mama Moo, a chaotic and comedic love story set to live music.
“I love the adrenaline rush just before the start of a show when you get butterflies,” she says.
“It becomes harder and harder to find that feeling as you get older. “Mostly, what I love about being on stage is how I am just in that moment.”
Living life to the fullest
Fitting rehearsals around a full professional and family life requires meticulous planning.
“I’m either seeing patients or operating for four days a week, and the fifth day is for research and admin, then rehearsals for Mama Moo. Currently, it’s pretty intense, like six hours to eight hours every Saturday and/or Sunday.”
For a woman whose life could easily be described as extraordinary, Narme is wary of the idea that women should feel pressured to do it all. Instead, she believes success is something each person must define for themselves.
“I spent a lot of time thinking what my version of success is – not anyone else’s.”
There are still plenty of things Narme would like to achieve – places around the world she wants to explore, more performances to tick off the bucket list and a deep desire to keep doing the work she loves.
“I don’t want to take my foot off the accelerator,” says Narme.
“So I’m just hoping that I continue to live such a full life.”
Mama Moo runs from September 21-26 in Auckland. For tickets, visit iticket.co.nz/events/2026/sep/mama-moo
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