While Hollywood nonetheless has a protracted approach to go by way of range, current years have seen an increasing number of Polynesian actors in main roles. And as a Samoan girl, I like to see it!
So listed here are 19 Polynesian actors making massive strikes in Hollywood:
Born in Hawaiʻi, Jason is Native Hawaiian on his father’s facet and German, Irish, and Pawnee on his mom’s. After the world fell in love with him in Game of Thrones, he went on to star in Frontier, See, and the Aquaman motion pictures. In May, we’ll get to see him be part of the Fast and Furious franchise in Fast X. And I can not look ahead to his upcoming present, Chief of War.
The New Zealand–born actor is of Samoan and European heritage, and he acquired his matai (chief) title final 12 months. He grew to become a family title by enjoying Archie Andrews on Riverdale, however you may as well discover him in The Hate U Give and I Still Believe. And do you know that KJ is a gifted musician? In 2021, he launched an indie folk-rock album known as Clocks.
3.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Dwayne is Samoan on his mom’s facet and Black on his father’s. After gaining fame as a WWE wrestler, he grew to become the Hollywood star we all know and love right now. He’s been in every little thing from the Fast and Furious franchise to Moana to the Jumanji motion pictures. And final 12 months, he grew to become the primary Samoan to play a superhero with Black Adam!
Born in New Zealand, Taika is Māori on his father’s facet and Russian Jewish on his mom’s. Is there something this man cannot do? He wrote, directed, and starred in each What We Do within the Shadows and Jojo Rabbit, for which he grew to become the primary Māori filmmaker to win an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. He directed a number of of Marvel’s Thor motion pictures and an episode of The Mandalorian. Currently, he writes for the present he co-created, Reservation Dogs. And his movie Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a masterpiece! Do your self a favor and watch it in the event you’re ever in want of fun.
Born in Hawaiʻi, Auli’i is of Native Hawaiian, Puerto Rican, Portuguese, Chinese, and Irish heritage. After making her appearing debut because the voice of Moana, Auli’i returned to Disney as Ariel in ABC’s live-action live performance rendition of The Little Mermaid. Since then, she’s starred within the drama movie All Together Now and teenage comedy present Darby and the Dead. And she’ll be enjoying Janis within the upcoming Mean Girls film musical!
The Māori actor is understood for highly effective New Zealand movies like Whale Rider and The Dark Horse, in addition to his lengthy Hollywood profession. He’s been in tons of stuff, together with Live Free or Die Hard, Fear the Walking Dead, and Hobbs & Shaw. Most lately, he performed Tonowari, the chief of the Metkayina clan, in Avatar: The Way of Water.
The New Zealand–born actor is of Māori and European descent. He was sooo humorous in Flight of the Conchords! Jemaine joined Taika Waititi as an actor, author, and director in What We Do within the Shadows. He’s completed tons of voice work for animated motion pictures, together with Despicable Me, Rio, Moana, and The Lego Batman Movie. He’s additionally been in hits like Men in Black 3 and Avatar: The Way of Water.
Born in New Zealand, Rose is Samoan on her father’s facet and Croatian and Scottish on her mom’s. This girl can do all of it — she’s an actor, author, comic, director, and podcast host. You can discover her stand-up particular, Horndog, and comedy sequence, Starstruck, on HBO Max.
On his father’s facet, the actor is Samoan, and on his mom’s, he is Hungarian Jewish. Best recognized for enjoying Jerry on The Walking Dead, Cooper was additionally in Halt and Catch Fire and the Shazam motion pictures.
Alex is Samoan and Māori on his father’s facet and white on his mom’s. After gaining an enormous following on YouTube for his music, he landed a starring function in Finding Ohana. He performs Walter in Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. and Alex in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.
Born in Hawaiʻi, Kelly is of Native Hawaiian, Chinese, and English heritage. After successful Miss Teen USA 1985 and Miss Hawaii USA 1993, she landed roles in The Scorpion King and the X-Men film X-2. She’s been in teen exhibits like The Vampire Diaries and The 100, and he or she voiced Stacy in Phineas and Ferb. Currently, she performs Admiral Ozawa in The Orville.
Born in Australia and raised in New Zealand, the actor is Māori on her mom’s facet and white on her father’s. I completely LOVED her in Whale Rider (considered one of my all-time favourite motion pictures). Since then, she’s been in The Nativity Story, Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith, and Game of Thrones. Currently, she’s enjoying Hana in FBI: Most Wanted.
The New Zealand–born actor is of Māori, Samoan, and Niuean heritage. Alex had main roles in When We Go to War, Shortland Street, and Night Raiders. Currently, he performs Kai in NCIS: Hawaiʻi and Valandil in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
Born in Hawaiʻi, the actor is of Native Hawaiian and Japanese heritage. You in all probability know her as Sandra in Superstore, however she’s additionally appeared in Parks and Recreation, The Big Bang Theory, and Raven’s Home.
Born in Australia, the actor is Tongan. He gained fame by enjoying Dwayne Johnson in Young Rock, however he was additionally nice in Marco Polo and Black Adam.
Born in Hawaiʻi, the Native Hawaiian actor was a well-known surfer earlier than turning to appearing. This 12 months, she was in See, The Last Manhunt, and Kapō. Mainei lately introduced that she joined the forged of Jason Momoa’s upcoming present, Chief of War.
Born in New Zealand, the actor is of Samoan, Māori, and European descent. She began out in theater and produced a Pacific Islander musical earlier than doing exhibits in New York City. For the final a number of years, she’s performed Ata Johnson (Dwayne Johnson’s mother) in Young Rock.
The Tongan actor was born in New Zealand. After a job in Sione’s Wedding (my fave Pacific Islander comedy!), he appeared within the ultimate Hobbit film, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Hobbs & Shaw. Currently, he performs Afa Anoa’i in Young Rock.
19.
And lastly: Temuera Morrison
Born in New Zealand, the actor is of Māori, Scottish, and Irish heritage. He’s been in tons of stuff, like Star Wars movies, Moana, and the Aquaman motion pictures. After showing in The Mandalorian, he even bought his personal present, The Book of Boba Fett!
Who’s your favourite Polynesian actor? Any that I missed? LMK within the feedback under!