SimonPrast
- Actor
Actor/director Simon Prast is arguably best known for his stage career, and the 11 years he spent leading the Auckland Theatre Company. Prast's screen career dates back to the 1980s, when he played rich kid Alister Redfern in hit soap Gloss. His biggest feature film role to date remains Stephen, the man-at-the-crossroads in Garth Maxwell's 1998 movie When Love Comes.
Screenography
Biography
Simon Prast recalls having a "wonderful childhood" in the Auckland suburb of Mount Roskill, close to the Manukau Harbour. After studying law, he graduated from Auckland’s Theatre Corporate drama school in 1984.
Alongside a busy stage career, Prast was soon winning a national profile thanks to one of his earliest screen roles — as Alistair Redfern, the spoilt rich kid on hit soap Gloss. Prast's character endured a tumultuous marriage to the bitchy Gemma (Miranda Harcourt), and began showing hints of maturity in the show’s third and final season. Prast praises the show's "very smart writing" — he still gets recognised for Gloss to this day.
“Simon Prast is subtle, compassionate and funny, and he relishes edgy moments, which was great. He wouldn’t pull back from something — he’d push it further.”