Hawke's Bay teenager Taungaroa Emile had only acted in school plays before making an award-winning screen debut in 1994's Once Were Warriors - as shy but rebellious teenager Boogie Heke. Emile then reprised the role in the 1999 sequel. He has also starred as a teenage ex-con in cross-cultural romance Flight of the Albatross, and had roles in No 2, South Auckland TV drama The Market, and award-winning short Tama Tū.
Boogie’s the shy type, but he’s pretty rebellious against everyone who puts restrictions on him.
– Taungaroa Emile on his role in Once Were Warriors