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KeishaCastle-Hughes

  • Actor
Keisha-Castle-Hughes-Profile.jpg

Keisha Castle-Hughes found fame at 12, when Whale Rider became an international hit. Her debut performance as spirited Māori girl Pai scored an Oscar nomination. She followed a variety of international roles with local success, including TV show The Almighty Johnsons and acclaim and a Qantas award for telemovie Piece of My Heart. In 2015 she joined the cast of hit series Game of Thrones.

Screenography

Class Act
2019 Subject Series
2017 As: Criminal customer (episode 6) Web
Thank You for Your Service
2017 As: Alea Television
Manhunt: Unabomber
2017 As: Tabby Series
Rewind
2015 As: Priya Television

Biography

At only 12 years old Keisha Castle-Hughes went from novice actor to international acclaim, with the 2002 release of Whale Rider. Since then she has had roles on two very different fantasy TV shows — local export The Almighty Johnsons and international hit Game of Thrones — and acted in Star Wars. She has won multiple awards, and became what was then the youngest person to be Oscar-nominated for Best Leading Actress.

Awards

2010 Qantas Film and Television Awards
Nominated for Best Supporting Actress - Film: for The Vintner's Luck

2009 Qantas Film and Television Awards
Best Supporting Actress - Television: for Piece Of My Heart

“...Castle-Hughes, who's never acted before, is totally beguiling ... she possesses an innate grace that makes her transformation from outcast adolescent to spiritual warrior seem utterly natural.”

David Ansen, reviewing Whale Rider in Newsweek, 8 June 2003

Related images

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Keisha Castle-Hughes as Celeste in The Vintner's Luck
Whale_Rider_Gallery_Keisha_Castle-Hughes_trophey.jpg
Keisha Castle-Hughes as Pai, in 2003 film Whale Rider.
Image courtesy of South Pacific Pictures
Whale_Rider_Gallery_Keish_Castle-Hughes_on_beach.jpg
Keisha Castle-Hughes in Whangara, in a scene from Whale Rider.
Image courtesy of South Pacific Pictures
Whale_Rider_Gallery_Keisha_Castle-Hughes_1.jpg
Keisha Castle-Hughes as Pai, the lead character in Whale Rider.
Image courtesy of South Pacific Pictures