Antonio Te Maioha

Antonio Te Maioha began performing in street theatre, before heading to drama school Toi Whakaari in 1992. His screen career was kickstarted with roles in Xena and Hercules, before taking on the role of formidable gay gladiator Barca on two seasons of Spartacus. The fluent te reo speaker was among the core cast of language learning show Kōrero Mai, and co-presented Māori TV gardening show Kiwi Maara. He has acted on Shortland Street, and in award-winning 2007 short film Taua - War Party. His feature credits include acclaimed anthology film Waru, and playing a Māori chief in Lee Tamahori drama The Convert. 

Often people think if you’re going to be an actor you must be an outgoing, extrovert, kind of egotistical type of person. But I think quite often in order to do the things you have to do you actually have to let go of a lot of ego and stop worrying about what other people are thinking, and get to what the story requires. Antonio Te Maioha on his approach to acting, in an interview with Logo, 10 February 2011