Erana James

Erana James was still in high school when she landed her first big role — as Laura Chant, a teen with untapped powers, in fantasy The Changeover (2017). The movie was co-directed by screen stalwarts Stuart McKenzie and Miranda Harcourt; Harcourt first met James when she attended her acting programme. James has also appeared in sitcom Golden Boy (as the main character's smart younger sister) and coming of age film Uproar. From 2020 to 2022 she played tomboy Toni in survival drama The Wilds. In 2024 she co-starred in director Josephine Stewart Te Whiu's debut feature We Were Dangerous as the rebellious Nellie.

I share a lot of qualities with her so it was quite nice. It was quite exciting to be able to take elements of my personality and turn them up or turn them down or adjust them. Erana James on her The Changeover character Laura Chant, Your Weekend, 26 August 2017