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JaydenDaniels

Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Koroki Kahukura
  • Actor
Jayden-Daniels-Profile-Pic.jpg

After graduating from drama school Toi Whakaari in 2014, Jayden Daniels hit the ground running with a recurring role on Shortland Street as Curtis Hannah. The character eventually became a fan favourite, as he journeyed from bad boy to cop. Following time on adventure series The New Legends of Monkey, Daniels co-starred in prime time drama Head High. Daniels played Mana Roberts, one of two brothers striving to make their mark in rugby at a low decile high school. Daniels won Best Supporting Actor at the 2020 NZ TV Awards for the role. Next came roles in horror film Evil Dead Rise, and Whina, a biopic of Dame Whina Cooper.

Screenography

2022 As: Cyril Film
Head High
2020 — 2021 As: Mana Roberts Series
Joe & Jayden's Bay of Islands Challenge - Air New Zealand
2019 Subject Commercial
The Exceptional Squad
2019 As: Voice of Kahu Series
The New Legends of Monkey
2018 — 2020 As: Gaxin Series

Awards

2020 New Zealand Television Awards
Best Supporting Actor: for Head High

“That was the part of the show I was most nervous about because I know how huge rugby is, especially in this country, and I knew that if I didn't get that right then it kind of undermines my whole character. If people can't buy that aspect, then I can't expect them to buy into the struggles that this dude's going through.”

— Jayden Daniels, on the importance of making the rugby look and feel authentic in TV series Head High, Regional News, 23 June 2020