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ShimpalLelisi

  • Actor
  • Director
Shimpal-Lelisi-profile-image.jpg

Niuean-born Shimpal Lelisi is an actor, writer and director. A member of pioneering Pasifika comedy group The Naked Samoans, he played the lovelorn Sefa in hit movie Sione's Wedding, and wrote for animated TV hit bro’Town, on which he voiced the character of Valea. Lelisi also featured in acclaimed 1997 movie Topless Women Talk About their Lives.

Screenography

Untold Pacific History - excerpts
2021 Presenter (episode one), Research, Camera Operator Web
Legendary Polynesia
2019 Narrator Series
Funny Girls - NZ Suffragette Special
2018 As: Mum investigator Television
Housiewives
2018 As: Dr Seus Series

Biography

Auckland-raised Shimpal Lelisi is the only Niuean member of The Naked Samoans. Lelisi was born in Nuie's capital, Alofi. His family moved to New Zealand when he was four.

In 1998 Lelisi joined the newly formed theatre troupe alongside Oscar Kightley, David Fane and Mario Gaoa (Robbie Magasiva and Iaheto Ah Hi joined slightly later). The group of New Zealand-raised Pacific Islanders mined comedy from their experiences of growing up brown and misunderstood, in the world's largest Polynesian city. The Naked Samoans feature in this episode of Tagata Pasifika.

Awards

2008 Qantas Film and Television Awards
Nominated for Best Script - Drama/Comedy Programme (with David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley and Elizabeth Mitchell): for Bro'Town

2007 Air New Zealand Screen Awards
Best Comedy Programme - Television: bro'Town, episode 3.2

“Everyone brought their top game to the set, and they were going hard out.”

— Shimpal Lelisi on making hit 2006 film Sione's Wedding

Related images

bro_Town_Creators_shot__maka_.jpg
All of the bro'Town creators and producers animated! Left back row: Maka Makatoa, Elizabeth Mitchell, Ant Sang. Middle Row: Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi. Lying down: David Fane.
©Firehorse Films
group_shot_everyone_0026.jpg
The bro'Town characters hang out with their creators (and voices). From left David Fane (voice of Jeff da Māori and Mack, who is on the far right in purple), producer Elizabeth Mitchell, Mario Gaoa (standing - his character Sione Tapili is in orange glasses on the right), Oscar Kightley (Vale Pepelo, in glasses) and Shimpal Lelisi (Valeo Pepelo, who is between Mitchell and Kightley).
© Firehorse Films
bro_Town_and_the_Naked_Samoans_cast_shot.jpg
bro'Town cast hang out with creators The Naked Samoans. From left: David Fane, Mario Gaoa (standing), Oscar Kightley (sitting) and Shimpal Lelisi.
© Firehorse Films
Sione_s_Wedding_Gallery_Living_Room.jpg
From left Iaheto Ah Hi as Stanley, Oscar Kightley as Albert, Shimpal Lelisi as Sefa and Robbie Magasiva as Michael in a scene from Sione's Wedding.
©South Pacific Pictures.
Sione_s_Wedding_Gallery_male_cast.jpg
From left: Robbie Magasiva as Michael, Iaheto Ah Hi as Stanley, Shimpal Lelisi as Sefa, Oscar Kightley as Albert and David Fane as Bolo aka D-Rizzle from Sione's Wedding.
©South Pacific Pictures.
Sione_s_Wedding_Gallery_men.jpg
From left: Iaheto Ah Hi, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Robbie Magasiva and David Fane in a scene from Sione's Wedding.
©South Pacific Pictures.
Here-to-Stay-Gallery-3.jpg
Three of the presenters of Here to Stay - from left, Shimpal Lelisi, Stephanie Tauevihi and Paolo Rotondo.
Kindly supplied by Gary Scott, Gibson Group