Simone Kessell

Simone Kessell debuted as part-Māori, Australian-raised teenager Hannah Tumai, in 1992 soap Homeward Bound. After spending time in the fantasy lands of Hercules and Xena, the Aucklander's next big role was as a TV journalist on Cover Story. Since hit 2001 movie Stickmen, and playing romantic lead in colonial TV drama Greenstone, Kessell has worked largely in Australia (including hit Underbelly) and the US. 

Just Chris and I went into a room with a video camera. We were in there for about two hours - we just worked it and worked it - and I knew I’d got it when I made Chris (Bailey) cry. Simone Kessell, on her final audition for Greenstone.