Temuera Morrison

Temuera Morrison was acting on screen at age 11. Two decades later he won Kiwi TV immortality as Dr Ropata in Shortland Street, and rave global reviews as abusive husband Jake Heke in Once Were Warriors. Since reprising his Warriors role in a well-regarded sequel, Morrison has starred in Crooked Earth, Tracker, Mahana and shows Far North and The Book of Boba Fett — plus hosted a talk show and a variety show.

… a leading actor as elemental, charismatic and brutal as the young Marlon Brando; he has instinctive star power, and it's his likability that makes the violence of his character so shocking. American critic Roger Ebert on Temuera Morrison in Once Were Warriors, The Chicago Sun-Times, 3 March 1995