New Zealand is not often associated with Hollywood, or the film industry in general. However, there have been quite a lot of big-name actors to come out of the New Zealand. Many of them have become notable Hollywood stars, and in this article, we would like to name the biggest ones.
Russel Crowe
Most know Russel Crowe from his portrayal of Maximus, the former soldier who survived the Roman Empire’s most popular form of entertainment – gladiatorial combat. His cry of “Are you not entertained!” is often quoted by fans of the film, and even those who have not seen it. It is simply that iconic. But, Crowe’s career goes far beyond just Gladiator.
In 2022, Russel Crowe played the role of a Jake Foley in Poker Face, a gambling billionaire who hosts a game of high-stakes poker for his rich friends. Poker remains one of the most popular games in the gambling world. Of course, most today prefer to play it online.
Gambling websites nowadays are offering a number of options, not just for games, but for deposits and withdrawals. For that reason, online casinos have grown in popularity, which in turn means there are more people who understand gambling films.
Of course, we can’t finish of discussion of an actor, without bringing up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Whether you love it or hate it, there is no denying that the MCU has a strong grip on the modern film-going audience. It made stars out of unknown actors, and put them alongside legends like Russel Crowe. In 2022, Crowe appeared in the latest iteration of Thor, Thor: Love and Thunder.
In the film, an alien demi-god, cursed by a dark blade is on a one-man crusade to eradicate all the gods. In an attempt to warn them, Thor heads to their city. There, he meets Zeus, portrayed by Russel Crowe as a bumbling idiot without a care in the world. The film went for a humorous tone, which some liked, but others did not appreciate. Regardless, with what he was given, Crowe performed admirably.
Lucy Lawless
Lucille Frances Ryan was born in Auckland. The fifth of six siblings, Lucy has often described her family as “the big Catholic family” that many expect to see. She began studying languages, before transitioning to acting. Though her first role was a sketch-comedy show, her most popular role came in 1995.
Lucy Lawless appeared alongside Kevin Sorbo in various episodes of the hit fantasy show, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, a television show that combined many different aspects of fantasy, from steampunk, to sword and sandals fantasy, and of course, the heroic journey. Her first role was as Lysia, a man-hating Amazon woman, who eventually befriends Hercules.
However, Lysia came and went, as a one-off character. A year later, Lawless would step into the shoes of her most iconic, and to this day most beloved character; Xena, the Warrior Princess. A warrior from a far-away land, Xena is the daughter of Ares, and a very clear homage to one of fantasy’s most popular characters; Conan the Barbarian.
Like Conan, Xena is a former thief, a warlord, a queen, and currently operates as a mercenary and a hero, roaming from city to city, trying to find some form of redemption for her past sins. She is accompanied by her constant companion, Gabrielle, who often serves as the moral voice of reason to Xena.
The character’s immense popularity meant that Xena would get her very own show, where she was once again portrayed by Lawless. The show would go on for six seasons. Of course, Lucy Lawless has appeared in multiple other television shows, including Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Battlestar Galactica, and she has performed in a lot of voice acting jobs, most notable being the 2021, The Spine of Night, a dark fantasy, adult-oriented animated film.
Karl Urban
Karl Urban has a link to both of the actors on this list, tenuous though it may be. One of his earliest acting roles was as a one-off character in the Xena: The Warrior Princess television show, and the film that was based on the show. He also had a minor role in Thor: Love and Thunder’s predecessor, Thor: Ragnarok, where he portrayed The Executioner, Skurge.
Urban’s love for fantasy and science fiction is not new, however. Throughout his career, the bulk of the films that he has chosen to play in have been genre films. Notable examples include his role as Eomer in the third installment of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings, trilogy. Fans of the films will remember that they were filmed in New Zealand, and indeed starred plenty of Kiwi actors in supporting roles.
In 2012, Karl Urban took on a role that would make him a big name online. He portrayed Judge Dredd in the science fiction/action film, Dredd. The movie was based on the 2000 AD line of comics, which Urban purported to be a huge fan of. This is probably why he did such a great job as the brutal Judge, and quickly became a fan favorite.
Today, it is undeniable that Urban’s best-known role is that of Billy Butcher, a punk rock anti-hero who bucks at the established order in the corrupt super-hero world of The Boys. As the leader of the titular “Boys,” Billy has to do whatever he can to protect his team from the “super heroes” that the rest of society seems to love. But, Billy knows their secrets, and is willing to expose them.
Thoughts to Conclude
The three actors/actress discussed in this article are some of the finest and most revered ones to come out of New Zealand. However, they are not the only stars with a Kiwi background. Jemaine Clement, Manu Bennett, and Antony Starr are also quite noteworthy actors that come from New Zealand. Antony Starr even co-stars with Karl Urban on the hit Amazon Prime show, The Boys, where he portrays the villainous Homelander; a Superman-like figure with all the strength you can imagine, and a fragile ego to match.
