Miriama & Teuila's Bond Why We Love Being Bad!

These besties are stealing the screen!

- Carmen Lichi

In the past two decades, Miriama Smith and Teuila Blakely have gone head to head dozens of times for roles. As self-described “brown actresses in a small industry”, there’s no avoiding the fact they’re often chasing the same jobs.

But rather than bitter rivals, the duo – who first met through mutual friends in the ’90s – have become firm friends since Teuila, 42, bagged a role alongside leading lady Miriama on TVNZ 2’s Filthy Rich.

“As soon as I read the new script and saw the character of Malia, I said, ‘This is Teuila!’” tells Miriama, 41. “I rang up my agent and said, ‘Please tell me Teuila is auditioning for Malia. In fact, why are they even bothering to see anyone else?’”

And Teuila’s reaction was identical. “As soon as I saw the words on the page, I was like, ‘This role is mine!’” tells the Samoan-born mum-of-one. “I was so thrilled when I found out I’d got it, not only to be playing that character – who might just be the most evil one in the show – but to play opposite Miriama! For once, we’re both in the same show. As brown actresses, we go up against each other for the same roles all the time.”

In fact, Teuila even auditioned for the drama’s starring role of ball-breaking bitch Brady Trubridge, which ultimately went to Miriama.