No Ordinary Joe My Kids Are More Important Than Fame!

He’s on a mission for his family.

- Leena Tailor

Visitors to Joe Naufahu’s Auckland gym Ludus Magnus shouldn’t be surprised if they notice the Game of Thrones star working out alongside two much smaller gym buddies – his kids!

The 40-year-old trainer and actor says daughter Eva, 11, and son Freddy, nine, are unofficial members of the celebrity workout hot spot.

“Freddy and Eva have had it thrust upon them from an early age, but it’s not like they have to do it – they just love to come to the gym and jump in,” he tells Woman’s Day.

“They’ll walk in and start training next to me. The beauty of how we train is that it’s predominantly body weight, so it’s safe for all shapes and sizes.”

While hitting the gym is all good fun for the kids, who are from Joe’s previous relationship, being able to mix fatherhood and his professional passions means everything to the rugby pro turned actor.

He’s had a few whirlwind years in which he’s faced arduous stints away from New Zealand while starring in Game of Thrones and more recently, his upcoming World War II film Ni’ihau. He could easily be following up those gigs by chasing more roles in Hollywood, but instead he’s decided his priorities lie right here in Aotearoa.

“Right now, what’s important for me is being here at the gym and being close to loved ones. I went to Malaysia for four months for Ni’ihau and it was really hard being away from my little ones that long.