Cousins actress Tioreore's TRIUMPH AFTER TRAGEDY

The Hunt For The Wilderpeople star opens up about the heartbreak that’s fuelled her rise to fame

- Leena Tailor

She made her screen debut with Oscar-winning director Taika Waititi at 14, has worked with Kiwi acting legends like Rena Owen and Rachel House, and just directed her first short film at age 21 – and now she has Hollywood firmly in her sights.

But amid the hurdles of going from sheltered rural life to the big city, learning English as a second language and accepting a lead role in new movie Cousins – which almost threatened her acting degree – Tioreore Ngatai- Melbourne’s strength was tested most when it came to her big break on Taika’s Hunt For The Wilderpeople.

Rocked by the death of her big brother Pero the week she was due to commence the 2016 film, Tioreore powered through the shoot, largely driven by the loss of her beloved role model, who continues to inspire her.

“We had to live for him,” she reflects. “He was an artist too. He could pick up any instrument and just play! The thought of him not being able to do that stuff makes me want to be an artist more – to do it for both of us.”

Growing up with Pero, her older brother Waha, and sisters Poiwa and Keeti in remote Te Araroa, 175km north of Gisborne, Tioreore attended a Maori language immersion school, where fellow students and teachers were whanau, and speaking English outside of English class called for push-ups.

Tioreore – from Ngati Porou and Ngai TÅ«hoe descent – found her love for performance ignited through kapa haka and later “almost won” Best Actress at the local Nati Awards.