The film star says he is stoked to have this new challenge on the small screen and to be a part of such an iconic series.
"Shortland Street has been around longer than I have," he says. "There have been some huge Kiwi names on the show, so it's awesome to have a chance to have this experience."
It is Rolleston's first television role and he admits the change in pace took a little getting used to.
"I'm friends with a few of the boys like Jayden [Daniels] and Reuben [Milner], so I was able to get a small insight into how the show worked before I started on set — my first day was actually a lot of fun and everyone was incredibly supportive.
"It's hugely different from the film industry — it's so fast — there is not a lot of time for each scene like in the movies. You just get into the swing of the scene and you are on to the next, but it's a fantastic opportunity for me to grow as an actor and learn some different techniques."
Rolleston's character, Kawe, had a troubled upbringing and ended up in prison for his role in a burglary. But he used his time inside wisely, and since his release, he's started to turn his life around with the help of whanau and a coffee van business.
"Kawe is a good kid at heart — someone people can relate to, a bad boy trying to be good. He made mistakes and is trying to turn his life around. And he makes a mean coffee apparently."
Shorty Street producer Maxine Fleming says Rolleston's dramatic storyline will have life-changing consequences for another much-loved character on the show.
And Rolleston teases that there could be romance on the cards.
"He is definitely shocked when he meets an old flame — but what I can tell you is that his arrival upsets a couple of people, which has been really fun to play. I can't wait to find out how it ends."
