The best time I've had on stage is ... with my performance group, The Maori Sidesteps, touring festivals around the country. Holding a mirror up to New Zealand, pushing people's boundaries, making them laugh or cry, boo or cheer, I love it. It's an instant crowd reaction and an honest appraisal, as opposed to a film ... because it's how people truly feel about your performance and not one critic's review.
The worst was ... The worst but funniest time was in pre-production on Bellbird. I turned up to learn how to milk cows for my role and let's just say, with the cows' review, I wasn't covered in glory.
My dream role would be ... in some reoccurring television or movie series, so I wouldn't have to audition anymore. Being on set is like a family and you relax into a role and get brave and creative. Auditions are like cattle calls, which makes you anxious and uncreative. You tend to always lose sleep over wanting or waiting for a role. I always find it funny; when I told my dad years ago that I had a lead role in a TV movie and I was jumping around the house like I'd won Lotto, he said, "How long's that?" I said, "Six weeks." He said the average person wouldn't be jumping around the house if they got told they had six weeks left in their job. Wise man.
Cohen Holloway stars alongside Rachel House and Marshall Napier in Bellbird, in cinemas today.