Model Colin Mathura-Jeffree as the Indian lotus goddess Lak-shmi at the 1998 Hero Parade. Photo / NZonscreen
Model Colin Mathura-Jeffree as the Indian lotus goddess Lak-shmi at the 1998 Hero Parade. Photo / NZonscreen
NZ On Screen Content Director Irene Gardiner looks back at some memorable TV moments from our current crop of Dancing with the Stars contestants.
The casting for each new series of Dancing with the Stars always draws a certain amount of controversy as, in some cases, the contestants might only fairly loosely be termed as "stars." As one tweet about this new TV3 series put it "it's more like dancing with some other New Zealanders." But, to be fair, the international versions of the show also cast from the B, C and D lists of celebrities, rather than the A list.
And at least some of our current dancers have previous lives on the TV screen. Model Colin Mathura-Jeffree has been a judge on New Zealand's Next Top Model, and has hosted New Zealand's Hottest Home Baker. But before all of that, he made a delightful appearance in this TV special on the 1998 Hero Parade. You can spot him around 8'40" into part one as the Indian lotus goddess Lakshmi.
Actor Ben Barrington is well known for his starring roles on The Almighty Johnsons and the popular Australian series Offspring. But much earlier in his career he was one of the eight lead characters in the quirky Wellington-based drama The Insider's Guide to Happiness. He played the rather straight and serious character William, a doctor - quite different from the more hunky roles he seems to specialise in now.
You can see The Insider's Guide to Happiness here:
Simon Barnett's TV career spans three decades, beginning as a kids TV host on the long-running What Now?. His screen partnership with Catherine McPherson was one of the show's most popular pairings. This Christmas special from 1991 sees the presenters larking it up with guests including Cath's Scottish Uncle Bob, Constable Keith and Sniff the Dog, and The Wizard of Christchurch. Check out the 1990s stone-wash denim and Barnett's frosted tips and lycra shorts.
View What Now Christmas Special 1991 here:
You can see What Now Christmas Special 1991 here
By 1993, Barnett had moved to grown-ups TV, and was hosting the sports challenge show Clash of the Codes, which pitted teams representing various sports against each other in a series of devised physical challenges. In this final episode from the first series, rowing and canoeing are the frontrunners, with plenty of Olympic podium experience on both teams (Ian Ferguson, Eric Verdonk and Chris White, plus world champ sculler Phillipa Baker). They tackle a steep bush rescue and the army confidence course at Whangaparaoa Peninsula. A young Marc Ellis gets early practice playing the larrikin on screen.
See Clash of the Codes here:
Teuila Blakely is well-known to Shortland Street viewers for her long stint as Vasa Levi. She has also been a TV host on C4. In 2005 she played long-suffering girlfriend Leilani in the hit movie Sione's Wedding. One of her most notable moments in the film is where she "clocks" Sefa (Shimpal Lelisi) on the head with a clock, and that is the scene that opens the movie's extended trailer.
Actress Siobhan Marshall has played a variety of roles on our TV screens, but will perhaps always be most fondly remembered as ditzy Pascalle from Outrageous Fortune, which she first started work on 10 years ago in 2005. The show ran for a record six seasons, and has now spawned the spin-off prequel show Westside.
Here's the first ever episode of Outrageous Fortune:
