12.00pm - By LUCY WILKINS
LONDON - With her black-painted lips and stencilled chin, the diminutive star of Whale Rider struck an exotic note among the English bobbies and black cabs of central London Thursday night.
Keisha Castle-Hughes, proudly displaying her temporary moko, arrived at the British premiere of the award-winning film to greet autograph-seeking fans and the flashing cameras of paparazzi.
Among stars such as Lord of the Rings actor Sir Ian McKellen, New Zealand-born singer Daniel Bedingfield, Prime Minister Helen Clark, and Keisha's co-stars Rawiri Paratene and Cliff Curtis, Keisha held her own.
Many in the audience were wearing pounamu (greenstone). After the red carpet treatment a conch shell sounded, heralding a kapa haka display and brief speeches.
Producer John Barnett thanked the New Zealand Government for setting up the film fund, prompting Curtis to hug the Prime Minister as they waited in the aisle for their turn in the spotlight.
Helen Clark warned the women in the audience, "if you're wearing mascara it's going to run tonight".
Paratene, thrilled with the worldwide response to the film, predicted director Niki Caro would win "big awards" for her film.
He read out a letter from Caro, saying the making of the film was one of the most significant events in her life.
Caro was absent from the premiere as she gave birth to a baby girl two days earlier.
Paratene himself shyly chuckled when asked to rate his own award chances with the film. He did say Whale Rider had boosted his career, but stayed mum about the two film projects he is about to start.
One member of the audience, Leanne Mato, who lived near Whangara, the East Coast settlement where the film was shot, was enthusiastic about seeing it for the second time.
"It's all so familiar and makes me homesick big-time."
Helen Clark said: "we've had that long-running New Zealand tourism promotion Lord of the Rings running for two years and it's good to see such a New Zealand story being made".
Whangara's Ngati Konohi chief, who had attended all the other premieres, was unable to attend in London. His grandson, sent in his place, received a round of applause from the audience, but the loudest applause and words of encouragement were saved for Keisha.
The audience applauded again at the end and each clutched a flax kete of goodies left on their seats as they emerged from the theatre into the warm London night.
- NZPA
Herald Feature: Whale Rider
Whale Rider film and star win over London audience
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