Right royal fuss about actor's pedigree

Lesley-Ann Brandt, who plays Leilani Fa'auigaese in Diplomatic Immunity. Photo / Supplied

The producers of TV One's new Polynesian comedy Diplomatic Immunity have defended their decision to cast a South African in a lead role.

Lesley-Ann Brandt plays Princess Leilani Fa'auigaese in the satire about the consulate of the Most Royal Kingdom of Fe'ausi - a fictional country in the South Pacific.

But the Reverend Leiite Setefano of the Pacific Islanders Presbyterian Church Tamaki said it was "very offensive" a Pacific Islander was not playing the role.

"It's very sensitive if you use someone other than a Pacific Islander. I don't think it's right, that's my opinion as a church minister and a community leader."

Originally from South Africa, Brandt is one of the only actors in the Fa'auigaese family not of Polynesian descent.

David Fane - of Outrageous Fortune - plays Leilani's father, Jonah, and has a Samoan background as does Mario Gaoa, who plays Jonah's cousin Malepe.

Other actors include former Shortland Streeter Craig Parker as a fallen New Zealand Foreign Affairs high-flier, and John Leigh - Sparky on Outrageous Fortune - as Jonah's adopted cousin.

Karen Kay represents Brandt through her agency, Karen Kay Management. She said an actor's ethnic background should not make a difference to the roles they play.

"People get picky about castings, but it shouldn't matter because... the best performer will get picked. They searched for a long time to find the best actress for this role, because she needed to be an incredible beauty, and Lesley was the best."

The show is produced by South Pacific Pictures whose chief executive John Barnett said Brandt was cast because she was "the best pick".

He said, "It's a comedy, not a documentary, and we get the people who are the best to play the roles.

"You have actors like John Leigh playing the albino half-brother of the king, and I'm sure he's not Samoan. It's just not a factor for a comedy like this."

This is not the first time casting has been questioned for an ethnic role. Director of hit movie No. 2, Toa Fraser, toyed with casting a Fijian actress as pivotal character Nanna Maria, but instead flew over African-American Ruby Dee for the role.

Kay did not agree with narrowing casting calls to specific ethnicities.

"You only have to look at Cliff Curtis to see how far you can make it with 'ethnic' looks."