Whanganui actor Stephen Tamapara is glad Rachel House pulled him out of retirement for Bellbird film

Rachel House, Cohen Holloway and Stephen Tamarapa in a scene from Bellbird.

Whanganui-based actor Stephen Tamarapa was minding his own business and living his busy life when he was called up to audition for a film role.

Tamarapa plays Clem, a quietly competent and humorous rural vet in Hamish Bennett's film Bellbird which debuted at the NZ International Film Festival in July.

"I hadn't done any acting for a long time," said Tamarapa.

"I have a young family and I was busy being a dad and working 9 to 5."

It was his friend Rachel House (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Boy) who had recommended him for the part.

"She convinced me that it was a good part and I'm glad I did it because it's a beautiful film."

With a full-time job working for the Corrections Department and small children at home, the young father wasn't sure how he'd manage it.

"We filmed in Maungakaramea in Northland which is near where Hamish grew up.

"He wanted to film it over a long time frame so the scenes would capture the changing seasons.

"That really suited me because it meant I could take a week off here and there and I didn't have to be away for a long time."

Clem, like most characters in Bellbird, is quietly spoken and composed even when internally examining a cow.

"I worried that I might be overplaying things and I was waiting for Hamish to pull me back but he didn't."

The Bellbird story is based on Bennett's former neighbours Ross (played by Marshall Napier) and Beth (played by Annie Whittle) and their son Bruce (played by Cohen Holloway).

Rachel House encouraged Tamarapa to get back into acting.

"Hamish has done an amazing job of telling their story, the film is sad and funny and it's a special story about people who think they are ordinary."

House plays the rough, yet tender, Connie who works with Bruce at the dump and has his back although she keeps him in line at the same time.

The film's youngest star is Kahukura Retimana who won the role of Marley after turning up to an audition with his cousin and ended up getting the role himself.

When young Marley keeps turning up to help Ross with the daily milking, he ignores Ross's sullen moods.

The film has a good supporting cast of small part actors and one of them is Whanganui born actor Aaron Jackson who plays an obnoxious character named Aw.

"I haven't seen the film yet," said Jackson who is recovering from knee surgery.

Jackson, former Shortland St villain, also has young children now and said family commitments have been taking precedent.

"Our 15 month old has been following my footsteps acting on Shortland St.

"He was playing baby Billy but he's having a break now."

Jackson said he wasn't aware that another Whanganui actor was in Bellbird but he is not surprised he says.

"I always seem to run into Whanganui people on film sets."

Tamarapa attended both the Auckland and Sydney premieres of Bellbird and said it was great to see how well the audiences responded.

"They got it," he said.

Bellbird will screen at the Embassy Theatre, Victoria Ave in Whanganui on November 7.