Temuera Morrison
The Kiwi character actor on his bountiful career
Istill want to play with the big boys,” says Temuera Morrison, the New Zealand-born actor who exploded onto the scene with Once Were Warriors, played Aquaman’s dad in the DCEU and went under the hood as two generations of bounty-hunting Fetts in Attack Of The Clones and The Mandalorian S2. Coming up he has Antipodean sci-fi sequel Occupation Rainfall, and the first chapter of The Book Of Boba Fett...
Occupation
was a hit on streaming. What excited you about returning for
Occupation Rainfall?
I just thought that these young people had tenacity. They had limited budget and experience. The thing is, they go out there and make their film. But the big reason was to try and get sharp, and get back in front of the camera. I knew there was a lot of action, and I’m getting a little bit more mature now, so I wanted to keep up the fitness side of things.
The Piano
Is it true that to become an actor? inspired you
I was working on the radio at the time, and Jane Campion was looking for Maori extras. I put the call out, and about 200 Maori turned up for the auditions. I worked as a go-between between the
Maori cast and Jane. And then I got the part on Shortland Street, our first New Zealand soap, but a Shortland Street doctor wasn’t quite the same as working on a great film with a great director!
Once Were Warriors
was a breakthrough role. Was it tough to play a character as explosive as Jake?
That’s the thing I had to work on – the spontaneity. I’m a pretty laidback dude. I don’t even get angry. The biggest compliment [I got] was from a woman who used to be abused. She said, “You remind me of my husband.” I felt sorry for her, because we could go home at the end of the day and wipe the tattoos off. Some of our folk out there are still fighting with demons. So the film still resonates.
You shared the screen with Marlon Brando in The Island Of Dr. Moreau
– what’s your war story?
Everyone went crazy! But for me, it was just wonderful to stand next to [Brando]. I said, “Whatever I do, I’m Marlon’s right-hand dog.” Because I played a dog man. I’d pass him water, never leave his side. Doing that, I was able to listen to him practise his lines. The best thing I heard him say was to the second director John Frankenheimer. “We don’t need that in the movie. Put the camera on this guy!” [Points to himself]
You weren’t a big Star Wars fan when you were cast in Attack Of The Clones.
What did it mean to play Jango Fett?
Back in 1977 I’d just left high school, and there were other things going on. So I missed all of that. The funny thing was, I was doing a TV show in Sydney at the time. I wanted my hair to be different. So every time I see Jango Fett, I get annoyed!
You must have been thrilled to get the call to play Boba Fett in The
Mandalorian?
I was surprised that they even bothered! I don’t know the words to express it, but I was grateful. It was a big buzz for me. Sometimes things just line up. This was definitely one of those. It was an honour and a pleasure to be a part of the renaissance of the bounty hunter.
You brought your warrior heritage to Boba…
I was brought up with a taiaha. [Boba] uses a gaffi stick, it’s a Fijian war weapon. I was also brought up with the haka. A number of takes, I might have pushed the parameters a little bit far, but Robert and Jon liked the energy!
What can you say about The Book Of
Boba Fett?
It’s coming in December! We’ve got Robert Rodriguez putting it all together now, with Jon Favreau. They know what they’re doing. I’ve just been blessed that, at the moment, we’re on good terms, and everything’s clicking. JF
ETA | 9 JULY / OCCUPATION RAINFALL OPENS IN CINEMAS AND RELEASES ON DIGITAL NEXT MONTH.
‘I MIGHT HAVE PUSHED THE PARAMETERS A LITTLE FAR, BUT THEY LIKED THE ENERGY!’