PANA HEMA-TAYLOR’S BIG YEAR

Over the past two weeks Pana Hema-Taylor has been lighting up our screens on TV3’s Westside as dodgy mechanic Bert Thompson, a member of Ted West’s gang. Kiwis will see a lot of Hema-Taylor this year as the Boy actor is also a key cast member on TVNZ’s upcoming series Dirty Laundry and last week he was out shooting scenes for Prime’s third season of The Brokenwood Mysteries. “It has been the busiest year of my acting career — I’m not complaining either, I worked really hard to get to where I am today,” the 26-year-old told Spy. “From theatre to TV and film, I’m very proud of my achievements and so is my mum, which puts a smile on my dial. I’ve been getting told a lot lately that I’m the busiest actor in New Zealand and it’s good to hear. “It’s hard to be an actor and get work in NZ, you need to make the most of it and grab the opportunities with both hands — and also learn how to budget, haha.” Hema-Taylor has 6-year-old son, Te Ahi Ka, with ex-partnerex-pa Wentworth star Danielle Corm Cormack and early last year he had a daughter,dau Tiare Masina, with his girlfriend, Naomi Campbell. “I’m very lucky, I have two beautiful kids who motivate me to become a betterbet person and actor and I want themthe to have a good education — whichwh involves a bit of money,” he said. Tonight on Westside, Herald Focus co-presenter Laura McGoldrick makes her acting debut as neighbourhood watch leader Wendy who, with thermos in hand, goes up against the West gang. We hear McGoldrick performs her scream queen scene with aplomb.