The Cast
Read about some of the many wonderful actors that helped make this New Zealand drama.
Bob Blair played by Ryan O'Kane
New Zealand cricketer, Bob Blair is in
South Africa over Christmas 1953, preparing for the big match.
After his mother took him along to kids theatre at the age of three, acting has been a passion for Ryan. Since then he has graduated from New Zealand drama school, Toi Whakaari and had a number of roles in film and television, These included the 2005 television series, The Insiders Guide to Love, as well as The Hothouse and Welcome to Paradise. Ryan also starred in the film, Second-Hand Wedding. He is currently working in Australia on the television series City Homicide.
“The first time I read the Tangiwai script I remember getting highly emotional towards the end. I was reading it in the green room while shooting scenes for City Homicide. I thought I would just read a few pages, but ended up reading the whole thing as I sat there by myself getting quite upset. I had to get my makeup reapplied! I read it a second time on the plane trip and even then the airhostess asked me if I was alright. I still get a bit choked up reading it."
After his mother took him along to kids theatre at the age of three, acting has been a passion for Ryan. Since then he has graduated from New Zealand drama school, Toi Whakaari and had a number of roles in film and television, These included the 2005 television series, The Insiders Guide to Love, as well as The Hothouse and Welcome to Paradise. Ryan also starred in the film, Second-Hand Wedding. He is currently working in Australia on the television series City Homicide.
“The first time I read the Tangiwai script I remember getting highly emotional towards the end. I was reading it in the green room while shooting scenes for City Homicide. I thought I would just read a few pages, but ended up reading the whole thing as I sat there by myself getting quite upset. I had to get my makeup reapplied! I read it a second time on the plane trip and even then the airhostess asked me if I was alright. I still get a bit choked up reading it."
Nerissa Love played by Rose McIver
Nerissa, a young girl in love, plans to take the train to
visit friends in Auckland, for Christmas Day, while her fiancé, Bob Blair is
away in South Africa.
Rose is a young but familiar face on New Zealand screens. After her first acting role at the tender age of three, starring in The Piano, she’s had a long list of credits to her name, such as The Lovely Bones film, as well as a number of television series including Hercules, Xena: Warrior Princess, Maddigans Quest and most recently, Power Rangers RPM. Her latest work, since filming Tangiwai, has been a role in Super City, a television comedy series.
“There was a lot of added responsibility with Tangiwai because Nerissa was a real person and her family is still around. I met some of her family on set, and so I felt like I really wanted to do her justice and do the story justice because of that. It was very powerful to meet the family and put a lot of things in perspective. It was a reminder about how many people were affected by this incredibly tragic disaster. Nerissa is a wonderful character, and it’s been a real honour and pleasure to play her.”
Rose is a young but familiar face on New Zealand screens. After her first acting role at the tender age of three, starring in The Piano, she’s had a long list of credits to her name, such as The Lovely Bones film, as well as a number of television series including Hercules, Xena: Warrior Princess, Maddigans Quest and most recently, Power Rangers RPM. Her latest work, since filming Tangiwai, has been a role in Super City, a television comedy series.
“There was a lot of added responsibility with Tangiwai because Nerissa was a real person and her family is still around. I met some of her family on set, and so I felt like I really wanted to do her justice and do the story justice because of that. It was very powerful to meet the family and put a lot of things in perspective. It was a reminder about how many people were affected by this incredibly tragic disaster. Nerissa is a wonderful character, and it’s been a real honour and pleasure to play her.”
Neil Adcock played by Iain O'Brien
South African fast-bowler, Neil Adcock
is playing his Test debut against the New Zealand team, in December 1953.
Right handed fast bowler, Iain O’Brien played for the New Zealand cricket team from 2005 to 2009. After retiring from the national team last year, he now plays for English counties, Leicestershire and Middlesex in the United Kingdom, where he lives. Iain’s appearance in Tangiwai marks his first foray into acting for the cricketing legend.
“I never actually saw a script, but I did get a run down of how the story worked. I already knew a lot about it anyway, as it is part of New Zealand cricketing folklore. I knew dates, how many died and had seen re-creations of the disaster before. I also had family die in the disaster so it was quite special to be a part of a story that would bring the disaster to more people’s knowledge.
Right handed fast bowler, Iain O’Brien played for the New Zealand cricket team from 2005 to 2009. After retiring from the national team last year, he now plays for English counties, Leicestershire and Middlesex in the United Kingdom, where he lives. Iain’s appearance in Tangiwai marks his first foray into acting for the cricketing legend.
“I never actually saw a script, but I did get a run down of how the story worked. I already knew a lot about it anyway, as it is part of New Zealand cricketing folklore. I knew dates, how many died and had seen re-creations of the disaster before. I also had family die in the disaster so it was quite special to be a part of a story that would bring the disaster to more people’s knowledge.
Bert Sutcliffe played by Dean O'Gorman
New Zealand left-hand batsman, Bert Sutcliffe
plays alongside Bob in the game against South Africa.
Dean has graced New Zealand screens for the past two decades. Known for his versatility and talent he has been nominated for a number of awards over the years, including the New Zealand Screen Awards, the New Zealand Film and Television Awards and Australia’s TV Week Logie Awards. His roles stretch over film (Bonjour Timothy, Snakeskin and Toy Love), television (Go Girls, McLeod’s Daughters and Young Hercules) and also theatre (Blood Wedding, The Ocean Star and Rabbit). Most recently he has been seen in The Almighty Johnsons, a New Zealand comedy-drama television series.
“I really enjoyed playing the role of Bert. It felt an honour to be playing such a legendary New Zealand cricketer who by all accounts was a really well-liked man, and was one of the top left-handed batsmen in the world at that time. I’d had very little cricketing experience before this, but it turned out to be a bit of blessing because I didn’t have to unlearn much. I wasn’t having to get rid of old habits I basically had to start from afresh.”
Dean has graced New Zealand screens for the past two decades. Known for his versatility and talent he has been nominated for a number of awards over the years, including the New Zealand Screen Awards, the New Zealand Film and Television Awards and Australia’s TV Week Logie Awards. His roles stretch over film (Bonjour Timothy, Snakeskin and Toy Love), television (Go Girls, McLeod’s Daughters and Young Hercules) and also theatre (Blood Wedding, The Ocean Star and Rabbit). Most recently he has been seen in The Almighty Johnsons, a New Zealand comedy-drama television series.
“I really enjoyed playing the role of Bert. It felt an honour to be playing such a legendary New Zealand cricketer who by all accounts was a really well-liked man, and was one of the top left-handed batsmen in the world at that time. I’d had very little cricketing experience before this, but it turned out to be a bit of blessing because I didn’t have to unlearn much. I wasn’t having to get rid of old habits I basically had to start from afresh.”
Dick Brittenden played by Jed Brophy
Respected cricket journalist, Dick
Brittenden, reports on the incredible Boxing Day cricket match.
The Tangiwai story held particular significance for Jed Brophy, whose grandfather was the coroner at the scene. Jed is a film actor who has appeared in a number of New Zealand as well as overseas productions, including Lord of the Rings, District 9 and King Kong. He is set to appear in The Hobbit films coming out next year.
“It’s been very moving working on Tangiwai. My grandfather was one of the coroners on the site at the 1953 disaster, helping to identify the bodies. My father had also been there that night, pulling the bodies out of the river. We always talked in my family about someone one day making the film and it was a joy that it was such a good script. I thought Donna and Paula have done a wonderful job of telling this story, and in such a way that it wasn’t just about the disaster but it was also about incredible love and bravery.”
The Tangiwai story held particular significance for Jed Brophy, whose grandfather was the coroner at the scene. Jed is a film actor who has appeared in a number of New Zealand as well as overseas productions, including Lord of the Rings, District 9 and King Kong. He is set to appear in The Hobbit films coming out next year.
“It’s been very moving working on Tangiwai. My grandfather was one of the coroners on the site at the 1953 disaster, helping to identify the bodies. My father had also been there that night, pulling the bodies out of the river. We always talked in my family about someone one day making the film and it was a joy that it was such a good script. I thought Donna and Paula have done a wonderful job of telling this story, and in such a way that it wasn’t just about the disaster but it was also about incredible love and bravery.”
Kui Wai played by Mabelle Dennison
Kui
Wai, the Maori, an elder of her tribe, sense changes to the area around
Tangiwai and fears something terrible is going to happen soon.
With many members of her family in the acting business, Mabelle fell into acting also, first with small, bit parts in New Zealand Film and Television and then with larger roles as the grandmother in Paradise Café, as well as in the TV expose, Fear, and most recently, the lead in the short film Whakatiki.
“It was really sensitively handled in the way the old kuia [elderly woman] was portrayed, and what she brought to the piece of work. When reading the piece and looking at her, she was so readily identifiable to me. Her character was just like my nannies, She’s a matriarch, and a woman with a deep sense of wairua, [spirituality] and care for the family.”
With many members of her family in the acting business, Mabelle fell into acting also, first with small, bit parts in New Zealand Film and Television and then with larger roles as the grandmother in Paradise Café, as well as in the TV expose, Fear, and most recently, the lead in the short film Whakatiki.
“It was really sensitively handled in the way the old kuia [elderly woman] was portrayed, and what she brought to the piece of work. When reading the piece and looking at her, she was so readily identifiable to me. Her character was just like my nannies, She’s a matriarch, and a woman with a deep sense of wairua, [spirituality] and care for the family.”
