[on Whale Rider (2002)] I've been waiting for this film for a long time. It's fun to go off and put on a disguise and pretend to be someone else, but to be able to get back to myself and my culture, that was just more than really nice, y'know - it was vital.
As an actor ... at some point you've got to forget that the crew's there in order to do your job.
On playing various ethnic roles: It's been a real advantage, I love being ethnic, I love the colour of my skin. There are limitations in the business, that's a reality, but I've been given such wonderful opportunities.
For me it's the experience of somebody who wants to treat life as an adventure and explore life. So acting is great for that, whereas a priest is somebody who has a vocation and knows exactly what their purpose is in life. And to be honest, I wasn't there as a young man. I didn't know absolutely. I didn't have that calling.