Samoan

Entertainment

Our Samoan heart-throb

By Atama Raganivatu

New Zealand born, the son of a Samoan mother and a Tongan father and a cult fig ure in Fiji; Rene Naufahu can rightly claim to be the first pan-South Pacific television superstar - a status he has gained through his portrayal of Sam Aleni, the handsome and amiable ambulance driver in the immensely popular Kiwi soap opera Shortland Street. The half-hour drama con sistently tops the ratings in its home coun try and has captured an enthusiastic fol lowing on Fiji’s fledgling television ser vice, while its many devotees in Tonga, Western Samoa and the Cook Islands keep abreast of a sometimes surrealistic story line through video tapes from New Zealand-based relatives.

Despite beginning well down in the credits list, Naufahu quickly established himself as Shortland Street’s true star soon after it began screening in 1992. The 24-year-old’s rugged good looks ensure the vast majority of his fans are female. He was already a well-known figure in New Zealand modelling circles before becom ing an actor, being a founding member of the first all-Polynesian male modelling company in the late 1980 s.

Naufahu forsook the catwalk to become a full-time actor and fulfil the dream he had since imitating Batman and various cowboy heroes on television as a child.

Also cast aside was what promised to be a glittering rugby union career. A powerful right winger, Naufahu represented New Zealand in the under-19 level and har boured aspirations to play for Western Samoa. He did return to the rugby field last year, after an absence of two seasons, and played for the famous Ponsonby Club’s reserve XV in Auckland. Unfortunately, his old form eluded him.

Acting, modelling and rugby are but three of the strings the talented Naufahu has to his bow. He became fluent in both French and Japanese while studying at the

prestigious Auckland Grammar School where he was a prefect - and would have no difficulty in obtaining employment in education or tourism, should he desire a change from acting.

Singing is another Naufahu forte. His vocal ability earned him a leading part in the rock musical The Rocky Horror Show late last year.

Despite the many options, Naufahu has no plans to leave Shortland Street. His description of the programme’s produc tion staff as “one happy family” is particu larly apt because his mother, Agnes, is its Samoan co-ordinator.Agnes’ duties include advising on Samoan culture, coaching actors in the Samoan language and making

sure stories featuring her compatriots have a ring of authenticity about them.

Agnes is particularly proud her son is the first Samoan actor to play a Samoan char acter regularly in a major television series anywhere in the world. Both Naufahus believe Rene’s success in Shortland Street will open doors for other talented per formers from the Pacific islands so far denied them.

In the meantime, Shortland Street con tinues to feature several Samoan and Tongan personalities. Hopefully, the pro gramme’s scriptwriters will soon acknowl edge their most dedicated overseas fans and introduce a character from Fiji, too! ■