Hori Ahipene – Queen of the Screen
Hori Ahipene could perhaps be described as New Zealand’s most ‘diverse’ actor, having played both male and female characters in TV comedies and dramas.
In the 90s Ahipene gained a loyal fan base by appearing in the TV sketch shows Away Laughing, Skitz and Telly Laughs. Two of Ahipene’s popular gender-swapping roles were Mrs Semisi in Skitz and The Semesis, and Beverley Best in the Maori Television sitcom/chat show B&B. Ahipene has also appeared in TV dramas such as Maddigan’s Quest, Mataku, and Shortland Street. In 2009, Ahipene returned to wearing a frock on screen playing ‘Angel’ – a transgender prostitute in Outrageous Fortune. Ahipene’s film credits include Jubilee and The Piano.
In this ScreenTalk interview, Ahipene discusses:
- His love of Skitz and the chance it gave him to become a director
- Why hosting the 1998 Hero Parade terrified him
- Dedicating his role in Jubilee to the memory of his father
- How satisfying it was to work with Māori crew on the TV series Mataku
- Working with Te Radar on the sitcom/chat show B&B
- Learning acrobatic skills on the set of Maddigan’s Quest
- And playing a transgender hooker in Outrageous Fortune
This video is available on YouTube to embed and distribute via a Creative Commons licence.
Credits: Interview, Camera & Editing – Andrew Whiteside
NZ ON SCREEN 2010