BILLY HARRIS: KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY
Queen of scream coming to a theatre near you A horror movie about a horned demon who steals children at Christmas time doesn’t sound like the kind of movie you’d want your child to see, but Ponsonby Intermediate student Queenie Samuel won’t just see it. She’s in it! Working alongside those names is like a young rugby player getting picked for the All Blacks, or a tennis player having a doubles with Federer, Murray and Djokovic. So how did Queenie, a Kiwi kid who’s just turned 12, end up rubbing shoulders with the big hitters of Hollywood?
photography: Andi Crown
Born into a family of actors (her mother, father and brother are actors, her father Murray also directs and mother Fiona writes and directs), it was only natural she’d follow suit. At five, she was cast in televisioin drama ‘Life’s a Riot’, where she made her first contribution to her blooper reel.
She’s one of the twelve main actors in comedy-horror ‘Krampus’, an American movie being shot in Wellington, and she plays the role of Jordan, one of a family of obnoxious cousins who come to stay with the ‘hero’ family for Christmas. Not sure which is scarier. A darkly festive tale about an evil ghoul, or having your cousins stay for the holidays. This movie is the real deal. Director Michael Dougherty directed ‘Trick ‘r Treat’ and wrote ‘X-Men 2’ and ‘Superman Returns’ and the cast reads like a who’s who of the movie industry. There’s Adam Scott from ‘Parks and Recreation’ and ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’, Aussie Toni Collette, who’s been in everything, Allison Tolman (who plays Queenie’s on-screen mom) from ‘Fargo’, David Koechner from the ‘Anchorman’ series, Conchata Ferrell from ‘Two and a half Men’, Emjay Anthony (‘Chef’) and Stefania Owen (‘The Lovely Bones’).
As she tells it: “I was working on ‘Life’s A Riot’ and we were doing a scene where we had to meet our father for the first time (because he’d been in prison). We had to go into a room and they told us to ‘hug the first man you see’ and a poor extra standing by the door was very confused when I hugged him and yelled out ‘Dad!’, then realised that everyone else had gone to a man in the centre of the room and they were hugging him. I was only five, but I still remember thinking ‘Ooops, I got that really wrong!’ It was like eating a big slice of humble pie from the shame oven.”
So now she’s in Welllington for the seven-week shoot, but homesickness is not a problem. As well as the very mature head on her young shoulders, Queenie has her mother - who’s able to take her work with her - for company in the cottage organised for them in Seatoun. When she’s not working, she reads, watches Netflix (older readers, ask someone younger), listens to music, shops, Skypes her friends, and catches up with family and friends in Wellington. And does her homework, 10 hours a week with a tutor, who also supervises the three other children on the movie. When she’s on the job, she mostly hangs out with her chaperone Broghan, who keeps Queenie entertained with her guitar and bad jokes. Queenie’s choices of favourite actors aren’t exactly what you’d expect of one so young. Not for her Angelina Jolie, Reese Witherspoon or Margot Robbie. Instead she lists Maggie Smith, the 80-year-old star of Downton Abbey, Chris Coffer from Glee, English comedienne Miranda Hart, Kiwi actresses Miranda Harcourt, Morgana O’Reilly and Chelsie Preston-Crayford and, not least, big brother Murdoch Keane.
That tiny hiccup didn’t ‘stop her’. She’s had a recurring guest role in ‘Nothing Trivial’, she’s an experienced stage actress, having appeared in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ at the Civic, and playing several roles in the Company of Giants’ production of Homer’s Odyssey.
Her favourite movies are in a similar vein, and include ‘My Fair Lady’, ‘Moonrise Kingdom’, ‘Juno’, ‘Meet Me In St Louis’, ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’, ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ and ‘Muriel’s Wedding’ (and she’s not just saying that because Toni Collette’s in it).
And all the time, she’s been unwittingly training, goofing around the house with the family, imitating voices from The Simpsons or Bob’s Burgers on TV, making up scripts.
And does she have a favourite director? “I can’t answer that question without a lawyer present!” she said. “My father is a director and he’s really good but just at the moment Michael might edge him out. Sorry Dad.”
So when the production company for Krampus decided to audition in New Zealand for the roles of the cousins, Queenie was ready. Indeed, she nailed her accent so well in her audition that the director thought she was from Michigan.
Don’t worry Queenie. If you help scare the bejesus out of PN him in Krampus, he’ll be overjoyed. (BILLY HARRIS) F
SUPPORTING WOMEN ON MANY LEVELS Mt Albert resident Pamela Elliott (pictured) grew up Waiheke Island, studied at Auckland University, then travelled the world teaching and working in film and television production, merchandising and retailing. This served her well when she decided to start her mobile lingerie business with lingerie giant Intimo. Today it’s her love of helping women understand the importance of good support and well-fitting underwear that keeps her as enthusiastic about her business now as she was when she started out just nine years ago. The company supports a number of women’s charities and April is ‘White Bra Month’. Pamela will be pushing sales of white bras to help raise funds and awareness for Shine, New Zealand’s national domestic abuse agency. Says Pamela: “I love working with a company that supports women on so many different levels. From helping to improve their appearance, increase their self-confidence and even providing them with an income stream, it’s very rewarding and very satisfying.” The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied
Pamela’s passion and enthusiasm for the Intimo range verges on the evangelical and she refers to some of the best sellers as “investment pieces”. She has a strong following of repeat customers throughout Auckland, in fact all over New Zealand. Her customers understand the benefits of being properly measured and professionally fitted and appreciate discreet, personal service and top quality products. “Every woman needs a well-fitting white bra, it’s a key part of your lingerie wardrobe. Treat yourself to one this April. You’ll look wonderful and feel wonderful knowing you’re PN helping such a worthy cause!” says Pamela. F www.2shine.org.nz DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH
PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2015
89