Tention Free: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Your background, education, acting passion etc. ??
I grew up in New Zealand in a small town called Alexandra in Central Otago (right outside of Queenstown). I am very fortunate that I grew up on a gorgeous vineyard and had quite affluent grandparents. Funnily enough I am 44% English and 33% Maori, along with other bits and pieces such as European, Jewish, and about 2% Asian (from where Genghis Khan came from, which apparently 20% of the world can trace back to him).
I absolutely adore New Zealand, but it’s just too small for me right now. So, once I finished film school and business school I moved to Sydney in Australia. It’s a beautiful part of the world and still very close to my heart. But that too had an expiry date for me. My husband and I still go back and have even thought of getting a holiday place there. I worked as a model in Sydney and also in business. Starting up tech companies and working in different media and fashion corporations.
I’ve always loved business so when I opened my own production company Kiwi Film House (KFH) in 2015, in London, it was a really fulfilling time for me. Bringing my love of business and my love of film together. I did live in London when I was 11 for three months and I really didn’t like it. However, coming back as an adult, I see the beauty, the glamour and the charm. I just fell in love with the place.
Tention Free: Your most successful project?
Titiro, my award winning short film. It was a collaborative effort, with a really talented team of cast and crew.
Tention Free: Any upcoming project?
We are very much looking forward to War Lands. We are currently casting that and I am very fortunate to be working with Dale Armin Johnson on it. Producing together.
Tention Free: What has been one of the most exciting achievements of your acting career so far ?
I have to say that playing the lead role of Titiro in Titiro was the most exciting achievement of my acting career thus far. I received awards for that role and it was just amazing to go so deep and have a true creative process getting back to my Maori roots.
Tention Free: What’s your goal in life you want to achieve next?
Something that is very close to my heart, and I am very passionate about is protecting vulnerable children and protecting children who are victims of sexual assault and paedophilia. I believe strongly that when a paedophile commits an atrocious crime against a child they are not sentenced harshly enough. I believe that that criminal will 100% commit another crime against a child when they are released from prison. I believe they cannot be rehabilitated and therefore the punishments need to be harsher, stronger and we must protect the vulnerable children who will have their lives ripped away when they are victims to these atrocious, disgusting, demonic acts. It is seen time and time again that when a paedophile is only sentenced for say five years, they get out in two and then they go on to commit crimes again. If you look up Daniel Morcombe, he is the third victim of that monster that took his life. Watching that documentary is what woke me up to the atrocities of this world and what some children go through because of our unbalanced justice system. I was so sickened by what that monster put those children through, that it made me want to fight for them and all other children who need protection. I will continue to advocate for harsher punishments against these monsters for the rest of my life. That is and will always be the best thing I ever do in my life.
Tention Free: What motivates you to do your best work as an actress?
It really depends on the role. I love to take on roles where I am able to advocate for something. Whether it be domestic violence, ethnic change (bringing Maori culture to the screen) or touching on characters and topics that I resonate with. All of those things really help motivate me to do my best work.
Tention Free: Did you choose this industry, as a career, or as a hobby?
Acting and film has always been the centre of my world. I was six years old when I stood up on a table and announced that I would be the best director in the world. Acting is such a passion of mine, it’s such a creative outlet for me. But directing is where I get to use my natural ability.
Tention Free: Your favourite celebrity?
I really appreciate The Rock. He has hustled and has been so subjected to racial discrimination and rejection. He is someone that just continues to push forward and break boundaries and seeing another brown person accomplishing all he’s accomplished makes me very inspired.
Tention Free: Everybody needs time out. What do you do in your free time?
I love the gym, I try and go 3 to 5 times a week with my husband. It’s something that we do together and he really motivates me and gets behind me when I don’t feel like doing it. However, I am really in the season of just wanting to go and being inspired to go. Because I’m at the stage where I have seen all the results of my hard work. It wasn’t an easy thing to get started on, but I’ve been really focused on working out now for about four years. And when I say working out and going to the gym I mean lifting weights, doing squats, doing sit-ups/crunches, bicep curls, leg press, all the types of weightlifting you can think of I do.
Tention Free: How can people find you and follow you online?
People can find me online on Instagram I’m handle Chelsea Summer Green www.instagram.com/chelseasummergreen
