I made a conscious choice to turn down some movies that were action-based, so that I could direct Road to Paloma and show that side.

I was on Stargate: Atlantis for four years, playing a similar character called Ronon, who was an alien that didn't say much and grunted. I've been there and done that. Whether people have seen it or not, you want to stretch. And then, while I waited, I got The Red Road, and I'd never gotten anything like that.

As a Polynesian, our gods are tied to water, so this means something special.

I'm half Hawaiian and the haka is a very sacred thing, something your family teaches you - my father taught me.

When I'm acting, I wish I was out there, being a part of it and making it. It's all on your name to do that. It's your vision. You're going to get slandered for your work, and I like that. As an actor, it's so hard. I'd rather direct than act.

A lot of people don't know enough about me. When I meet people who freak out about Game of Thrones, they don't even know that I can speak English.

I don't really push myself upon people. I don't have that. When it meets and things fall in line, it's meant to happen. It's happened that way. I just try to do my best and do my work, and then it falls in line.