Mairehu Grace - New Kiwi TV Star

Mairehau Grace of Paekākāriki has recently returned from Beaudesert, Australia after landing a role in a new Television drama series.

Grace Beside Me (the title is a coincidence) is loosely based on the novel by Sue McPherson and follows Fuzzy Mac (played by Kyliric Massella) and her two best mates Tui (Mairehau Grace) and Yar (TJ Mcguire) as they make their way through some difficult, funny and scary situations.

The series which has already been labelled ‘groundbreaking’ is quite different from the usual children’s TV drama. Fuzzy wants to live a normal life but has been gifted (or cursed) with her grandmother’s ability to communicate with ghosts. The children embark on adventures in a quest to solve age old mysteries mixed in with everyday problems of growing up in a small Australian town.

Mairehau, who grew up around film sets, dance and theatre wasn’t phased too much by being in front of the camera or performing. But a three month shoot would be hard for an adult with experience, let alone 13yo kids. So we caught up with Mairehau asking a few questions about her time on set.

Q: What was the hardest thing about your time on the set of Grace Beside Me?

A: Getting up at 5.30 everyday. And not seeing my Mum for so long. Oh and the tutoring. We worked 8 hour days but 2 hours had to be for school work.

Q: What was the best thing about it?

A: The other kids. I love them and we’re friends for life. And getting paid (she laughs). And the crew and all of the people were really nice, everyone was amazing.

Q: Was acting hard?

A: No except for when you can’t stop laughing. Kiki (Kyliric) would make faces at me and I’m supposed to be serious. Learning lines and doing things over and over. And I had to sing. That was hard. Mostly it was easy and real fun.

Q: Do you want more acting roles?

A: Yes.

Q: Did you enjoy Australia?

A: Yep I liked their malls and beaches but it was a big relief to get home.

Kyliric Massella, Mairehau Grace, the snake lady and TJ 

 

Grace Beside Me will screen on NITV (Aus) in February and has been picked up by ABC and the Disney Channel. Hopefully a NZ channel will pick it up too.