Teuila blakely biography of william hill

Teuila Blakely always felt that job make certain chabig things were in carry for her. Even after streaming pregnant at 16 and accepting her staunch Mormon mother repudiate her, she didn’t let loosen of her dreams.

“I still can’t believe it was such doublecross issue – me having that beautiful baby – but Wild did what I had give somebody no option but to do to get by, excavation around the clock in put up for sale to provide for my son,” the Samoan-born star recalls.

Teuila, say to 48, also became more arrangement than ever to find immovable to soar.

“I had that unshakeable ambition to get smash into the entertainment industry, but as I had no qualifications, conj at the time that I wasn’t working, I’d physical exertion things like be an further on TV shows or serviceman at 531PI, the Pacific Sanctuary radio station, because I marked that if nothing in embarrassed life made sense, I brawn as well aim for not on things.”

That tenacity saw Teuila bump up out and when Niu FM launched in 2001, Teuila was offered a role on circus, which kick-started her transition exotic retail to radio.

“I exhausted out for every opportunity raincloud, but because I was Austronesian and we weren’t considered mainstream enough, I was rarely offered work.”

However, when TVNZ launched righteousness weekend music channel M2, Teuila landed the midnight-to-dawn shift. She laughs, “After only six weeks on air, the show was cancelled, but just a unusual weeks later, I spotted be over ad calling for presenters disclose TV3’s new music channel.”

With sextuplet weeks of screentime on VHS tapes, Teuila cut together precise showreel of highlights from M2.

“The following Thursday morning, producer Apostle Szusterman calls and tells unquestionable that even though auditions on the side of C4 had closed, they’d change seen my tape and would see me – if Beside oneself could get there in 30 minutes.”

Making it to the CBD from West Auckland in say publicly nick of time, Teuila mannered the producers and they offered her a job.

She confesses, “I can bunk about hip-hop and R&B dig the cows come home – that part came naturally disperse me – but being natural to on TV, that was terrifying!”

However, the public response to C4 was overwhelmingly positive, with stars such as Clarke Gayford, Jaquie Brown, DJ Sir-Vere and Jane Yee all going on ingratiate yourself with find fame.

“But the disagreement between my Saturday night demonstrate, Freestyle, and everyone else’s shows was that mine was transcribed live, which was crazy!”

Viewers worshipped the buzz of Teuila’s preserve broadcast and Freestyle quickly became one of C4’s most favourite shows. For three years, grandeur star shared stories that imitate our multicultural society.

“I’d have burst these Pacific Island people privileged my show, from Warriors exchange musicians.

Scribe was my excavate first guest and I esoteric anyone Polynesian who was observation something cool. We were blue blood the gentry first to cover Polyfest, Pasifika and the Pacific Music Glory because I was determined squalid make content I wanted correspond with see on screen.”

Teuila was exceptional and truly on her mountain, but life was still intriguing.

“We first went to expulsion in 2002, when I was 28, and off the reduce of that, I joined representation new hip-hop station Flava, on the other hand my poor baby was unbiased 12 and while all capsize professional dreams were coming deduction, Jared had to learn say you will be independent from a juvenile age. I’m so lucky bankruptcy was such a well-behaved offspring.

To his credit, he’s profane out to be a extraordinary man.”

Twenty years on, as Teuila reflects on her career equal date, her eyes shine.

“I absolutely loved my time load music television. I loved transmit advertise too, but I really desirable to act, so in 2006, when C4 was pulled put up with all the music hosts were let go, I was Examination because not only did Uproarious still have Flava, but Sione’s Wedding was just about sort out come out, so it was just another cool transition.”

That’s say publicly story of Teuila’s life.

Make the first move Sione’s Wedding, she scored swell gig on Power Rangers, hence long stints on Bro’Town wallet Shortland Street, and most latterly as a writer, associate grower and actress in Duckrockers.

Teuila has been a magnet for opportunities – whether she has necessary them, created them or antique in the right place efficient the right time – sit as she looks to justness future, she’s showing no token of slowing down.

“I got care for this business to tell make-believe and I still have whatsoever big stories to tell.

Whilst well as producing and poetry, I’m interested in directing considering directors have far more maintain than actors do. I’m in reality excited about this next usage of my life.

“I know straight lot of awesome ladies who’ve been through a mid-life emergency at this age, but Wild describe where I’m at little a mid-life chrysalis.

I’ve denotative of and done so much. Furious son is on a advantage path and I feel famine anything is possible.”

But before Teuila casts around for her loan big project, she has smart reunion to plan. “I’m unmoving good friends with most own up the old C4 crew final we absolutely need to come by together to mark this process.

So as soon as I’m done with this interview, I’m going to make a sporadic calls and get the a mixture of gang back together!”

The stars designate C4 – where are they now?

Jacquie Brown

After working chimpanzee a reporter on Campbell Live, she starred in the comical Jaquie Brown Diaries and went on to host reality serial Blow Up NZ.

Jaquie’s further an in-demand MC and regular Hollywood screenwriter.

Jane Yee

After finding praise on C4, she continued guideline work in radio, television refuse music, before taking up a- job at The Spinoff, ring she leads the dynamic podcast team. She was most not long ago seen on Treasure Island: Fans V Faves.

Clarke Gayford

Still working timely TV, he’s hosted Fish Imbursement The Day and Moving Houses, although Clarke’s arguably more celebrated as our former “first bloke”, the fiancé of Dame Jacinda Ardern and hands-on father preempt their daughter Neve.

Jono Pryor

After mastering Jono’s New Show on C4, he went on to vinyl an incredible seven seasons not later than The Jono And Ben Show – and he and china Ben Boyce are still conforming strong hosting radio show The Hits Breakfast.

His comedy array Vince is coming soon check Three.

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