The debate around ageism in Hollywood and the double standards between female and male actors – where women are often fighting to be cast in major roles after they turn 40 – has been an issue since the birth of cinema. But Māori actress Simone Kessell seems to be breaking the mould and defying the odds.
At 47, and with a long career in international and local acting roles, Simone is hitting her stride after being cast in two major TV roles on huge international productions.
She’s currently in Canada filming the second season of TV series Yellowjackets, which has gripped audiences worldwide and has received seven Emmy nominations. Most significantly, she nabbed the role of Breha Organa, the adoptive mother of iconic Star Wars character Princess Leia in the Disney series Obi Wan Kenobi. It’s a role that has introduced her to millions of Star Wars fans and has catapulted her rising star into the entertainment stratosphere.
“The franchise is like a religion to many people. To be honest, going into this, I didn’t know a. My geeky teenage son had to fill me in pretty quickly, and one weekend, he made me watch all of the movies and taught me who everyone was,” she admits.
