A major role in one of New Zealand’s most successful movies ever, several years presenting her own live prime time show on music television, a marquee broadcaster on breakfast and drive time radio, and she’s been named one of the country’s most promising playwrights - there’s no doubt that Teuila Blakely is a major talent.
Teuila’s portrayal of Leilani in Sione’s Wedding earned her a best actress nomination at the 2006 New Zealand Screen Awards. As the host of popular live Saturday night show Freestyle for 3 years (she was one of the founding hosts when C4 music television began) with her vivacious and easy-going style Teuila soon become one of the country’s favourite television personalities.
She has also featured for M2 (TVNZ), C4 and Juice Music Television as a specialist celebrity interviewer (both in studio and for the red carpet) and featured as a presenter and special guest for major television productions for TV3.
Teuila had a regular role in the first series of TV3’s hit drama Outrageous Fortune as Savannah and is in the core cast of the award winning hit TV3 comedy bro’Town, playing the sassy Sina Tapili. In 2003, her critically acclaimed play Island Girls which she also starred in, the New Zealand Herald named her one of the country’s brightest young writers.
In addition to working in front of the camera, Teuila’s sexy and husky yet musical tones have carried across the airwaves for many years. She helped launch Auckland hip hop radio station Flava FM as its first drive time host before going on to be a co host on the breakfast show for national Pacific Island network Niu FM and is a sought after voice for commercials on radio and television. She has also hosted several youth talk back shows in her early radio career.
Teuila has a huge fan base that spans a wide demographic which has made her a popular and inspirational engaging speaker. She has extensive hosting experience, having hosted some of the biggest Hip Hop concerts and events, including working with Missy Elliot, Boys to Men and Snoop Dogg, in addition to numerous corporate events, award ceremonies and major youth events around the country.