Villa Junior Lemanu Actor Profile

Profile

Ethnicity

Samoan

Location

Auckland, New Zealand

Height

173 cm

Age Range

23–30

Career Highlights

Villa is a Samoan-New Zealand actor who has appeared in a number of notable New Zealand screen and stage productions. His performance as a young boy living with OCD in the acclaimed short film My Friend Michael Jones earned him a Best Actor Award in 2017. More recently Villa starred in television series - Panthers. He has appeared in feature films Born to Dance, The Other Side of Heaven 2: Fire of Faith, and The Legend of Baron To’a. His stage credits include The Wholehearted and Rosalina.

Awards.

2022Toi Whakaari Best Actor Award - Show Me Shorts
2018Toi Whakaari Best Actor - Show Me Shorts Film Festival - My Friend Michael Jones

Short Film.

2021The Uniform - Cook Ngā PouwhenuaBernard (Lead)Te Kotukutuku Limited
Dir. Miki Magasiva and Mario Gaoa
2017My Friend Michael Jones Lead Role - M.JRun Charlie Films
Dir. Eldon Booth, Ian Leaupepe, Alex Lovell and Samson Rambo

Feature Film.

2019The Legend of Baron To'aHux (Support)Dir. Kiel McNaughton
2018The Other Side of Heaven 2NukuDir. Mitch Davis
2016Saved - CapstoneCore RoleManukau Institute of Technology
Dir. DeAna Lao
2014Born To DanceDancer - Neon Faction Crew (Guest)Dir. Tammy Davis

Television.

2023MadamMartin (Guest)Dir. Kacie Anning, Madeleine Sami, Peter Salmon
2022DuckrockersTroy (Supporting)Dir. Oscar Kightley & Sima Urale
2022Far North Louie (Supporting )Dir. David White
2022Inky Pinky PonkyLeo
2020PanthersFoof (Core Cast)TVNZ
Dir. by Miki Magasiva, Vea Mafileo & Tom Hern

Theatre.

2019RosalinaBrother (Support)Dir. Troy Tuua
2017The Wholehearted - National TourMassive Theatre Company
Dir. Sam Scott and Scotty Cotter
2016The WholeheartedMassive Theatre Company
Dir. Sam Scott and Scotty Cotter
2015The Lollywitch of Mumuland ChorusAuckland Theatre Company
Dir. Troy Tuua and Alison Quigan
2013Home, Land and SeaLIMA Productions
Dir. Olivia Taouma

Voice.

2021SharkdogAleki (supporting) (Voice Actor)Nickelodeon

Training.

Massive Theatre Company - 2015, Sam Scott
The University of Auckland - 2015, Ralph Buck