Alex Tarrant

Alex Tarrant
Born
Alexander Tarrant-Keepa

1990 or 1991 (age 33–34)
Raglan, New Zealand
Education
OccupationActor
Years active2014–present
SpouseLuci Hare
Children1

Alexander Tarrant-Keepa[1] (born 1990/1991),[2] known professionally as Alex Tarrant, is a New Zealand actor. With multiple TV and film credits, he currently portrays Kai Holman in the CBS action crime drama NCIS: Hawaiʻi and Valandil on Amazon Prime's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power fantasy drama.

Early life and education

Tarrant grew up in Raglan, New Zealand.[3] He has Māori, Samoan, and Niuean ancestors.[4] He graduated from Fraser High School in 2008.[2] While at high school, he participated in the New Zealand Shakespeare Globe Centre's national schools production and was then part of the Young Shakespeare Company in 2009.[5]

Tarrant graduated from Toi Whakaari, New Zealand's foremost national drama school, in 2012,[6] having won the Museum Art Hotel Scholarship for his final year.[a] While at Toi Whakaari, Tarrant was diagnosed with dyslexia.[2]

Career

Tarrant appeared in season four of SeaChange,[7] and played Maui in the 2015 BBC series Tatau.[6]

Tarrant appeared in When We Go to War, Filthy Rich, 800 Words,[6] and The Other Side of Heaven 2: Fire of Faith.[7] From 2018 to 2019, he played the despised Dr. Lincoln Kimiora on the New Zealand prime-time soap opera Shortland Street.[8]

He played a rebel leader in the 2021 film, Night Raiders,[9] which was selected for the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival.[10] He is currently filming the Amazon Prime Video's series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.[7] Tarrant also starred in the CBS drama series, NCIS: Hawaiʻi, which premiered in September 2021.[4]

Personal life

Tarrant is married to actress Luci Hare[11] and they have a son.[12]

Filmography

Film
Title Year Role Notes Ref(s)
The Hunt 2019 Joel Short film [13]
The Other Side of Heaven 2: Fire of Faith 2019 Toutai Paletu'a [14]
Night Raiders 2021 Leo [15]
Television
Title Year Role Notes Ref(s)
Common Ground 2014–15 Jacob Williams Main role
Web series
Nothing Trivial 2014 Jake Episode: "Complete This Lyric: Should I Stay or Should I Go?"
Tatau 2015 Maui Vaipiti Main role
Miniseries 		[16]
When We Go to War 2015 Manaaki Kokiri Main role
Miniseries 		[17]
800 Words 2015–18 Ike Recurring role (39 episodes) [18]
Filthy Rich 2016–17 Joe Tamatoa Main role [19]
Shortland Street 2018–19 Lincoln Kimiora 148 episodes [20]
SeaChange 2019 Zac Bell Main role (season 4) [21]
Head High 2020 Joe Episode: Season 1, Episode 5
Mean Mums 2020 Constable Chris Recurring role (season 2: 5 episodes) [22]
Loner 2020 Joel Main role
Web series
Vegas 2021 Arsenio "Joe" Tierney / Arsenio "Joe" Cheyenne Hamilton 6 episodes [23]
NCIS: Hawaiʻi 2021–24 Kai Holman Main role [24]
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power 2022–24 Valandil Recurring role [25]

Notes

  1. ^ The competitive scholarship is funded by the owner of Museum Hotel for students demonstrating excellence at Toi Whakaari.[2]

References

  1. ^ Richens, Matt (27 February 2009). "Review". Waikato Times (Hamilton, New Zealand). p. 3. ProQuest 313359761.
  2. ^ a b c d Risk, Louise (16 November 2011). "Actor triumphs over dyslexia". Waikato Times (Hamilton, New Zealand). p. 3. ProQuest 905988038.
  3. ^ Dunk, Tiffany (28 October 2015). "Alex Tarrant". Herald Sun (Melbourne, Victoria). p. 36. ProQuest 1727440751.
  4. ^ a b Cordero, Rosy (8 July 2021). "'NCIS: Hawai'i': Alex Tarrant to Star, Enver Gjokaj to Recur in CBS Spinoff Series". Deadline. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  5. ^ Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ. "Alex Tarrant (SGCNZ NSSP 2008, SGCNZ YSC 2009)". www.sgcnz.org.nz. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  6. ^ a b c van Beynen, Jack (8 January 2017). "Bad boy role a challenge". Sunday Star-Times (Wellington, New Zealand). p. E.31. ProQuest 1856141781.
  7. ^ a b c Fletcher, Alex (5 July 2021). "Lord of the Rings cast". BT-TV. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  8. ^ Harvey, Kerry (6 May 2019). "Despised Shortland Street doctor Lincoln Kimiora walks away". Stuff. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  9. ^ Grierson, Tim (March 2, 2021). "'Night Raiders': Berlin Review". Screen International. ProQuest 2495421151.
  10. ^ Taylor, Piripi (25 June 2021). "Māori filmmakers' new film in first official selection for Toronto Film Festival". Māori Television. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  11. ^ Wong, Vinney (2021-12-24). "Where Is NCIS: Hawaii Star Alex Tarrant From?". NickiSwift.com. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
  12. ^ Mealing, Fleur (2018-06-24). "800 Words actor Alex Tarrant's biggest blessing: his four month old son Beaumont". Now To Love. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
  13. ^ "Flickerfest 2019 - The Hunt". We are moving stories. 12 January 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  14. ^ Leydon, Joe (28 June 2019). "Film Review: 'The Other Side of Heaven II: Fire of Faith'". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  15. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (11 February 2021). "XYZ Boards World Sales On Sci-Fi 'Night Raiders', Berlin Fest Entry Exec-Produced By Taika Waititi — EFM". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  16. ^ Beynen, Jack van (8 January 2017). "Life's a beach for Alex Tarrant". Stuff. Stuff. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  17. ^ "Alexander Tarrant discusses When We Go To War". Stuff. Stuff. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  18. ^ Dunk, Tiffany (28 October 2015). "Actor Alex Tarrant who plays Ike in 800 Words on his unlikely path into acting". News.com.au. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  19. ^ Harvey, Kerry (24 August 2017). "Filthy Rich's Alex Tarrant on criticism of the drama: 'I have no regrets'". TV Guide. Stuff. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  20. ^ Awarau, Aroha (2 October 2018). "New Shortland Street star Alex Tarrant's baby inspires te reo journey". Stuff. Stuff. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Making another Seachange". Nine.com.au. Nine Digital. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  22. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (3 December 2020). "'The Lord Of the Rings': Lenny Henry, Augustus Prew, Peter Mullan, Cynthia Addai-Robinson & Benjamin Walker Among 20 New Cast Additions On Amazon Series". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  23. ^ "Made in Rotorua: Vegas ready to hit New Zealand screens". The New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Media and Entertainment. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  24. ^ Otterson, Joe (8 July 2021). "'NCIS: Hawai'i' Casts Alex Tarrant, Enver Gjokaj". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  25. ^ Otterson, Joe (3 December 2020). "'Lord of the Rings' Series at Amazon Adds 20 Actors to Cast". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2022.