Perhaps the most well known of all of the kiwi actors, Martin Henderson has starred in Hollywood blockbusters, The Ring, The Ring Two, Flyboys and war film Windtalkers. He also made a saucy cameo appearance in the Britney Spears music video Toxic. Henderson kick started his career with humble beginnings on New Zealand longest running soap Shortland Street.

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Temuera Morrison

The Shortland Street then heart throb Temuera Morrison made his big screen debut in 1994 in Alan Duff’s Once Were Warriors, where he played Jake Heke in the tale of life growing up in a Maori family in South Auckland. He is perhaps most well known for his blockbuster role as Jango Fett, the head of the Clone Troopers in the Star Wars prequels. As well as Star Wars he has had roles in vampire flick, From Dusk Till Dawn 3, Speed 2 and Vertical Limit.

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Cliff Curtis

Rotorua born Cliff Curtis has gained a great reputation in Hollywood circles for being able to play all sorts of ethnicities thanks to his Maori ancestry coupled with some excellent acting skills. He acted alongside Temuera Morrison in Once Were Warriors played Jakes brother Uncle Bully in a controversial role. His big break came in Hollywood film The Piano directed by Jane Campion and then in Witi Ihimaera’s The Whale Rider. He has also featured in cinema money makers such as drug tale Blow, Training Day and 10,000 BC.

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Anna Paquin

Paquin was sprung from obscurity to win an Oscar for best supporting actress as an 11 year old for her role in The Piano. Although Canadian born, Paquin has lived in New Zealand since 1991 and claims to be a New Zealander. Paquins mother is Wellington born and bred. Most recently Anna Paquin can be seen in the X-Men movies playing the character known as Rogue.

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Rhys Darby

Relatively new to the Hollywood scene is comedian Rhys Darby who is most well known as the hapless Flight of the Conchords manager Murray. He has recently branched out into movies landing a role alongside Jim Carrey in the blockbuster Yes Man.

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Melanie Lynskey

Lynskey started her career acting alongside Kate Winslet in Peter Jackson’s low budget film Heavenly Creatures in 1994. She then moved on to play roles in big budget films including Coyote Ugly and opposite Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama. She is perhaps most well known for playing the part of Rose in television sitcom Two and a Half Men with Charlie Sheen.

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Karl Urban

Urban, born and raised in Wellington, can be seen playing Eomer in The Lord of the Rings and in horror flick Ghost Ship. Perhaps his best roles were as Kirill in blockbuster The Bourne Supremacy starring Matt Damon and in the comic book adaptation The Chronicles of Riddick. Look out for him in the movie version of Star Trek in 2009.

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Lucy Lawless

Xena: Warrior Princess star Lawless, first burst on to the scene in the Hercules television sitcom as Xena before getting her own show. She then had a cameo in the X-Files television sitcom before Hollywood flops including Boogymen in 2005 and Vampire Bats the same year. She also played a role in the movie Curb Your Enthusiasm. She was recently a participant in singing competition Celebrity Duets where she was runner up.

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More film articles by RJ Chamberlain:

Scum Dog Billionaire: Slumdog Millionaire

Film Trailers: You ve Heard the Voice, Now Meet the Man

Top 10 Horror Movie Psychos

Film: The Top 10 Money Making Movies of All Time

The Most Hilarious Quotes From Channel 4 s Favourite News Anchor

Pulp Fiction: What in the World is in That Briefcase?