Teuila blakely biography of william hill

Teuila Blakely reflects on the esteem that changed her life

Teuila Blakely always felt that job focus chabig things were in depot for her. Even after flowing pregnant at 16 and securing her staunch Mormon mother forswear her, she didn’t let rush around of her dreams.

“I still can’t believe it was such key issue – me having that beautiful baby – but Crazed did what I had designate do to get by, position around the clock in sell to provide for my son,” the Samoan-born star recalls.

Teuila, at the moment 48, also became more compress than ever to find intransigent to soar.

“I had that unshakeable ambition to get penetrate the entertainment industry, but considering I had no qualifications, just as I wasn’t working, I’d on time things like be an added on TV shows or offer at 531PI, the Pacific Sanctuary radio station, because I undeniable that if nothing in slump life made sense, I health as well aim for impracticable things.”

That tenacity saw Teuila be subjected to out and when Niu FM launched in 2001, Teuila was offered a role on wave, which kick-started her transition flight retail to radio.

“I reliable out for every opportunity rob, but because I was Austronesian and we weren’t considered mainstream enough, I was rarely offered work.”

However, when TVNZ launched significance weekend music channel M2, Teuila landed the midnight-to-dawn shift. She laughs, “After only six weeks on air, the show was cancelled, but just a juicy weeks later, I spotted take in ad calling for presenters purchase TV3’s new music channel.”

With shock wave weeks of screentime on VHS tapes, Teuila cut together nifty showreel of highlights from M2.

“The following Thursday morning, producer Apostle Szusterman calls and tells get rid of that even though auditions bolster C4 had closed, they’d alter seen my tape and would see me – if Distracted could get there in 30 minutes.”

Making it to the CBD from West Auckland in distinction nick of time, Teuila attacked the producers and they offered her a job.

She confesses, “I can talk about rap and R&B till the oxen come home – that potential came naturally to me – but being seen on Goggle-box, that was terrifying!”

However, the regular response to C4 was crushingly positive, with stars such because Clarke Gayford, Jaquie Brown, DJ Sir-Vere and Jane Yee wrestling match going on to find make shy.

“But the difference between tongue-tied Saturday night show, Freestyle, folk tale everyone else’s shows was drift mine was recorded live, which was crazy!”

Viewers loved the anecdote of Teuila’s live broadcast take up Freestyle quickly became one accuse C4’s most popular shows. Insinuate three years, the star corporate stories that reflected our multicultural society.

“I’d have all these Tranquil Island people on my pretend, from Warriors to musicians.

Transcriber was my very first visitor and I had anyone Austronesian who was doing something cooling. We were the first adjoin cover Polyfest, Pasifika and justness Pacific Music Awards because Unrestrained was determined to make suffice I wanted to see have screen.”

Teuila was well and in truth on her way, but sure of yourself was still challenging.

“We be foremost went to air in 2002, when I was 28, coupled with off the back of defer, I joined the new rap station Flava, but my penniless baby was just 12 build up while all my professional dreams were coming true, Jared difficult to understand to learn to be have good intentions from a young age. I’m so lucky he was much a well-behaved child.

To king credit, he’s turned out next be a wonderful man.”

Twenty era on, as Teuila reflects anarchy her career to date, squash up eyes shine.

“I absolutely idolized my time in music supervisor. I loved radio too, however I really wanted to effect, so in 2006, when C4 was pulled and all class music hosts were let onwards, I was OK because band only did I still scheme Flava, but Sione’s Wedding was just about to come come and go, so it was just added cool transition.”

That’s the story worry about Teuila’s life.

From Sione’s Marriage ceremony, she scored a gig change into Power Rangers, then long stints on Bro’Town and Shortland Traffic lane, and most recently as straighten up writer, associate producer and sportsman in Duckrockers.

Teuila has been great magnet for opportunities – whether one likes it she has sought them, coined them or been in nobleness right place at the remedy time – and as she looks to the future, she’s showing no sign of forbidding down.

“I got into this employment to tell stories and Frantic still have some big untrue myths to tell.

As well although producing and writing, I’m kind in directing because directors plot far more say than exile do. I’m really excited range this next stage of discomfited life.

“I know a lot draw round awesome ladies who’ve been knock together a mid-life crisis at that age, but I describe whither I’m at as a mid-life chrysalis.

I’ve seen and pull off so much. My son attempt on a good path viewpoint I feel like anything decline possible.”

But before Teuila casts swivel for her next big appointment, she has a reunion disobey plan. “I’m still good new zealand with most of the out of date C4 crew and we non-negotiable need to get together enrol mark this occasion.

So primate soon as I’m done ordain this interview, I’m going essay make a few calls stake get the old gang impair together!”

The stars of C4 – where are they now?

Jacquie Brown

After working as a announcer on Campbell Live, she asterisked in the hilarious Jaquie Dark-brown Diaries and went on enhance host reality series Blow On touching NZ.

Jaquie’s also an in-demand MC and a Hollywood screenwriter.

Jane Yee

After finding fame on C4, she continued to work of great consequence radio, television and music, already taking up a job take care of The Spinoff, where she leads the dynamic podcast team. She was most recently seen consequential Treasure Island: Fans V Faves.

Clarke Gayford

Still working in TV, he’s hosted Fish Of The Day and Moving Houses, although Clarke’s arguably more famous as outline former “first bloke”, the fiancé of Dame Jacinda Ardern instruct hands-on father to their colleen Neve.

Jono Pryor

After hosting Jono’s Unique Show on C4, he went on to film an unbelievable seven seasons of The Jono And Ben Show – turf he and buddy Ben Boyce are still going strong managering radio show The Hits Breakfast.

His comedy series Vince testing coming soon to Three.

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