Keisha Castle-Hughes

format_quote (on being interviewed during Oscar time) "For four weeks straight I didn't know what I was doing. It was like I had this little tape in my head and I'd sit there and they all would ask the exact same thing and I'd hit play and I'd be like, 'Blah blah ... ' in this monotone and they'd be like, 'Are you OK, dear?"'

stars  Has been learning Maori dances since she was 6.

stars  Shares the role of Mary, Jesus' mother, with Pernilla August. She and August have also both appeared in the Star Wars prequels.

stars  During an interview with Jay Leno, she confessed she didn't know how to swim when she was cast in Whale Rider (2002).

stars  Has three younger brothers, Rhys (born February 21, 1992), Liam (born 1996), and Quade (born July 2006), and a little sister Maddisyn (born 2001).

stars  She often used to compete in and win speech competitions at school.