She’s one of New Zealand music’s biggest stars, but in her new hometown of Los Angeles, Kiwi pop sensation Benee is a small fish in a big pond – and she loves it!
“I was at a Cochella after-party the other day and all of a sudden, I see Justin Bieber, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky going up to the DJ,” grins the Auckland-born Supalonely singer, 24. “I was like, ‘This is not for real! Surely this is a simulation?!’ It was so silly.”
But Benee herself can cause a big buzz in the US. She says, “In New Zealand, fans are so mellow about it. But the first time I was recognised in LA, I was at a bus stop. This guy came up to me, screaming, ‘Benee? Is that Benee?!’ I was like, ‘F**k, yeah, I love it here!’”
Benee has just toured Australia with the “really lovely” Olivia Rodrigo. She says, “It was an awesome tour – short and sweet.”
And now she’s back in Aotearoa to launch her movie Head South, a local drama set in the post-punk music scene of 1970s Christchurch, in which she plays a young pharmacy worker with serious guitar skills, alongside Lord Of The Rings actor Marton Csokas and Shortland Street’s Roxie Mohebbi.
Benee was born Stella Bennett, as she’s credited in the film. She feels amazed she didn’t have to audition for the role. Kiwi director Jonathan Ogilvie told her, “I’ve watched your music videos. I trust you.”
Speaking to Woman’s Day at an Auckland screening – which she attended with her boyfriend Keith Herron, founder of fashion brand Advisry – the effortlessly cool star laughs that she was “completely flattered” as she’d “always wanted to act”.
Benee adds, “My mum tried to get me in voiceovers and auditions when I was a kid. I was in a Spark ad for two seconds and I was in a play once. But it was still scary because I just wanted to do a good job.
“I was out of my comfort zone, but I could relate to the character starting a band with friends. The nerves of that first performance and how you grow in confidence. Some people in the cast did music and some didn’t, but we all came together and just rocked out.”
Asked if we’ll soon see her take Hollywood by storm, Benee laughs,
“Oh, you know it! I’d love to, if they want me. I want to be in horror movies. Everyone always says I remind them of The Grudge!”
Head South is in cinemas now.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
