Pictures: Randy Tran
When you hail from the country that invented bungy jumping, it’s hard to escape being seen as an adrenaline junkie abroad. And while it was a hard no from Luciane Buchanan when her The Night Agent co-star Gabriel Basso suggested bungying the first day they met, she soon caved.
The actress says, “I was like, ‘Ah, that’s not really my thing, but I’ll come watch you.’ Everyone working here was like, ‘Why are you scared? You’re from New Zealand!’ Somehow, he talked me into it.
“We were getting to know each other, asking, ‘Where are you from?’ but the whole time, I was thinking, ‘I’m about to jump off a bridge. I’m not listening.’ He went first, then I refused, so they gave me a little push. It was traumatising!”
Yet it was the perfect icebreaker, sparking a bond that helped build the on-screen chemistry which had viewers rooting for their characters Rose and Peter to get together. The two also helped the show become Netflix’s most watched series following its recent season two premiere.
It’s a dream come true for Luciane, who always wanted to become an actress.
“TV in the ’90s was like our childcare,” laughs the Kiwi-Tongan star. She recalls an idyllic Auckland upbringing, running around barefoot and attending Catholic school. “Parents were like, ‘Sit in front of the TV while we do things!’ I had this quiet pipe dream that I’d become an actress in Hollywood.”
Luciane’s “itch” for drama grew in high school, so she began after-class lessons at The Auckland Performing Arts Centre. At 17, her teacher Fiona Edgar sent Luciane’s acting tapes to an agent and she landed the role of late comedian Billy T James’ daughter Cherie in the biopic Billy.
“My dad dropped me off and said bye, and I was like, ‘Where do I go?’ I was number seven on the call sheet, but I didn’t know what a call sheet was. I was completely green and had to learn on the job.”
While Luciane, 31, went on to study drama, she credits her time on the sets of Billy and Filthy Rich for helping her hone her craft. A starring role on Netflix’s New Legends Of Monkey then helped prepare her for the lead on The Night Agent.
Auditioning online, Luciane was thrilled to land the role of Rose, who’s forced to seek protection from FBI agent Peter after the murder of her aunt and uncle.
However, only days before Luciane’s departure, her grandmother Liueti’s declining health clouded the thrill of heading abroad to live her dreams. She sadly passed after Luciane left.
“I was like, ‘I’m not built for this. I can’t get on a plane and leave my family now’. But they said, ‘She would’ve wanted you to do this’. There were moments where I thought, ‘Should I be doing this?’ or, ‘This better be worth it since I’m missing my grandma’s funeral’. She was so pivotal to everything I do. Of course, the show ended up changing my life, which felt like a blessing from her.”
As she navigated her grief, Luciane found joy and support from Kiwi co-star Simone Kessell, who plays Rose’s aunt.
“She’s a hoot!” she laughs. “She took me under her wing and gave me tips, like making sure I get out and do other things. She’s like family.”
Since relocating to the Big Apple following the show’s success, Luciane has also turned to New York-based Kiwi Keisha Castle-Hughes, star of FBI: Most Wanted.
“She’s like a big sister,” she tells. “We’re on similar shows, so we joke around about that!”
With The Night Agent renewed for season three, Luciane says being on a hit Netflix series has brought more opportunities her way.
Meanwhile, her short film Lea Tupu’anga/Mother Tongue has screened at film festivals around the globe. She also stars opposite Jason Momoa in Chief Of War, an upcoming series exploring Hawaiian history.
“I was a huge fan of Game Of Thrones, so it’s crazy I get to work with him!” She also felt honoured to act alongside Kiwi legends Cliff Curtis and Temuera Morrison, who did “amazing” jobs portraying prominent Hawaiian leaders in the show.
As Luciane continues to experience pinch-me moments on set, she admits she still faces insecurity. The days before starting a new role are full of self-doubt.
“I have to trust they picked me for a reason and run with it,” she explains. “But I’m my own worst enemy, so after each job, I’m like, ‘I can’t act! I’m the worst!’ Thankfully I have amazing hype friends and family.” Adjusting to living alone away from whānau has also been challenging.
“Someone plucked me out of one place and put over here in a Covid lockdown. So, I was spending lots of time on my own and going crazy. I hadn’t ever been away from home that long and I was also grieving.
“But I know it’s all worth it. I love what I do and can’t see myself doing anything else. I’ve gotten better – to the point I’m like, ‘I’m not coming home. I like it here!’”
While she may be far from Aotearoa, the actress says dad Geoff and mum Losi are always in her thoughts. Geoff drove Luciane around all her early auditions after printing piles of scripts and begging teachers to let her out of school early.
“He’s been so supportive,” she enthuses. “And my mum’s the whole reason I love movies. She became obsessed and we loved going to the cinema together. Her work ethic is why I’m a crazy person when it comes to preparation. My parents worked so hard to give me this life and I wouldn’t be here without them.”
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