Pictures: Solsbury Hill Studio.
As a child, Manon Blackman spent a lot of time with her mum Therese protesting for animal and human rights. So it wasn’t surprising when the British-born, Auckland-raised Kiwi decided to study law. However, she maintained a passion for acting.
And while law and showbiz may seem like contrasting paths, she believes her legal background has enriched her acting skills, particularly when it comes to her lead role in new film The People We Love.
“A huge part of being a lawyer is understanding things from two sides,” says the 28-year-old. She’s chatting to Woman’s Day in Los Angeles, where she’s now based.
“As an actor, you’re given a character, and have to empathise and understand why they’re making decisions so you can play them. There’s a real link between the two – and law’s a lot more creative than people think!”
Manon’s creative streak developed early. It was evident when she and her British mum moved to Auckland when she was just five years old.
“My first New Zealand memory is in a hotel on Queen Street on Mother’s Day. I didn’t have anyone to help me get a present,” she recalls. “So I found Post-its and stuck notes all over the room!”
Therese had met Manon’s father while the two were studying musical theatre and although she split with him before welcoming Manon, he remained in her life until he got married when she was 11.
Manon inherited her parents’ passion for the arts. At 13, she flew onto the stage at Auckland’s Aotea Centre while portraying Peter Pan.
“I was terrified,” she admits. “But I could hear how excited the audience was. It was such a buzz.”
Roles on Nothing Trivial and 800 Words followed.
Manon says starting young gave her a thick skin for rejection and an appreciation for steady work. Alongside acting, Manon also enjoyed school, so she headed to the University of Otago, where she completed a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts in History.
After post-grad plans to move to LA for acting opportunities were thwarted by Covid, Manon went to Wellington and was working in human rights when the role as lead in The People We Love came up.
Directed by Mike Smith, the film follows her character Maddie, a writer who returns home after a devastating day of rejection and betrayal, only to find further chaos – and ex-flame Tai – awaiting her.
“I loved it was romance-driven,” says Manon. “I’m a rom-com girl and there’s not a lot in New Zealand.”
In a case of life imitating art, Manon was in tears after running into an ex at a New World supermarket when she met her co-star Tāne Rolfe, who plays Tai. It was the perfect icebreaker as he comforted her, then made her laugh. During shooting, they lived together with Neill Rea and Alison Bruce, who play Maddie’s parents, in the same Kāpiti Coast home used in the film.
“We became family – cooking together, having coffees and heading to the pub,” she shares. “Or we’d run lines and the thespians in us would come out. We did one scene in different accents!”
Therese has been Manon’s biggest cheerleader, so it was tough leaving her and her three half-siblings, Margot, 17, Ted, 15, and George, 13, but Manon yearned to travel. So after filming The People We Love, she began globetrotting and fell in love with LA.
She also found romance in the City of Angels – with a Kiwi in the music industry.
“We couldn’t ignore the spark and connection,” smiles Manon. “Every time we saw each other, it was fun and exciting.”
She believes dating someone in the entertainment industry has been a refreshing change.
“His creativity’s something I love about him – and very different from the lawyers I’ve dated!” she muses.
The night before her Woman’s Day interview, Manon had enjoyed a Stereophonics concert – where her “inner Directioner was screaming” when One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson turned up – and the day after, she was Coachella-bound!
It’s all part of the fun in California, where her creative Kiwi pals inspire and motivate her as she continues to pursue acting, while also working on her Masters in climate change mitigation law. They lift her up when she’s missing home and her siblings.
“Margot was just one of the leads in her school musical and it killed me not being there,” she says. “And Ted and George are with [talent agency] Auckland Actors. It’s hard missing their shows, but it’s great we share that passion.
“There’s also just something about New Zealand you don’t fully comprehend until you’re away. When they say, ‘Kia ora,’ on an Air New Zealand flight, it makes me well up!”
The People We Love is in cinemas from Thursday.
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