Almost as soon as Kiwi star Frankie Adams found out she had the chance to star alongside Jason Momoa, her dreams were dashed. Having scored the role of Moana’s mother Sina in the much anticipated, live-action remake of the hit Disney movie meant she would be unavailable to film in Aotearoa with the Hollywood legend.
Luckily, fate intervened and she was able to juggle starring in Jason’s new action-comedy The Wrecking Crew and filming Moana at the same time.
“I manifested it!” grins Frankie, 32.
“I got Moana quickly after I sent off my audition tape, so my team let Jason know I was unavailable. But then suddenly I had a gap in the schedule for Moana and they came back to ask how I was going. I’m very fortunate the teams worked together so I could be in both movies.”
Filming also meant a surprise trip home to Auckland and a chance to connect with family.
“I got to make a lovely call to my mother, saying, ‘Hey, Mum, I’m going to be home for a little bit,’ which she always loves.”
Half-brothers on a mission
Set in Hawai’i, The Wrecking Crew follows half-brothers Jonny (Jason) and James (retired wrestler Dave Bautista) as they try to figure out who killed their dad and why. Frankie plays their fierce, straight-talking niece Nani. As well as Jason, 46, and Dave, 57, the actress says she loved being on set with fellow Shortland Street veteran Temuera Morrison, 65.
She tells, “Tem is one of the most wonderful people to work with. He brings so much levity, lightness and charm. He’s always playing guitar, singing songs, chatting with everyone and making sure everyone feels good. I really like when you work with some of the most incredible actors and they have that. He’s so generous. “And the boys are the same. Jason’s a ball of energy – he’s so passionate and really cares. Dave brings the same care and passion but in a more withdrawn, introverted way.”
Born in Samoa and raised in Auckland as the eldest of three kids, Frankie says she channelled her sister Flo, 26, into her character Nani.
Family first
“My little sister is a very smart, sassy and no-bullshit woman. She’s extremely observant. She’ll see shit from a mile away and can pick up on true character very early on. “The cool thing about the boys being Nani’s cousins is that she could tease them, troll them and really let them have it, which I just love. It’s so relatable. Everyone has people like that in their families.”
After juggling shoots for The Wrecking Crew here and in Hawai’i with trips to Atlanta, Georgia, to film her scenes as Sina in Moana, Frankie enjoyed a classic Kiwi summer.
A classic kiwi summer
She enthuses, “I got to see all three of my nephews and both of my sisters. Mum was happy cooking us Samoan food and playing music.”
Now settling back in Los Angeles, where she’s lived for the past 12 years, Frankie says, “I have a lovely life there. It’s where I go to reset, be in my little house, see my friends and be with my community. It’s very different from the Hollywood stereotype. It only gets crazy once I leave because that’s when I’m working.” With a flourishing acting career, Frankie’s about to go into pre-production for her next film, which “hasn’t been announced yet, but I’m really excited about it”.
Stepping behind the camera
Inspired by indigenous actors who produce their own movies, like Jason, Frankie has also stepped behind the camera, working as an executive producer on the short film Lea Tupu’anga/Mother Tongue, which was considered for an Oscar nomination. She also has other projects in development.
“I’m writing because I’m quite enamoured with the making and creating of the thing, so it was only natural that I started to be a part of it before the camera starts rolling,” she explains.
“I love collaborating with other talented artists, actors and writers to make something out of nothing. “People are finally receptive to brown stories at the moment, so I’m going to be working a lot and trying to get my own stuff out there, while continuing to nurture my friendships and my family. That’s all I can manage right now.”
The Wrecking Crew is now streaming on Prime Video.
