Comedy sensation Sieni Tiana Leo’o Olo, better known as Bubbah, is the one to watch on Celebrity Treasure Island – and not just for her quick wit and hilarious banter.
Holding a secret, advantageous scroll and having made an alliance with actor JP Foliaki, the humble Samoan-Kiwi star might just have a chance at winning – which might come as a surprise to some, but not to Bubbah.
“People have always under-estimated me,” the 28-year-old says. “Right off the bat, with my name and my energy, I’m easy to underestimate. But what they don’t know is that when I set my mind to something, I just do it.”
In fact, that’s how she got into acting. Known for her character “Tina from Turners” in the car ads, Bubbah has also starred in shows like Sis, Duckrockers and Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont-Spelling Bee, and she even had her arm tattooed to win five points on Taskmasker NZ.
“Reality shows are really real,” she laughs.
As much as her family has supported her throughout her career, Bubbah reveals that even they underestimated just how far she could go with this acting gig.
“When I told my family I wanted to be an actor, it was a little tough on them in the early stages because actors typically don’t make money!” she explains. “Being from a big Samoan family, if you’re not making money, you’re not pulling your weight. They were basically housing and feeding me for free, and I was like, ‘Damn, I need to chuck this in.’ But I just had to attempt it.”
Against everyone’s will, Bubbah continued to make a go of it, knowing they’d see what she saw eventually.
“I was failing but I loved the failure,” she tells. “I learned from every single one and how to play my cards, and I just kept trying. One day, I decided to do a backyard show at home. We had to close off the streets because so many people showed up. That’s when my family saw the magic in it.
“They saw it was my passion and though I wasn’t making any money at that time, they could see how it could get better. They always knew it wasn’t about money for me, which is probably what made them so worried.
“But they were also worried about me and my life, like who I was going to be. That comedy show was a really great thing to say, ‘This is me, guys. This is it.’ And look at me now – I’m on Celebrity Treasure Island!”
Growing up, Bubbah loved performing. However, it took her a while to come out of her shell and share her hobby.
“I loved playing characters,” she says. “So many times, family members walked in on me lip-syncing in my room, but not in a funny way. It always felt like I had been cheated on, like I’d be on the ground, crying from embarrassment.”
Her favourite impressions were of Jennifer Hudson and Whitney Houston, and she had a soft spot for writing too.
“I still want to step into making my own stories,” she admits. “I love being a part of making stories, but I’d like to take the reins and be the creative behind those projects.”
As for whether she would keep going by her childhood nickname Bubbah, the comedian insists she can’t remember ever being called anything else.
“I was the first grandbaby and the first baby in the house. All the adults would just call me Bubbah,” she explains. “I was always spoiled at home. I was everyone’s bubba. That shaped who I am.”
These days, however, she often gets called Tina, thanks to the Turners ads that have become bigger than anyone ever imagined and essentially made her the face of the car dealership.
“It’s lovely,” she smiles. “People love Tina and I get a lot of love because of her. But every now and then, some dude will come up to me and be like, ‘I absolutely hate the ads,’ like they really need me to know. I just congratulate them and move on.”
Bubbah’s career is only just beginning. The single star has a writing internship on Shortland Street lined up – “I haven’t started because I keep getting jobs!” she laughs – and more starring roles on the way.
But for now, she’s just concentrating on taking out the top prize on Celebrity Treasure Island. Her greatest weapon? “My killer attitude,” she grins.
Celebrity Treasure Island screens 7.30pm Monday to Wednesday on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
