Jesme Fa'auuga is a New Zealand-born Samoan actor from Māngere in Tāmaki Makaurau. He started his acting career working with Massive Theatre Company in 2014 and has continued to hone his craft, graduating from The Actor's Program in 2023. Since then Jesme has appeared in the Auckland Theatre Company's O le Pepelo, le Gaoi, ma le Pala'ai (2024) and Romeo & Juliet (2025).
Here is Jesme's Shameless Plug.
My biggest inspirations are my kids. I started pursuing an acting career after finding out my now-wife, then-gf was pregnant with our baby girl. Fresh out of uni with a degree and no desire to pursue what I had studied, I needed something to do for the rest of my life that I knew I could get out of bed for and not complain. Acting was that for me. I used to act in church and primary school growing up, but I never saw it as a viable career until we were faced with two options at the time of finding out about the pregnancy: earn a stable income and drag your feet to do something you don't care about, or take a shot at this thing and maybe change my family's life. At present, I can say that we aren't quite living lavish just yet, but I've learnt more from my losses than my wins and I'm so grateful for that. I owe any remnants of an acting career I have to my kids.
My personal motto is: if it scares me, I must do it. Life lately has truly been a leap of faith. Sometimes you just gotta jump first and think later. I've found a lot of freedom on the other side of fear.
My favourite tv show is anything Jon Bernthal is in. Let me tell you somethin'...That boy cold.
The best advice I've received is uncle Denzel Washington saying something about “not playing that precious nonsense” when it comes to making movies. “Relax. It's just a movie”. Technically I didn't receive this advice, but it was a discussion made public on YouTube so I'd like to think it was intended to be received by all. I needed to hear that. This is how I approach the work now. I used to take myself way too seriously and ended up siphoning the joy out of acting. It's a privilege to do what we do and a part of me lost sight of that. Through my faith, I've found peace in the things I can't control and the importance of having things in life outside of acting. Acting isn't a lifeline, it's just something I choose to do. And that's all it needs to be.
My hottest career hack is to have fun. The moment you start losing the joy, recalibrate. Keep that childlike wonder alive. We're just some big kids playing make believe after all. There's no perfect way to tell a story. Your way is just one of over eight billion. So enjoy and have fun.
My guilty pleasure is a Suntory Boss Iced Double Espresso, the blue can. #1 in Japan & #1 in my heart.
The most recent moment I knew I wanted to be an artist I can remember is back in 2014 when I had just decided to pursue acting professionally. Saw Ryan Coogler's first feature-length film, Fruitvale Station. “I got a daughter…” That scene shattered me. The fact that this one scene invoked rage within me and broke my heart at the same time, man... I knew this is what I wanted to do. To affect others the same way that scene affected me. Been trying to earn those moments ever since.
My most embarrassing career moment was in 2015, I had a small role for a 48 Hour Film fest project. I played a dead guy. I was so tired I ended up sleeping through the whole scene. Woke up to the crew eating lunch. Nobody woke me up. They must've thought I was going method or something. I was both hungry and well-rested that day.
My shameless plug is a play I’m in that's starting this week – Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge. The show runs from 9 April – 3 May at Q Theatre, so get your tickets if you haven't already!
