Keisha Castle-Hughes quotes #23

“When I was nominated for an Oscar, I didn't know whether or not to be an actor. It was something that I just did,”

Keisha Castle-Hughes "Pic of the Day"

Keisha Castle-Hughes "Pic of the Day"

A nice see-through shot of Keisha Castle-Hughes from a promo photo for the Aroha '17 Film Festival, presented by the Mika Haka

Keisha Castle-Hughes releasing rap song

After hitting the big time in Hollywood over the last few years (Star Wars, Game of Thrones), Keisha Castle-Hughes is making her musical debut. Speaking to Woman’s Day, the Kiwi star revealed she has battled with anxiety, depression and has bipolar tendencies.

One way she has learned to deal with it is by expressing herself though rap poetry. Mental health and suicide are issues she expresses in her debut single In The Morning. It’s a collaboration with her friend and entertainer Mika, which will premiere at the Aroha ’17 Festival of Ideas in Auckland on February 15.

“It’s not a power ballad or a pop song” says Keisha. “It’s more like rap poetry.” The Oscar nominee admits that she has always had a strong passion for music and in particular, hip-hop. The first album she owned when she was just 5 years old was by rap group, NWA. “I’d play it on my record player, which was supposed to be for bedtime stories. I have no idea how I got my hands on it… I’ve been heavily into rap ever since.” Another topic that is raised in her song is sex. “Kiwis are quite prudish when it comes to talking about sex.” “It’s like mental health, really. We need to talk about it more and worry less about what other people think.” We look forward to hearing In The Morning next week.

Keisha Castle-Hughes to star in an X-rated movie

Next Wednesday the Aroha ’17 Film Festival, presented by the Mika Haka Foundation, will open with In the Morning, When the Sun Does Shine, a short film that serves as a prelude to an upcoming feature film from flamboyant artist Mika Haka. The prelude stars Keisha Castle-Hughes and is written and directed by Haka, who also produced it with Castle-Hughes. The film is an erotically charged tale where viewers will see Castle-Hughes like she’s never been seen before.

Shot in the privacy of the Mika Haka Studio in Auckland, it sees Castle-Hughes engaging in a provocative sexual act. The film centres on a sex addict with an unquenchable thirst for adventure, as he attempts to escape from his boring daily existence in corporate life. It s based on a song by Haka called In the Morning. Haka tells us in an interview with Spy: “After many lunches between Auckland and LA, script revisions, lyrics and song trials, Keisha and I came up with this scenario as a first step towards our other goals. “We believe limitations create art. When you have it all, you don’t work the same. Yes, a $10 million budget would have been nice, but not for this first work.

“This short film had to capture the tone, the feel, of what I see in future projects.” When Spy asked Haka about Castle-Hughes taking part in such a sexually charged movie, he said: “I needed a woman who could convey a sexual strength and power. “Her character is not subservient to anyone, she is in charge at all times. The really explicit scenes did not involve her.” Castle-Hughes said in an interview with Spy: “I trust Mika in his sincere approach and reasoning to the sexual content in the film.”