Stacey Leilua

Bio

New Zealand based actor Stacey Leilua is of Samoan, Māori and English heritage.  A graduate of the UNITEC School of Performing and Screen Arts, she has also had a range of experiences in Writing, Directing and Producing over her career in the Performing Arts.  She was previously one of the Directors of South Auckland based Theatre Company Kila Kokonut Krew and has also acted independently on numerous Pasifika Theatre and Screen works. Stacey is part of the ensemble casts of Tusiata Avia’s acclaimed theatre works Wild Dogs Under My Skirt and The Savage Coloniser Show (both directed by Anapela Polata’ivao), which continue to tour nationally and internationally. The former won Production of the Year at the 2018 Wellington Theatre Awards, and toured to New York in 2020 for a season at the Soho Playhouse, winning the Fringe Encore Series Competition. 

Stacey's breakout screen role came as Ata Johnson in the NBC Universal production Young Rock, playing the inspirational and fearless Mother of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.  Her performance in the show's first season earned her a Hollywood Critics Association Award nomination for Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series (Comedy). The show ran for three seasons (wrapping in 2023) and was received well by fans across the globe.