Joe Naufahu

As Jesse Roberts

Joe Naufahu was a professional rugby player, playing locally and internationally, until a devastating knee injury forced him to reconsider his options. His family suggested he give acting a try and it wasn’t long before he’d scored his first lead role in the popular New Zealand series The Market, a television series considered ground breaking for its time. He went on to gain roles in many television series including Power Rangers, Spartacus, Go Girls, Auckland Daze and the telefeature The Kick. In 2016 Naufahu won his biggest role to date, that of Khal Moro in the sixth season of the juggernaut HBO fantasy TV series Game of Thrones, watched by millions of people around the world. Naufahu has also starred in several movies including awarding-winning Matariki, The Last Saint and the international film starring Scarlett Johansson, Ghost in a Shell. He also runs his own fitness center called Ludus Magnus and is strong advocate for mental health awareness.