“The reason why I wanted to direct is because there are personal stories that I want to tell, but also because I love every part of movie making – from the wardrobe to the set decoration to cinematography.”

As far as getting work, no one thought I spoke English. It was absolutely ridiculous. I’d show up at a meeting and they’d be like, ‘Oh my God, you speak English! That’s so cool.’ They didn’t really know what to do with me.

There is a lot of pretty horrific stuff that happens, and I don’t usually get those kinds of characters who get to go to those places.

When I got ‘Stargate: Atlantis,’ I said, ‘Man, I’d love to be on HBO.’

Morning is when I do all my best work.

When I found out more about the Maori culture, I fell in love with it, and with the people, too.

I’m a huge art buff.

I’m not the king in my own house. I have to wash the dishes and take out the trash and say, ‘Yes, baby.’ I’m 6-foot-5, but I kind of walk around hunched over.

I’m an early riser. I work out really hard. I push myself; I get my job done, and at the end of the day, there’s a Guinness waiting for me.

Swimming can be boring. To me, it’s like going on a treadmill.

I’m a strong alpha male but sensitive.

I’ve got kids, goats. My wife always wanted a donkey, so I bought her one.

I’m half Hawaiian and the haka is a very sacred thing, something your family teaches you – my father taught me.

I was a snowboard bum and a climbing bum.

I was raised by a strong single mother.

That’s one of the great things about being an actor. You get to learn all these things normal people don’t get to learn.

I always loved samurai movies, and I wanted to incorporate that whole level of elegance and just the code of the samurai to ‘Conan.’