“I’m sure all actors have trouble. The guy who always plays the funny guy, he wants to be taken seriously. And there’s the action guy who wants to do serious stuff. Everyone’s grass is greener.”

I’m one of those freaky people that actually reads books.

After ‘Game of Thrones,’ having a character like that, that’s like the pinnacle of your career.

I grew up with a single mother, and I wasn’t out shooting too many guns.

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.

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.

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