Xavier Horan

Xavier Horan is best known for his Westside role as Phineas O'Driscoll, the largest and slowest of a group of career robbers. Horan was nominated for NZ Screen Awards for two of his earliest acting turns: as a yuppie with no time for family, in Toa Fraser film No. 2, and South Auckland TV drama The Market. Then he co-starred in boy racer series Ride with the Devil. The ex boxer has gone on to play criminals (Shortland Street, a gang leader in Alibi), dads (family film Kiwi Christmas), politicians (The Bad Seed), sportsman Sonny Bill Williams (TV film The Kick), and fighters (te reo movie The Dead Lands, film The Last Saint.) 

As Māori we have so much depth to our culture and they’re going to get a taste of what we have to offer, and I think they’ll enjoy that experience. Our reo is out there and mau rākau is out there … I think when everyone sees it our people will be happy and proud. Xavier Horan on The Dead Lands, in an interview with Mana magazine, 21 August 2014