Michael Hurst

Actor and director Michael Hurst is a Kiwi creative institution. Even leaving aside his work as a director and stage actor, Hurst's screen resume runs to 50 roles and counting: including playing everyone from painter Toulouse-Lautrec, to Hercules's sidekick Iolaus, to politician Rodney Hide. 

Hurst himself is stunning. This is an actor of total integrity, extraordinary adaptability, controlled skill and commitment. He muscles through two and a half hours that would exhaust a prize fighter and still finds the reserves for the subtleties. Listener review of play The Holy Sinner, 8 October 1990