01-05-2025
"Yellowjackets" Star Simone Kessell Spoke About Pacific Islander Representation In The Industry: "I Know How Hard It Is Being A Māori Woman To Be Seen And Heard"
Brooke Greenberg / BuzzFeed
BuzzFeed proudly presents Voices of the Pacific — a month-long interview series celebrating Pacific Islanders who've made profound contributions to pop culture. This project purposefully combats the erasure that PIs face every May during APAHM and highlights these talented individuals's careers, cultures, and stories.
So grab a snack, settle in, and read about your faves, new and old!
1. Simone Kessell
Maya Dehlin Spach / FilmMagic / Getty Images
Simone Kessell is a Māori actor best known for Yellowjackets and Obi-Wan Kenobi. She stars in the highly anticipated Apple TV+ show, The Final Frontier.
In Simone's own words: " It shouldn't be: 'Oh, well, no, she's Māori, so she can't play that role.' It should be: 'She's a woman in that age group; let's see what she brings to the table.'"
