North Country

Auckland rolls out the red carpet for 'North Country'
27.01.06
Local actors, musicians and television celebrities will join actress Charlize Theron today at New Zealand's second red carpet film premiere within a week. Theron is in Auckland for the local premiere of North Country, the first feature for New Zealand director Niki Caro since her internationally successful hit Whale Rider. She flew into Auckland with Caro yesterday afternoon for a fleeting promotional visit. Caro will also attend the premiere of the United States-made film, which has received glowing praise overseas and garnered several award nominations for its actors. Prime Minister Helen Clark, fresh from attending Tuesday's premiere of River Queen in Wanganui, is among the most prominent New Zealand names attending tonight's event at Auckland's Aotea Square. Local celebrities attending the premiere include rapper Scribe, writer Oscar Kightley, former sportsmen Matthew Ridge and Murray Mexted, and television personalities including Petra Bagust, Robyn Malcolm, Lana Koc-Croft and Kate Hawkesby. Several people connected with Whale Rider will also attend, including writer Witi Ihimaera and actors Cliff Curtis and Keisha Castle-Hughes. In addition, three New Zealanders who had key roles in making North Country will be there: editor David Coulson, first assistant director Liz Tan and makeup designer Denise Kum. Theron, a South African who won a Best Actress Oscar in 2004 for her portrayal of a serial killer in Monster, was also nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in North Country. She plays Josey Aimes, a single mother working in a US iron mine who leads a sexual harassment lawsuit against male co-workers angry that women are taking on jobs traditionally held by men. The film also earned a supporting actress Golden Globe nomination for Frances McDormand, an Oscar winner for her role in Fargo. Theron and McDormand are considered contenders to earn Oscar nominations for their work in North Country. Roadshow Film Distributors New Zealand general manager Lisa Hubbard said the red carpet event in Aotea Square will begin about 6pm, with Theron and Caro expected to arrive about 6.30pm. "Wellingtonians have often had the opportunity to attend such premieres through the fabulous work of Peter Jackson. Now it's time for Auckland to show the world some of the very best in Kiwi hospitality and welcome our guests at the end of their international tour," Hubbard said. North Country will open in New Zealand theatres on Thursday.