Author(s): Frank Edwards

NZ Biography & Memoir

An honest and humorous first-hand account of what it takes to be a creative in Aotearoa: being versatile, working hard, making connections and hoping the small opportunities turn into bigger ones.

Frank Edwards has one of those faces Kiwis recognise. A working actor and writer for over fifty years, he’s been part of projects like blockbuster movies King Kong and The Lord of the Rings, iconic TV shows Close to Home and Shortland Street, and notable New Zealand plays Foreskin’s Lament and The Learner’s Stand.

With a cast of supporting characters including Michael J Fox, Bruno Lawrence, Michele Amas and Kate Winslet, Bit Part Actor is the story of a man plying his trade to earn a living and raise a family – working in roles both satisfying and frustrating and always looking out for the next project.

Frank’s story is another take on some of this country’s key onscreen and onstage moments. It’s also
an honest and humorous first-hand account of what it takes to be a creative in Aotearoa: being versatile, working hard, making connections and hoping the small opportunities turn into bigger ones. And then there’s the importance of an actor’s craft: delivering a line with the right inflection and timing – no matter how short – and staying focused, even if you’re slightly out of shot.