Erana James (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Waikato Tainui) has been on Ensemble’s radar for some time now. The actor, who made her big screen debut alongside Melanie Lynskey in Miranda Harcourt and Stuart McKenzie’s The Changeling before blowing up internationally in The Wilds, stars in We Were Dangerous which won the Special Jury Prize at SXSW where it premiered earlier this year. 

The film, a 1950s period piece about a trio of delinquent schoolgirls railing against colonialism, has been generating much buzz and selling out limited screenings at Whānau Mārama NZ International Film Festival.

Ensemble is proud to be partnering with Letterboxd on exclusive previews of We Were Dangerous in Pōneke Wellington on August 19 and Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland on August 20. These advance screenings have the privilege of hosting director Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu and stars including Erana, in an Ensemble-hosted Q&A session following the film. We have discount codes available for Ensemble readers wanting to attend (keep scrolling for details).

We’ve long been fans of Erana for her effortless combination of fashion girlie, intrepid adventurer (see: her Vogue diary from Japan as a guest of Chanel) and proud wāhine Māori. So it was a pleasure to connect with her again nearly two years after we met, to hear about the last time she laughed, cried, raged and more.

Currently based in Naam Melbourne, Erana answered our burning questions from Thailand before flying home to Aotearoa to hit the promo circuit - and appear at our screenings!

When was the last time you cried?

I haven’t cried that much recently normally. I cry heaps but probably on the phone to my friends at home.

When was the last time you danced, and what were you dancing to?

The other day, to the Wonky Donkey with my friend Nic and baby Fox.

What was the last thing you bought and loved?

Tickets to South Korea. 

When was the last time you got really angry and what was it about?

I get angry all the time. Probably at someone not doing something that I wanted them to do in my head.

What’s the last piece of clothing you bought?

Some sick hand-dyed pants from a Thai designer in Chiang Mai.

What’s the last beauty product you finished?

My deodorant. Every time I say I’m going to buy natural and I never do.

When’s the last time you got drunk? 

Two days ago I had three Negronis with my friend Lily and my head hurt when I woke up.

What was the last really delicious thing you ate?

Everything in Thailand, everyday everywhere. Specifically these charcoal pan fried crispy pork noodles by the canal in Bangkok. My friend Jonathan also made this beef dish with cooked and raw onion – you eat with your hands and get all the bits in one bite at a time; it was crazy.

‍The last song you listened to on Spotify?

Eyes of My Mind by Axel Boman.

The last book you finished?

Homesick for a New World by Ottessa Moshfegh, which honestly I do not recommend reading while you are homesick. Now I’m reading Peter Pan which doesn’t help either. 

‍‍The last TV show you watched?

This Korean reality show The Devil’s Plan.

The last DM/text you sent? Who was it to?

“Ok sweet I’ll cancel it” because my friend didn’t want to take my dentist appointment.

What’s the last fight you had?

Lots of fake fights all the time inside my mind but none out loud. 

What’s the last drug you took? 

Some pain meds – I got an ear infection from doing too many bombs in the pool.

When’s the last time you were home?

January.

​​Ensemble and Letterboxd are proud to present advance screenings of We Were Dangerous in Wellington and Auckland.

Monday August 19, 6.30pm at the Roxy Cinema in Pōneke Wellington.

Film concludes with a Q&A with director Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu and stars Erana James, Nathalie Morris and Manaia Hall,  hosted by Glenn McConnell.

Tickets are $30, or $25 if you select ‘Ensemble Member’ at checkout. Click here to purchase.

Tuesday August 20, 6.30pm at the Hollywood Avondale in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

Film concludes with a Q&A with director Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu and stars Rima Te Wiata, Erana James, Nathalie Morris and Manaia Hall, hosted by Georgie Wright.

Tickets are $28 or $22 if you enter the code wwdENSEMBLE at checkout. Click here to purchase.

We Were Dangerous is out on general release from August 22.