Benjamin Mitchell
Shortland Street has a distinguished reputation for picking
young new talent and when Benjamin Mitchell arrived on the scene it
was no exception.
After working as a personal trainer, Benjamin had already made a
name for himself as a winner of Mr New Zealand in 1999.
In 2000 he packed up his things and made the trip up the motorway
from Hamilton to Auckland.
Benjamin soon realised after making movies with friends in his new
Auckland flat that acting was where his passion lay.
He promptly hired an agent, in search of acting roles.
Benjamin's first television part came as a reporter on Shortland
Street in 2000 and was followed by roles in The Strip, Power
Rangers, Interrogation and Outrageous Fortune.
At the end of 2005 Benjamin joined the cast of
Shortland
Street to play handsome young doctor TK Samuels.
Now Benjamin is one Shortland Street's most recognisable
faces.
His performances as TK have gained him great popularity throughout
New Zealand, especially with female viewers.
Benjamin views Shortland Street as the ideal training ground and
enjoys every day as it comes.
As well as maintaining a full time job on Shortland Street Benjamin
has taken time out from his busy shooting schedule to do some work
in the New Zealand film industry.
In 2007 Benjamin starred alongside famous Bollywood actress Celina
Jaitley in Love Has No Language, which was released at the end of
2008.
Benjamin also featured in The Shoe Box, a short film drama
produced in Wellington, which was released in February 2009 on the
Rialto Channel.
He has also had roles in several New Zealand feature films, such as
The
Devil's Run, I'm not Harry Jenson and 2011's Curry
Munchers.
In early 2009 Benjamin was in the running as 'Sexiest Male' in the
TV Guide's Best on the Box Awards.
Benjamin does modelling work for New Zealand fashion label Elusiv, taking part in New Zealand Fashion Week 2007 and more recently at Dunedin Fashion Week in March 2009.
Like many of his cast mates, Benjamin enjoys staying fit in his
spare time and frequents the gym.
He has a passion for languages and is a fluent speaker of Te Reo
Maori (which is his second language).
Benjamin has lent his support to the Maori Language Week campaign
in 2006 and again in 2008.
