Mark Mitchinson

Mark’s story’s got a bit of zigzag to it. Born in the UK, shuffled off to New Zealand when he was just a kid – classic family move, probably chasing better weather or something. But the pull of the old country must’ve been strong, because in the early ‘80s, he packed his bags and landed back in England to chase the actor dream. Not just any drama school, either – we’re talking Guildhall in London. That’s the kind of place where the tea’s strong and the standards are even stronger. Fast forward a bit, and Mark’s not just acting but running his own business in the UK. No small feat, considering how much rain they get and all the cups of tea you have to make for clients. Then, in 2002, he hops back over to New Zealand. Maybe he missed the beaches or just got tired of London’s constant grey. Either way, he throws himself back into acting, and honestly? It pays off. 2011 rolls around, and Mark snags Best Actor for his role as Colin Bower in Screentime’s feature film “Bloodlines.” Not too shabby, right? That’s the kind of thing that makes all the weird career detours worth it. Now he’s set up shop by the beach in Auckland – can’t blame him, really – married, got a couple of kids, probably spends weekends trying to keep the sand out of the house and the kids out of trouble. All in all, a life that’s had a bit of everything: drama, business, awards, and a killer beach view.