Has been learning Maori dances since she was 6.

Shares the role of Mary, Jesus' mother, with Pernilla August. She and August have also both appeared in the Star Wars prequels.

During an interview with Jay Leno, she confessed she didn't know how to swim when she was cast in Whale Rider (2002).

Has three younger brothers, Rhys (born February 21, 1992), Liam (born 1996), and Quade (born July 2006), and a little sister Maddisyn (born 2001).

She often used to compete in and win speech competitions at school.

Her parents, Tim Castle and Desrae Hughes, met in Australia, but were never married. They had 3 children together, during their 9 year relationship.

Discovered by the same agent who discovered Anna Paquin.

Is a fan of Julia Roberts.

Is a fan of Johnny Depp; was able to meet him at the 76th Academy Awards when they were both nominees.

Boyfriend Bradley Hull, born January 11, 1987.

Daughter, Felicity-Amore, born 25 April 2007. She weighed 7 lbs, 6 oz.

Spent seven hours in make-up for her cameo in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005).

Her best school subjects used to be maths and science, but now she enjoys drama.

Stays in contact with her Whale Rider (2002) co-star Cliff Curtis.

She was a fortunate discovery for Whale Rider (2002). The casting director and casting assistant went to her primary school in Mt Wellington, New Zealand and went through a few hundred children to choose their Paikea. They found her, only because she was playing up and being smart to them: she stood out.

Her younger brother Rhys Castle-Hughes has followed in his sisters footsteps; he is a talented young actor who is appearing in a New Zealand series called "The Lost Children" (2006) and has also appeared in a NZ Short Film.

Moved to New Zealand from Australia when she was four years old. (Her father is Australian and her mother is New Zealand Maori.)

One of her biggest challenges in making Whale Rider (2002) was having to go barefoot all the time.

Filmed all of her Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) scenes in just one day.

Originally it was thought she was born in New Zealand as she was part Maori and became famous after a New Zealand film. It wasn't until her Oscar nomination that her Australian father revealed that she had in fact been born in Australia.

In 2004, at 13 she became the youngest actress ever to be nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award.