Ioane Sa’ula landed his first major role in the popular and long-running Australian comedy series Bump.
And his debut work certainly launched his film and television career, as he has already landed a string of roles in major Hollywood blockbusters.
Ioane appeared on the big screen alongside the likes of Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt in the 2024 action epic The Fall Guy, taking on the minor role of Birdie the PA in the Sydney-based film.
The Samoan-Australian actor then signed up to play Damo in Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut, The Deb, which was filmed in Carcoar, New South Wales.
As his five-season tenure on Bump comes to an end, Ioane has reflected on the difference between working on the local Australian show compared to the two big Hollywood projects.
“I feel at home at Bump, I feel like I can make my own decisions at Bump and I’m still learning,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
Ioane Sa’ula landed his first major role in the popular and long-running Australian comedy series Bump and has now landed a string of roles in major Hollywood blockbusters.
‘Bump set me up, in comparison… it’s different. I feel like I started Bump as a sponge and now I’m a soaked sponge!
‘In other things outside of Bump, I’m a sponge again, but when I come here, I don’t have shoes on, not even socks, my feet are on the dining room table, I’m comfortable!
“The team is the same every season, so it’s like coming home, I can make my own decisions.
“I may be stupid, the director may tell me not to do that, I may try to do it again, but I’m learning to transfer that confidence (to other things).”
Despite breaking into Hollywood, Ioane has no plans to move to the glitz and glamor of Los Angeles and would like to stay living in Australia while working abroad.
He went on to explain how Bump served as his version of theater school and gave him the skills he needs to pursue a full-time acting career.
“Bump has been my training ground for acting in general and informed me the type of actor I am and the type of person I am now,” he continued.
“Bump was my first time acting on camera and I’ve said it before, but it felt like it was a school where I studied acting and now with season five, I feel like I’m graduating.”
Ioane appeared on the big screen alongside the likes of Ryan Gosling (pictured) and Emily Blunt in the action epic The Fall Guy, taking on the supporting role of Birdie the PA in the Sydney-based film.
Ioane, who plays Vince Ingram in Bump (pictured), has reflected on the difference between working on the local Australian show compared to big Hollywood projects.
Ioane, who plays Vince Ingram in Bump, also spoke about becoming a role model for other young Polynesians who want to pursue a career in acting.
“A lot of people approached Bump wanting to be an actor and appreciating what I did and my contribution on the show and on screen,” he shared.
‘I’m scared, we’re going to have to really work now and do those auditions!’
Ioane joined the cast of Bump while still at school and filmed while completing his year 12 studies in 2020.
He hadn’t planned to pursue a career in acting when he started studying theater at school; in fact, he had only chosen the subject as a “club.”
‘I chose music and drama… and I chose those themes just for a trick. “I was one of those kids who wanted to have fun every day,” he previously told Pacific Beat.
“My drama teacher was new at school, I guess she saw more in me than I saw in myself and encouraged me to act more.”
His dream was to become a professional rugby player, but when injuries put a stop to his plans, he dedicated himself to acting and discovered his passion for it.
The Samoan-Australian actor also played Damo in Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut The Deb (pictured on set), which was filmed in Carcoar, New South Wales.
Despite breaking into Hollywood, Ioane has no plans to move to the glitz and glamor of Los Angeles and would like to stay living in Australia while working abroad.
“For two years I couldn’t play, I thought it was all over. “I thought nothing was going to happen to me,” he said.
“I feel like it’s a good path to follow, it’s a difficult path to follow, but it’s good,” he added of his acting career.
Ioane returns for one final season as Vince on Bump for the fifth and final series, premiering on Stan on Boxing Day.
In the final season, Oly’s mother Angie (Claudia Karvan) will continue to battle cancer while Oly (Nathalie Morris) comes to terms with her second pregnancy.
The new season of the original Stan Bump series will premiere on Boxing Day, all episodes at once. All episodes of seasons 1, 2, 3, and 4 are now streaming, only on Stan.