February

Rising Hollywood star takes a shine to New Zealand

Talented American actor Zachary Levi has experienced the wonder of the youngest country on Earth and is already making plans for a return visit to New Zealand.

Levi was in New Zealand promoting the American comedy television series Chuck, soon to be screened on TV2. He plays the lead character Chuck Bartowski - a socially awkward computer geek who through a series of events becomes the US Government's primary weapon in the fight against international terrorism.

Levi is the first to admit to being a video game fanatic but that's where the buck stops in terms of comparisons between himself and his electronically fixated character. His love for extreme sports and adventure tourism has earned New Zealand a special place in the 27 year old actor's heart.

"It's a beautiful country and there's a lot of extreme sport stuff as well. I love skydiving and bungy jumping, I've done both of those before and whitewater rafting. And the Zorb of course, I gotta try that," says Levi.

"I want to come back in the winter time and do some snowboarding. I love the idea of snowboarding in different parts of the world, just experiencing different types of snow and climate - it really excites me."

The gifted screen star also paid tribute to the uniqueness of New Zealand's indigenous culture and the important part it plays in modern New Zealand society.

"There’s a lot culturally as well. I love that the Maori culture is so integrated into New Zealand. To be able to experience that is really fascinating to me. It's just beautiful. It's really fantastic, the people have been great" says Levi.

A laid back individual himself, Levi was touched by the warmth of New Zealanders and their natural ability to make visitors feel at home.

"Every single one I've met has been really lovely, just very cool people and I think that's another reason too why American tourists want to come to New Zealand. The reputation of the people precedes themselves. You know that you are coming to a place that you would feel welcome and feel safe in and just really have a good time."

Zachary Levi also starred in the 2007 big screen productions Spiral and alongside well known American comedian Martin Lawrence in Big Momma's House 2.

Further information:

www.nbc.com/Chuck/