The casting director and casting assistant for Whale Rider discovered Keisha when they 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.

The same agent who discovered Keisha discovered Anna Paquin who is also a New Zealand actress and won a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award at the age of 11.

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

Keisha was born in Australia and relocated to New Zealand when she was four years old. Her father is Australian and her mother is New Zealand Maori.

Keisha's younger brother Rhys also acts. He recently appeared in the New Zealand series 'The Lost Children'

Keisha is a huge fan of Johnny Depp and was able to meet him at the 76th Academy Awards in 2004 (he was also nominated for an Oscar)

Keisha has been learning Maori dances since she was 6.

Keisha has two younger brothers and a youngest sister.

Filmed all of her Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Scenes in just one day.

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

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

Keisha stays in contact with her 'Whale Rider'co-star Cliff Curtis who played her father.