Leon Wadham

Leon Wadham (born 1989) is a New Zealand actor, writer and director. He is best known for his roles in the film Under the Mountain, comedy series Go Girls (2013) and as Kemen in the Amazon Prime fantasy show The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022–present).

Early life Wadham was born and raised in Karori, Wellington, New Zealand. He attended Karori Normal School and Onslow College. He studied at Toi Whakaari Drama School from 2009 to 2011, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Performing Arts (Acting). He also received the Museum Art Hotel Scholarship Award in his final year of training.

Career Wadham started acting at a young age, and made his on-screen debut in 2000, appearing in a guest role in the sci-fi series The Tribe. After finishing his education he also went on to become a filmmaker. He wrote and directed several short films, TV shows and plays starting from 2013.

In 2009, Wadham starred as Ricky in the fantasy film Under the Mountain, which was based on the novel of the same name. In 2013, he joined the main cast of the fifth season of comedy drama Go Girls, where he played the role of Levi Hirsh. He appeared in a supporting role in the 2019 crime drama The Bad Seed.

In 2020, he was cast in the Amazon Prime TV series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which premiered in 2022. He plays Kemen, Pharazôn's son, who was invented for the series.

Personal life As of 2022, Wadham resided in Auckland, New Zealand. In 2023, he moved to London, England.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2007 Maintain Mark 2008 Jack & Jill Jack Short film 2008 Unorthodox My Balance Sheet The Assistant Short film 2009 Under the Mountain Ricky 2009 Monkeys Don't Mix Inmate #1 Short film 2012 A Bend in the Road Dave Short film 2012 The Catch SPCA Agent Short film 2012 Wellington Noel Short film 2012 Packed Alex 2013 Shopping Fresh Face 2013 Blankets Jack Short film 2014 School Night – Short film; writer and director 2016 Moving – Short film; writer and director 2017 Pork Pie Young Cop 2020 Weirdoes Driver

Television Year Title Role Notes 2000 The Tribe – 1 episode 2001 Dark Knight Tom Series 2, episode 5: "Black Tree" 2013 Sunny Skies – Writer 2013 Go Girls Levi Hirsh 2014 Pirates of the Airwaves Paul Lineham Television film 2015 When We Go to War Guy Weatherstone 2016 Terry Teo Jasper La Roux Series 1, episode 4: "Head to Head" 2017 Why Does Love? Adam Holt Television film 2018 The Brokenwood Mysteries Darryn Walker Series 5, episode 2: "Bride Not to Be" 2019 Power Rangers Beast Morphers Lab Assistant Series 1, episode 1: "Beasts Unleashed" 2019 Roman Empire Gemellus Series 3, episode 2: "A New Hope" 2019 The Bad Seed Matt Logan 2019–2020 Golden Boy – Director 2020 The Citizen's Handbook – Director 2020–2022 Alice Snedden's Bad News – Writer and director 2022–present The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Kemen

Stage Year Title Role Venue 2000 Nuncrackers – Stetson Productions 2001 Rush Singer/Dancer Capital Theatre Productions 2007 The Cape Jordyn Circa Theatre 2007 The Henchmen Captain Caffeine Young and Hungry 2007 Brain Power Self Preservation Out of Bounds 2012 Tribes Billy Silo Theatre / Q Theatre, Auckland 2013 Lord of the Flies Ralph Auckland Theatre Company / Maidment Theatre 2018 Giddy Solo Basement Theatre