Luna Rioumina is an international star that has just been discovered in a new land, Hollywood.
From a top New Zealand model and host to charted French pop icon, Bollywood blockbuster feature film Players, to her breakout recurring role on television series Legend of the Seeker – Luna Rioumina is an international star that has just been discovered in a new land, Hollywood. With a Starz Original series Spartacus: War of the Damned opposite Manu Bennett Luna worked with directors Rick Jacobson, Michael Hurst, Jesse Warn, Mark Beesley & TJ Scott. No wonder she’s being requested by US casting to meet regarding some of the hottest projects for 2013-14 and just signed with managers at Metaphor Entertainment, Inc and with Geneva Bray at Greater Vision Artist Talent Agency (GVA).
We had a chance to catch up with her in Australia between shoots via Skype for this article.
Q: So I hear that you can drive a race car, how did that come about?
LUNA: I was asked to do a celebrity contest TV show. It was a seven-part series. Each episode was dedicated to a different type of motor sport racing designed to push us to the limit: from rally driving to drifting, Formula 1 Challenge to stock car racing. I learnt the key skills and techniques of race driving, had the time of my life and made a lot of new wonderful friends! I love driving fast and competing – the Russian blood in me takes over. It was an opportunity not to be missed!
Q : You have a new single that charted in Paris, “I Love Music” featuring Sedat, followed by a music video that has thousands of hits on Youtube already. What future music endeavors can we expect?
LUNA: I am currently working on my EP and have just released another song titled “Endless” as well as the music video for it. This song is in a different genre to ‘I love Music’ and will probably appeal to a different demographic of listeners, it’s more of a melodic, sexy rock vibe. I was so blessed to have worked with some incredibly talented New Zealand musicians on this project and just cannot wait for the world to hear it and see the video! I am also getting much more serious with my DJ sets and am currently in talks with a few hot night clubs in Europe where I will unleash my DJing dragon so to speak.
Q: Modeling has taken you all around the world, what place or places made the strongest impressions and why?
LUNA: Yes, I have been incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to travel through work and see the most amazing places around the world. I would say it is the places where I feel one with nature and beauty that surrounds us that have the biggest impact on me: the magnificent mountains and wild beaches of New Zealand, my home country, the ancient beauty and incredible history of Europe, intense energy of New York City, the serenity and divine energy I feel when I enter cathedrals and churches of Paris, Strasburg, Munich or Moscow… There are so many!
Q: Tell us about the day you knew you wanted to be an actress?
LUNA: I got asked to play the role of a gun-for-hire in a student film when I was 16. When the camera started rolling my experience of reality changed for me- I was totally present in that moment – it was completely natural for me. I felt free. It was such a buzz. I was hooked and have been living for that moment of focused presence in the scene ever since!
Q: Who have been the most inspiring people in your life?
LUNA: People who overcome bad fortune or adversity to fulfill their dreams constantly inspire me. Not just that, such people usually give back and make a difference in the world. People like Emily Blunt - stuttered, won a Golden Globe; Hilary Swank – grew up in a trailer park in Bellingham, Washington, won the Academy Award for Best Actress twice; Ernest Hemingway – chronically depressed, iconic writer; David Carr – former drug Addict, New York Times columnist and many others.
Q: With so many projects, your extreme travel schedule and now moving to Los Angeles, what keeps you grounded?
LUNA: I always try to get out into the nature: whether it is a park in Paris, beach in California or forest in Russia- nature heals me, reminds me of who I really am and that I am so lucky to be alive!