Nathaniel Lees: New Zealand Actor, Mifune in The Matrix Films
Nathaniel Lees is a New Zealand actor and theatre director of Samoan descent. He is best known as Captain Mifune in The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and The Matrix Revolutions (2003), as Uglúk in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and as Chiron in Young Hercules (1998). His recent work includes the thriller The Rule of Jenny Pen (2024).
Fans of the Matrix movies know Nathaniel Lees as Mifune, the Zion captain who welcomes Morpheus and his crew in The Matrix Reloaded. In The Matrix Revolutions, Mifune leads the human fighters defending the dock against the machines. Lees is also a major figure in New Zealand theatre. He helped open the way for Pacific theatre in the country.
Nathaniel Lees at a glance
| Full name | Maiava Nathaniel Lees |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 July 1952, Auckland, New Zealand |
| Age | 74 (as of November 2026) |
| Occupation | Actor, theatre director, casting director, associate producer |
| Known for | The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Matrix Revolutions (2003), Young Hercules (1998) |
| Profiles | Wikipedia · IMDb |
Nathaniel Lees in Pacific theatre and 1990s fantasy TV (1990s)
Nathaniel Lees made his name on stage before he became known for screen work. He was one of the actors who helped build Pacific theatre in New Zealand. He directed the play Think of a Garden, which won Production of the Year at the 1995 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards. Lees won Director of the Year at the same awards.
On screen, Lees appeared in the film Rapa-Nui (1994) and the TV movie Hercules and the Lost Kingdom (1994). He also guest-starred on Xena: Warrior Princess. In Young Hercules (1998), he played Chiron, the centaur who teaches the young hero.
Nathaniel Lees in Middle-earth and the Matrix films (2001–2003)
Nathaniel Lees reached a worldwide audience in the early 2000s. In 2001 he appeared in The Other Side of Heaven. In 2002 he played the Uruk-hai leader Uglúk in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. In 2003 he played Captain Mifune in both The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, and Ogitani in Liquid Bridge. That same year he directed The Songmaker’s Chair by Albert Wendt on stage.
Nathaniel Lees in later films and series (2005–present)
Nathaniel Lees kept working steadily in genre film and television. He played Ronnie in The Market (2005) and Carter Davies in the vampire thriller 30 Days of Night (2007). He played Master Mao in six episodes of Power Rangers Jungle Fury (2008). Later credits include Mortal Engines (2018), Savage (2019) and The Legend of Baron To’a (2020). He also had parts in Sweet Tooth and Cowboy Bebop. In The Rule of Jenny Pen (2024), he plays Sonny Ausage.
Lees has also worked behind the camera. He was casting director and associate producer on the Samoan-language film The Orator (2011).
Selected Nathaniel Lees movies and TV shows
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | The Rule of Jenny Pen | Sonny Ausage | Film |
| 2021–2024 | Sweet Tooth | Munaqsriri | TV series |
| 2023 | Darkest Light | Superintendent Dean Porter | Film |
| 2023 | Red, White & Brass | Rev Hansell | Film |
| 2021 | Cowboy Bebop | Sushi Chef | TV series |
| 2020 | The Legend of Baron To’a | Otto | Film |
| 2019 | Savage | Priest | Film |
| 2018 | Mortal Engines | Pierrepoint | Film |
| 2008 | Power Rangers Jungle Fury | Master Mao | TV series |
| 2007 | 30 Days of Night | Carter Davies | Film |
| 2005 | The Market | Ronnie | TV series |
| 2003 | The Matrix Revolutions | Captain Mifune | Film |
| 2003 | The Matrix Reloaded | Captain Mifune | Film |
| 2002 | The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | Uglúk | Film |
| 1998 | Young Hercules | Chiron | TV series |
Nathaniel Lees awards and recognition
- 2015 – Director of the Year, Wellington Theatre Awards. The award recognized his work as a stage director.
- 2004 – Senior Pacific Artist Award. The award honored his long career in Pacific arts.
- 1995 – Director of the Year, Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards. He won for directing Think of a Garden, which was also named Production of the Year.
- 1993 – Exemplary/Supreme Award, Te Waka Toi Awards. He received the award early in his career as a theatre leader.
FAQ
– Who is Captain Mifune in The Matrix?
Captain Mifune is played by Nathaniel Lees in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions (both 2003). Mifune is a Zion commander who leads the defense of the dock against the machines.
– What is Nathaniel Lees’s ethnicity?
Nathaniel Lees is a New Zealander of Samoan descent. He was born in Auckland.
– Who did Nathaniel Lees play in The Lord of the Rings?
Nathaniel Lees played Uglúk, a leader of the Uruk-hai, in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002).
– How old is Nathaniel Lees?
Nathaniel Lees was born on 20 July 1952. He is 74 (as of November 2026).
The header image is an AI-generated illustration, not an actual photo or film still.
