Whangārei actor Stephen Murphy on joining Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey

Brodie StoneMultimedia Journalist·Northern Advocate·8 Aug, 2026 06:00 PM6 mins to read‌Stephen Murphy (inset) spent much of his early life in Whangārei. He plays Phemius, one of Odysseus' men, in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey.Stephen Murphy (inset) spent much of his early life in Whangārei. He plays Phemius, one of Odysseus' men, in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey.Stephen Murphy had no idea he was auditioning for The Odyssey when he stood in front of a casting director on Zoom, dressed in stubbies and a 90s wrestling T-shirt. The actor, who grew up in Whangārei, had been evacuated from his Los Angeles home during the wildfires when