KIWI'S AMAZING ACT FROM PARALYSIS TO PARENTHOOD

Once told she'd never move again, Keara Tyler found strength in her son and a new form of film

- Leena Tailor

Keara Tyler was watching American Idol at age 10 when popstar Adam Lambert changed her life. "I was blown away by his stage presence and charisma," the 26-year-old actress recalls as her two-year-old son Wolfe babbles away in the background. "And I went, 'I want to do that!' He said he'd done drama as a kid, so I begged my parents for drama classes."

Her mum Phyllisann and dad Ant obliged, having moved with Keara's older sister Cassie from South Africa to Auckland, where Keara was born. Before that, Phyllisann had also acted. However, she turned down gigs like modelling lingerie and one role she rejected - which required partial nudity - went to Charlize Theron.

Keara laughs, "Mum says, 'If I'd done it, I might still be acting!' But she's happy she stopped working and raised us. The acting bug jumped to me."

Keara's first role was as a sheep in a school play and from there, she performed in theatre productions, TV commercials and dance.

Just two years later, after her parents split up, her acting dream was almost scotched when Keara was in a horrific quad bike accident.