Taungaroa Emile had only acted in school plays, before he made an award-winning screen debut in the landmark movie Once Were Warriors (1994). 

Taungaroa played shy but rebellious teenager Boogie Heke once again in the 1999 sequel What Becomes of the Brokehearted. In-between, he starred as a teen ex-con in movie romance Flight of the Albatross. He has also starred in episodes of Taonga and te reo series Aroha, and appeared in Shortland Street, acclaimed feature No 2, and 2011 TV film Tangiwai - A Love Story.