Talei was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 2007 WA Equity Guild Awards and won the Best Screen Actor at the 2001 WA Screen Awards. She trained at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco and has a BA (Theatre) from Curtin University. Stage productions include Own Worst Enemy & Hot Dogs for Barking Gecko Theatre, The Brick and The Rose at Chapel Off Chapel in Victoria, Kitchen, A Change In The Weather and Scarecrow at the Blue Room, and Falling Petals and Woyzeck for Black Swan's Hotbed. She has appeared on film for Southern Star Entertainment, Jag Films, CM Films, WestOne, Mintox Media, Electric Pictures, Coral Lagoon and Granada as well as appearing in 12 TV commercials (100%). She has also narrated documentaries for SBS and voiced animations for Nickelodeon.