David Wenham

This article is about the actor. For the theologian, see David Wenham (theologian).

David Wenham
Born	21 September 1965 (1965-09-21) Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1987–present
Partner	Kate Agnew (1994–present)

David Wenham (born 21 September 1965) is an Australian actor who has appeared in movies, television series and theatre productions. He is known in Hollywood for his roles as Faramir in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Carl in Van Helsing and Dilios in 300 and Neil Fletcher in Australia. He is also known in his native Australia for his role as Diver Dan in SeaChange.

Early life

Wenham was born in Marrickville, Sydney, Australia, the son of Kath and Bill Wenham. He has five older sisters; Helen, Anne, Carmel, Kathryn, and Maree; and one older brother, Peter. David was raised in the Roman Catholic faith and attended Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham. He worked as a bingo caller and an insurance clerk before becoming successful as an actor.

Career

Wenham started his career as an actor after graduating from Theater Nepean at the University of Western Sydney in 1987. Wenham's television credits include several telemovies, such as his AFI award winning role in the 1996 telemovie Simone de Beauvoir's Babies; and his role as the outwardly laid back but deeply enigmatic diver Dan Della Bosca in the 1998 and 1999 seasons of the highly successful ABC television series SeaChange. His role as "Diver Dan" has made the actor something of a sex symbol, although he dislikes thinking of himself as such, and he has been voted Australia's "sexiest man alive". A portrait of Wenham by artist Adam Cullen won the Archibald Prize in 2000. Wenham is signed to Storm Model Management in London.

Australian films Wenham has starred in include the critically acclaimed The Boys (1998) based on the play of the same name premiered at Griffin Theatre Company and in turn based on the Anita Cobby murder; Molokai (1999), based on the life of Father Damien; The Bank (2001); Gettin' Square (2003) and Three Dollars (2005). Wenham has periodically appeared in Hollywood films; he is known for playing Faramir, son of Denethor, in New Line Cinema's The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. He has appeared with two of 2001's Best Supporting Actor Nominees: That year's winner was Jim Broadbent, with whom he appeared in Moulin Rouge!. The other was Ian McKellen, who reprised his Oscar-nominated role opposite Wenham in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

He was also seen in Van Helsing playing Hugh Jackman's sidekick, Friar Carl. His character, Dilios, narrated and appeared in the movie 300. Minor roles of Wenham's in overseas films include in The Crocodile Hunter as a park ranger, and briefly in Moulin Rouge! as Audrey. Wenham stars in the music video for Alex Lloyd's single "Brand New Day". In 2008's Australia, he reunited with Hugh Jackman playing antagonist Neil Fletcher who seeks to acquire the ranch Jackman's character is employed with.

In both Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and 300, Wenham's character is the sole survivor returned from an ill-fated battle (the Battle at Osgiliath and the Battle of Thermopylae, respectively). He reprises his role of Dilios in the videogame 300: March to Glory for Sony PlayStation Portable, which contains a lot of new dialogue.

In 2009 he again took to the stage, this time as the lead actor, Jerry Springer, in the British musical Jerry Springer - The Opera. During its 6 day run at the Sydney Opera House he played to sold out audiences alongside ARIA award winning singer Kate Miller-Heidke.

In 2010, Wenham starred as the disgraced Melbourne Lawyer Andrew Fraser in the Australian TV series Killing Time. This 10 part series shows Fraser's fall from grace as he defends many Melbourne criminals during the 1980s and 1990s. It was shown on TV1 in late 2011.

Personal life

He has two daughters, Eliza Jane and Millie, with his longtime girlfriend, Kate Agnew. His nickname, "Daisy", originates from his childhood.

Wenham read a poem by Rupert McCall at the memorial service for naturalist Steve Irwin. The poem was entitled "The Crocodiles are Crying".

On 24 November 2007, Wenham helped Labor Candidate Maxine McKew to oust the sitting member for Bennelong, former Prime Minister John Howard.

Filmography

• Sons and Daughters (1987) (TV series) – Debt Collector
• Jack Simpson: A Willesee Documentary (1987) (TV) (uncredited) – Wounded soldier
• Poor Man's Orange (1987) (mini) TV Series – Party Youth
• The Heroes (1988) (TV) – Horrie Young
• Come in Spinner (1990) (TV) – Australian Soldier
• Police Rescue (1991) (TV series) – Ferret
• Greenkeeping (1992) – Trevor
• Seeing Red (1992) – Frank No 2
• A Country Practice (1992) (TV series) – David Cornish
• Heartland (1994) (mini) TV Series – Warwick Bone
• Gino (1994) – Trevor
• Tran the Man (1994) – Raymond "Tran" Moss
• No Escape (1994) – Hotel Guard #2
• Escape from Jupiter (1994)... Dr Chrobak
• One of Us (1995) – Luke Potter
• Roses Are Red (1995) – Brian
• Twisted Tales (1996) (TV series) – George
• Cosi (1996) – Doug
• Idiot Box (1996) – Bank Teller with a History
• Return to Jupiter (1997) TV Series – Dr. Chrobak
• Simone de Beauvoir's Babies (1997) (mini) TV Series – Ian
• The Boys (1998) – Brett Sprague
• Dark City (1998) – Schreber's Assistant
• A Little Bit of Soul (1998) – Dr. Richard Shorkinghorn
• SeaChange (1998) TV Series – Daniel 'Diver Dan' Della Bosca (1998–1999)
• Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (1999) – Father Damien
• Better Than Sex (2000) – Josh
• Russian Doll (2001) – Ethan
• Moulin Rouge! (2001) – Audrey
• The Bank (2001) – Jim Doyle
• Dust (2001) – Luke
• The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (2002) – Sam Flynn
• Pure (2002 film) (2002) – Lenny
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) – Faramir
• After the Deluge (2003) (mini) TV Series – Alex Kirby
• Gettin' Square (2003) – Johnny Spitieri
• Basilisk Stare (2003) – Dave
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) – Faramir
• Van Helsing: The London Assignment (2004) (V) (voice) – Carl
• Van Helsing (2004) – Carl
• Stiff (2004) (TV) – Murray Whelan
• The Brush-Off (2004) (TV) – Murray Whelan
• Three Dollars (2005) – Eddie Harnovey
• The Proposition (2005) – Eden Fletcher
• Answered by Fire (2006) (mini) TV Series – Mark Waldman
• 300 (2007) – Dilios
• Married Life (2008) ... John O'Brien
• The Children of Huang Shi (2008) – Barnes
• Australia (2008) – Neil Fletcher
• Public Enemies (2009) – Harry Pierpont
• Pope Joan (2009) – Gerold
• Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010) – Digger (voice only)
• Oranges and Sunshine (2010) – Len
• Killing Time (2010) – Andrew Fraser
• League of Legends (2011) Lee Sin (voice)

Awards and nominations

• Australian Film Institute Award for Best Lead Actor in Television Drama for Simone de Beauvoir's Babies (1997) – winner
• Australian Film Institute Award for Best Lead Actor in Television Drama for Answered by Fire (2006) – winner

External links

• David Wenham at the Internet Movie Database
• Urban Cinefile