Sam Worthington
Sam Worthington | |
|---|---|
 Worthington at the Drift Movie Media Event at Event Cinemas, Bondi Junction 2013. | |
| Born | Samuel Henry John Worthington 2 August 1976 Godalming, Surrey, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Alma mater | National Institute of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, writer |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Spouse | Lara Bingle (m. 2014) |
| Children | 1 |
Samuel Henry John "Sam" Worthington[1] (born 2 August 1976) is an English-born Australian actor, best known for his portrayals of main character Jake Sully in the highest-grossing film of all time, Avatar; Marcus Wright in Terminator Salvation; Perseus in Clash of the Titans and its sequel, Wrath of the Titans; and Alex Mason in the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops and its sequel Call of Duty: Black Ops II.
In 2004, Worthington received Australia's highest film award for his lead role in Somersault. He performed predominantly in leading roles in a variety of low-budget films before moving to major studio films, ranging from romantic drama and comedy-drama to science fiction and action.
Early life
Worthington was born to English parents in Godalming, Surrey, in South East England, and moved to Perth, Western Australia[2] when he was six months old. He grew up in Warnbro, a suburb of Rockingham. His mother, Jeanne J. (née Martyn), a housewife, brought him and his sister Lucinda up.[citation needed] His father, Ronald W. Worthington, was a power plant employee.[2] He attended John Curtin College of the Arts, a school specialising in the dramatic arts, located in Fremantle, Western Australia, where he studied drama but did not graduate.[citation needed] When he left the college, his father gave him $400 and sent him on a one-way trip to Cairns, Queensland, telling him to "work his way home".[3] He began working on construction and odd jobs, eventually settling in Sydney.[4] At 19, while working as a bricklayer, he auditioned for the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and was accepted with a scholarship.[5]
Career
2004–08
Worthington had a major role in Somersault (2004) and played the lead in a modern Australian retelling of Macbeth (2006). He won the AFI Award for Best Lead Actor for his role in Somersault. He was well known in Australia for his role as Howard in the acclaimed Australian TV series Love My Way, in which he played the main love interest of the female lead.
Worthington's international film career began with a series of small roles in Hollywood production The Great Raid (2005), which was filmed in Australia. He auditioned for the role of James Bond in Casino Royale but lost the role to Daniel Craig.[6] He starred in the Australian creature-feature film Rogue (2007), as a man named Neil, which gained a 100% fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes.[7]
2009–present
In Terminator Salvation, Worthington plays cyborg Marcus Wright who assists the humans despite their suspicions of him.
Shot prior to the release of Terminator Salvation, the James Cameron-directed science-fiction film Avatar was Worthington's next project. In the film, he played Jake Sully, a paraplegic US Marine who, assigned to control an alien body called an avatar through a neural link, finds himself at the centre of a war between his own species and the indigenous Na'vi people of the moon Pandora. The film went on to become the highest-grossing film of all time, grossing more than US$2.730 billion ($3.9 billion adjusted for inflation) in box-office receipts worldwide.[8] In November 2010, Worthington told GQ Australia[9] that he went to audition, but wasn't told what it was for and got annoyed. So he did his part, left, forgot about it – and was called back. "I was a bit pissed off, and I think that came across," he says. "I think Jim saw a spark and liked it because that's Sully's character – a guy who doesn't like to be bullied and a guy who just wants to set things right."[10]
He provided voice work for Captain Alex Mason, the protagonist character in the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops. Some gamers criticised Worthington's inability to mask his Australian accent, as in Avatar.[11] In November 2010 The Hollywood Reporter named Worthington as one of the young male actors who are "pushing – or being pushed" into taking over Hollywood as the new "A-List".[12]
He was selected as one of the entrants to the Who's Who in Australia 2011 edition.[13]
In November 2011, Worthington along with Jonah Hill and Dwight Howard starred in commercials for the video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.[14]
In 2012, Worthington starred in the sequel to Clash of the Titans, called Wrath of the Titans, alongside Liam Neeson. As in the first film, Worthington played the demigod and son of Zeus, Perseus. He also reprised his role as Alex Mason in Call of Duty: Black Ops II.[15]
Personal life
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Worthington has said that when he was about 30, he sold most of his possessions and ended up with around $2,000 to his name. He says he bought a car with the proceeds and was living in it before he successfully auditioned for his role in the film Avatar.[16] He then found a place to live.[17]
Worthington was in a relationship with actress Maeve Dermody for three years before breaking up in 2008.[18] He was also in a relationship with Natalie Mark from 2008 until 2011.[19]
On 18 October 2013, Worthington had confirmed the rumours of a relationship with fellow Australian model Lara Bingle.[20][21] They married on 28 December 2014 and had a son, Rocket Zot, in 2015.[22]
Arrest
On 23 February 2014, Worthington was arrested in New York City for assault, after punching a paparazzo, Sheng Li, who allegedly kicked Bingle in the shin. Video footage of the incident depicts Worthington referring to Bingle as his "wife", furthering speculation about the pair's marital status.[23] Worthington was initially released on a desk appearance ticket, while Li was arrested on charges of reckless endangerment, assault and harassment.[24]
On 26 February, Worthington appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court, where he was ordered to stay away from Sheng Li for six months. The case was adjourned until 8 May, when the actor will face charges of assault in the third degree, attempted assault, and harassment. [25]
On 1 April, Li blamed Bingle for starting the fight and called for her to be arrested. On 8 May, the case involving Worthington and Li was dismissed.[26]
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Bootmen | Mitchell Okden | |
| 2001 | A Matter of Life | Our Hero | Short film |
| 2002 | Hart's War | Cpl. B.J. "Depot" Guidry | |
| 2002 | Dirty Deeds | Darcy | |
| 2003 | Gettin' Square | Barry "Wattsy" Wirth | |
| 2004 | Somersault | Joe | |
| 2004 | Thunderstruck | Ronnie | |
| 2004 | Blue Poles | Miles | Short |
| 2005 | The Great Raid | Pfc. Lucas | |
| 2005 | Fink! | Able | |
| 2006 | Macbeth | Macbeth | |
| 2007 | Rogue | Neil | |
| 2009 | Terminator Salvation | Marcus Wright | |
| 2009 | Avatar | Jake Sully/Tom Sully | |
| 2010 | Clash of the Titans | Perseus | |
| 2010 | Last Night | Michael Reed | |
| 2010 | Love and Distrust | Miles | Segment: Blue Poles by Darcy Yuille |
| 2011 | The Debt | Young David | |
| 2011 | Texas Killing Fields | Detective Mike Sounder | |
| 2012 | Man on a Ledge | Nick Cassidy | |
| 2012 | Wrath of the Titans | Perseus | |
| 2013 | Drift | JB | |
| 2014 | Sabotage | James "Monster" Murray | |
| 2014 | Cake | Roy | |
| 2014 | The Keeping Room | Moses | |
| 2015 | Paper Planes | Jack | |
| 2015 | Kidnapping Freddy Heineken | Willem Holleeder | |
| 2015 | Everest | Guy Cotter | |
| 2016 | Hunter's Prayer | Stephen Lucas | Filming |
| 2016 | The Shack | Mack Philips | Filming |
| 2016 | Hacksaw Ridge | Captain Glover | Filming |
| 2018 | Ghost Wars | Lieutenant Jason Williams | In production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | JAG | Dunsmore | Episode: "Boomerang: Part 1" |
| 2000 | Water Rats | Phillip Champion | Episode: "Able to Leap Tall Buildings" |
| 2000 | Blue Heelers | Shane Donovan | Episode: "Bloodlines" |
| 2004 | Love My Way | Howard Light | 10 episodes |
| 2005 | The Surgeon | Dr. Sam Dash | 8 episodes |
| 2006 | Two Twisted | Gus Rogers | Episode: "Delivery Man" |
| 2015 | Deadline Gallipoli | Phillip Schuler | Post-production 4 episodes; Mini-series Executive Producer |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Call of Duty: Black Ops | Alex Mason | |
| 2012 | Call of Duty: Black Ops II | Alex Mason |
Writer
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Enzo |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | AFI Award | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role | Bootmen | Won |
| 2002 | FCCA Award | Best Supporting Actor – Male | Dirty Deeds | Won |
| 2004 | AFI Award | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Somersault | Won |
| FCCA Award | Best Actor – Male | Somersault | Won[27] | |
| IF Award | Best Actor | Somersault | Won | |
| 2009 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Fresh Face Male | Terminator Salvation | Nominated |
| Australians in Film Breakthrough Award | Australians in Film[28] | Avatar | ||
| 2010 | Saturn Award | Best Actor | Avatar | Won |
| Australian Film Institute International Award for Best Actor | Best Actor | Avatar | Won | |
| Empire Award | Best Actor | Avatar | Won | |
| Giffoni Award | Won | |||
| Kid's Choice Awards | Cutest Couple (shared with Zoe Saldana) | Avatar | Nominated | |
| MTV Movie Awards | Best Fight (shared with Stephen Lang) | Avatar | Nominated | |
| Best Kiss (shared with Zoe Saldana) | Avatar | Nominated | ||
| ShoWest Award | Male Star of the Year | Won | ||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie: Fight (shared with Stephen Lang) | Avatar | Nominated | |
| Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi | Avatar | Won | ||
| Choice Movie Actor: Fantasy | Clash of the Titans | Nominated |
References
- ^ "Incident 123082579" (PDF). Atlanta, Georgia, Police Department via E! Online. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
- ^ a b "Avatar first reviews, Sam Worthington next Hollywood star in the making". The Daily Telegraph. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
- ^ Ellen tv interview 2012
- ^ http://www.variety.com/profiles/people/Biography/31197/Sam+Worthington.html?dataSet=1. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)[dead link] - ^ "Sam Worthington Interview for Terminator". Screencrave.com. 21 May 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ "Bard arse". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 September 2006.
- ^ "Rogue". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
- ^ "Worldwide Grosses". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- ^ "Sam Worthington". GQ.
- ^ [1], GQ Australia November 2010, Sam Worthington
- ^ "How an Australian Man Nearly Ruined Black Ops for Me".
- ^ Blank, Emily; Schutte, Lauren. "Hollywood's A-List Redefined". (slide 9 of 10 in slideshow) The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Who's Who pack now boasts Siddle, Hamish and Andy and the Masterchef judges". heraldsun.com.au. 9 December 2010.
- ^ Crecente, Brian (4 November 2011). "Jonah Hill, Sam Worthington Star in This Live Action Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Ad". Kotaku.
- ^ John Gaudiosi (13 November 2012). "'Call of Duty: Black Ops II': Treyarch's Dave Anthony on Directing Sam Worthington, Michael Keaton (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ^ Worthington on Jay Leno
- ^ Worthington talks about living inside a car
- ^ "Maeve Dermody Gets All the Hot Boys". Au.lifestyle.yahoo.com. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
- ^ "Sam Worthington's girlfriend Natalie Mark shones at Inside Flm Awards". The Daily Telegraph. UK. 18 November 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
- ^ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/lara-bingle-and-sam-worthington-fuel-rumours-of-a-hot-new-couple/story-fni0fiyv-1226742291514
- ^ "Sam Worthington says he is smitten with new squeeze Lara Bingle".
- ^ http://celebritybabies.people.com/2015/03/27/sam-worthington-lara-bingle-welcome-son-rocket-zot/
- ^ "So are Sam Worthington and Lara Bingle really married?". News.com.au. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
- ^ "'Avatar' actor Sam Worthington arrested in NYC". Yahoo. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
- ^ "Sam Worthington ordered to stay away from photographer". Sydney Morning Herlad. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
- ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/02/us-samworthington-idUSBREA3024220140402
- ^ http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=9613&s=Features
- ^ "Australians in Film Breakthrough Awards". Australians in Film.
External links
- 1976 births
- Australian male film actors
- Australian male television actors
- Australian people of English descent
- English emigrants to Australia
- National Institute of Dramatic Art alumni
- Living people
- Naturalised citizens of Australia
- People educated at John Curtin College of the Arts
- 20th-century Australian male actors
- 21st-century Australian male actors
- Male actors from Surrey
- People from Godalming
- Male actors from Perth, Western Australia
- Best Actor AACTA Award winners