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David Wenham
Born	21 September 1965 (1965-09-21) (age 44) Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1987–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. He is also known in his native Australia for his role as Diver Dan in SeaChange.

[edit] Biography

[edit] 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.^[1][2] He worked as a bingo caller and an insurance clerk before becoming successful as an actor.^[3]

[edit] Career

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,^[4] and he has been voted Australia's "sexiest man alive".^{[citation needed]} A portrait of Wenham by artist Adam Cullen won the Archibald Prize in 2000.^[3] Wenham is signed to Storm Model Management in London.^[5]

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.

[edit] Personal life

He has two daughters, Eliza Jane and Millie, with his longtime girlfriend, Kate Agnew.^[3][6] His nickname, "Daisy", originates from his childhood.^[3]

Wenham read a poem by Rupert McCall at the memorial service for naturalist Steve Irwin. The poem was entitled "The Crocodiles are Crying".^[7]

In 1999, he presented the Village Roadshow Pictures Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role.

On November 24, 2007, Wenham helped Labor Candidate Maxine McKew to oust the sitting member for Bennelong, former Prime Minister John Howard [1]

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Awards and nominations

• Australian Film Institute Awards (Television): Best Lead Actor for Answered by Fire (2006)^[8]
• Australian Film Institute Awards (Television): Best Lead Actor for Simone de Beauvoir's Babies (1997)
• 2003 Green Room Award nominee for his work in an Australian stage production of "True West".

David Wenham won the Silver Logie (1999) for Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Diver Dan in the 1998 TV series, Seachange. Seachange also won the Silver Logie, in the same year, for Most Outstanding Drama Series.

2003 Australian Film Industry wards BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE (Gettin’ Square)

[edit] References

http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=8200&s=Features

[edit] External links

• David Wenham at the Internet Movie Database