Celebrities David Wenham, Birthday: 21 September 1965, Marrickville, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Some people would say I've made it now.

My biggest ambition when I was younger was to appear on stage at what was then Nimrod, which is the ...Show more »

My biggest ambition when I was younger was to appear on stage at what was then Nimrod, which is the theatre where my father used to take me on Sunday afternoons to see matinées. The most extraordinary things used to occur on that stage. Show less «

Acting, to me, is being given the freedom and ability to play, and that's - that's what I love most ...Show more »

Acting, to me, is being given the freedom and ability to play, and that's - that's what I love most about it. I feel very comfortable in playing, whether it be in front of a camera or on stage. Show less «

You can't manufacture a career as an actor because you aren't in control of what projects come to yo...Show more »

You can't manufacture a career as an actor because you aren't in control of what projects come to you, unless you are No. 1, two, three or four in the world. Show less «

I think actors do make really, really wonderful directors.

I used to do impersonations: Harry Butler in the wild, or I'd do Gough Whitlam.

I have a sort of long-term plan to direct. I'm pragmatic about it. I realize I don't need to rush it...Show more »

I have a sort of long-term plan to direct. I'm pragmatic about it. I realize I don't need to rush it or force it. Show less «

I'd love to work with the people who really got the film industry going again through the '70s: Pete...Show more »

I'd love to work with the people who really got the film industry going again through the '70s: Peter Weir, Bruce Beresford, Gillian Armstrong, Fred Schepisi. Show less «

As we mature and grow older we collect a lot of baggage, and a lot of that stuff you collect on life...Show more »

As we mature and grow older we collect a lot of baggage, and a lot of that stuff you collect on life's journey gets in the way of acting. My kids can imagine a character and transform in the blink of an eye. It's so simple for kids, so complex for adults. Show less «

There's different ways of getting into character. There's what's called 'the outside,' in which is f...Show more »

There's different ways of getting into character. There's what's called 'the outside,' in which is finding the physicality of the character first. To give an example, in 'Gettin' Square' - Johnny Spitieri - that's how I found that character. I knew those people that I'd seen up at Kings Cross. I knew how they sounded. Show less «

I'm becoming a frustrated director, I think, in an actor's body.

I like cooking, but I like other people cooking more.

Listening and hearing are two different things, and acting is comprehending what the person is sayin...Show more »

Listening and hearing are two different things, and acting is comprehending what the person is saying, thinking how it makes you feel and responding. That's the key to really honest, truthful, compelling performance. Show less «

I think you have to find the humanity in the character and then the deterioration is a part of the p...Show more »

I think you have to find the humanity in the character and then the deterioration is a part of the process - the journey of the character. It's like playing King Lear. You can start off as a nice old man who finishes up crazy. Show less «

I've ended up spending more time in front of a camera than on stage, but the stage is where I come f...Show more »

I've ended up spending more time in front of a camera than on stage, but the stage is where I come from. Show less «

I was 11 when a teacher suggested to my parents that they should send me to drama classes to curb my...Show more »

I was 11 when a teacher suggested to my parents that they should send me to drama classes to curb my disruptive ways in the classroom. The next Saturday I was acting, and thereafter it became a ritual of my youth to see a show at the Belvoir on Sundays and, if I was lucky, another at the Opera House on Monday after school. Show less «

Well you just have to own it, I suppose. Own the character, which is difficult.

I would love to direct a feature and have Robert Connolly produce it. That would be really fab.

Some people have heard of The Method, which originally goes back to Stanislavski... he gave you six ...Show more »

Some people have heard of The Method, which originally goes back to Stanislavski... he gave you six major pointers whereby you became that character and tried to fool your mind psychologically. That's it in a nutshell. Daniel Day Lewis is an example of somebody like that who stays in character between takes. Show less «

People who have never done theatre before, and have only worked in front of a camera, would find it ...Show more »

People who have never done theatre before, and have only worked in front of a camera, would find it very difficult, I think, to know how to command a stage and work with the logistics of being on stage. They're very different. The theatre is quite tricky, actually. Show less «

I always loved putting on shows - when you're the youngest of seven and five are older sisters, you'...Show more »

I always loved putting on shows - when you're the youngest of seven and five are older sisters, you've got to get noticed somehow! I did puppet shows and magic shows... even ventriloquism. My doll's name was 'Dan,' and I used to write these scripts, and my schoolmate hid under the table and supplied Dan's voice. Show less «

My representation overseas can't stand me doing theatre because it takes me out of action. But it's ...Show more »

My representation overseas can't stand me doing theatre because it takes me out of action. But it's what I want to do. If it means passing up other possibilities, them's the breaks. Show less «

In very general terms 'Top Of The Lake' is about good and evil. It's a deep dark mystery. It also de...Show more »

In very general terms 'Top Of The Lake' is about good and evil. It's a deep dark mystery. It also deals with lots of fascinating human relationships, and it's also about the battle of the sexes. Show less «

Hollywood's a big place, and they make all sorts of different movies. Some movies I'm attracted to; ...Show more »

Hollywood's a big place, and they make all sorts of different movies. Some movies I'm attracted to; a lot of the movies I'm not. But there are some terrifically talented people over there that I'd love to work with. Show less «

Australia is a phenomenally beautiful country, and every time I go away and come back, it never ceas...Show more »

Australia is a phenomenally beautiful country, and every time I go away and come back, it never ceases to amaze me. Show less «

My life at the moment is a bit like my wardrobe. Organised chaos.

I do regard myself as very lucky.

In all honesty, if somebody asked me the secret of auditioning for Americans, I don't know. Often, I...Show more »

In all honesty, if somebody asked me the secret of auditioning for Americans, I don't know. Often, I do what's called self-taping for America. I go over there quite a lot to sit in a room and do stuff in front of people. You feel like a performing monkey. It's bizarre. Show less «

David Wenham

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