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Hugo Weaving
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Hugo Wallace Weaving AO (born 4 April 1960) is an English actor, based in Australia.[1][2] Born in Colonial Nigeria to British parents, Weaving has resided in Australia for the entirety of his career. He is the recipient of six Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (AACTA).[3]
Key Information
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He landed his first major role as English cricket captain Douglas Jardine on the Australian television series Bodyline (1984). He rose to prominence with his appearances in the Australian films Proof (1991) and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), winning his first AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for the former. By the turn of the millennium, Weaving achieved international recognition through roles in mainstream American productions. His most notable film roles include Agent Smith in the first three The Matrix films (1999–2003), Elrond in The Lord of the Rings (2001–2003) and The Hobbit (2012–2014) trilogies, the title character in V for Vendetta (2005), and Johann Schmidt / Red Skull in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Captain America: The First Avenger (2011).
In addition to his live action appearances, Weaving has had several voice over roles, including in the films Babe (1995), Happy Feet (2006) and Happy Feet Two (2011), and the Transformers series as Megatron (2007–2011). He reprised his roles of Agent Smith and Elrond in Matrix and Lord of the Rings video game adaptations.
Early life and education
[edit]Weaving was born on 4 April 1960 at the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital, in Ibadan, Nigeria to British parents; he is the son of Anne Lennard (born 1934),[4] a tour guide and former teacher, and Wallace Weaving (born 1929), a seismologist, who met as students at the University of Bristol.[5][6][4] His maternal grandmother was Belgian.[4] A year after his birth, his family returned to the United Kingdom, living in Bedford and Brighton before moving to Melbourne and Sydney in Australia; Johannesburg in South Africa; and then returning to the United Kingdom again.[5]
While in the UK, he attended The Downs School, Wraxall, near Bristol, and Queen Elizabeth's Hospital.[7] While at the Downs School, in 1973, Weaving played one of his first theatrical roles, taking the part of Captain Asquith in Robert Bolt's The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew. His family moved back to Australia in 1976, where he attended Knox Grammar School in Sydney.[8] He graduated from Sydney's National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1981.[9]
Career
[edit]1984–1998
[edit]Weaving's first television role was in the 1984 Australian television series Bodyline, as the English cricket captain Douglas Jardine. Weaving appeared in the Australian miniseries The Dirtwater Dynasty in 1988 and as Geoffrey Chambers in the drama Barlow and Chambers: A Long Way From Home. He starred opposite Nicole Kidman in the 1989 TV mini-series Bangkok Hilton. In 1991, Weaving received the Australian Film Institute's "Best Actor" award for his performance in the low-budget Proof as the blind photographer. He appeared as Sir John in Yahoo Serious's 1993 comedy Reckless Kelly, a lampoon of Australian outlaw Ned Kelly.
In the mid-1990s, Weaving portrayed the drag queen Anthony "Tick" Belrose/Mitzi Del Bra in the 1994 film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and provided the voice of Rex the sheepdog in the 1995 family film Babe and its 1998 sequel Babe: Pig in the City. In 1998, he received the "Best Actor" award from the Montreal World Film Festival for his performance as a suspected serial killer in The Interview.
1999–2010
[edit]Weaving played the enigmatic and evil-minded Agent Smith in the 1999 film The Matrix. He later reprised that role in the film's 2003 sequels, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. He was a voice actor in the cartoon film The Magic Pudding.[10]
He received additional acclaim in the role of the half-elven lord Elrond in Peter Jackson's three-film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, released between 2001 and 2003.[11] Weaving was the main actor in Andrew Kotatko's award-winning film Everything Goes (2004). He starred as a heroin-addicted ex-rugby league player in the 2005 Australian indie film Little Fish, opposite Cate Blanchett. Weaving played the title role as V in the 2005 film V for Vendetta, in which he was reunited with the Wachowskis, creators of The Matrix trilogy, who wrote the adapted screenplay. Actor James Purefoy was originally signed to play the role, but was fired six weeks into filming over creative differences.[12][13][14] Weaving reshot most of Purefoy's scenes as V (even though his face is never seen) apart from a couple of minor dialogue-free scenes early in the film while stuntman David Leitch performed all of V's stunts.
Weaving reprised his role as Elrond for the video game The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth II. He regularly appears in productions by the Sydney Theatre Company (STC). In 2006, he worked with Cate Blanchett on a reprise of the STC production of Hedda Gabler in New York City.
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In a controversial move by director Michael Bay, Weaving was chosen as the Decepticon leader Megatron vocally in the 2007 live-action film Transformers, rather than using the original version of the character's voice created by the voice actor Frank Welker. Weaving himself was unaware of the controversy, having accepted the role based on Michael Bay's personal request; in a November 2008 Sun Herald interview, he said he had never seen Transformers. Though Weaving reprised his role in two sequels, he does not have much personal investment in the Transformers films. In February 2010, Weaving revealed to The Age: "Director Michael Bay talks to me on the phone. I've never met him. We were doing the voice for the second one and I still hadn't seen the first one. I still didn't really know who the characters were and I didn't know what anything was. It's a voice job, for sure, and people assume I've spent my life working on it, but I really know so little about it."[15] In 2012, Weaving said to Collider: "It was one of the only things I've ever done where I had no knowledge of it, I didn't care about it, I didn't think about it. They wanted me to do it. In one way, I regret that bit. I don't regret doing it, but I very rarely do something if it's meaningless. It was meaningless to me, honestly. I don't mean that in any nasty way."
Weaving played a supporting role in Joe Johnston's 2010 remake of the 1941 film The Wolfman, starring Benicio del Toro. Immediately after Wolfman wrapped in spring 2008, he returned home to Australia to film a lead role in the film Last Ride, directed by Glendyn Ivin. In early 2009, Guillermo del Toro, then director of The Hobbit films, prequels to The Lord of the Rings, confirmed his intent to again cast Weaving as Elrond of Rivendell in a BBC interview.[16] When asked about reprising the role, Weaving replied that he was game, but had not officially been approached. Del Toro eventually left the project; Peter Jackson decided to direct the films himself but Weaving was not officially confirmed in the cast until May 2011.
Weaving spent the summer of 2009 starring in the Melbourne Theatre Company's production of God of Carnage, portraying the caustic lawyer Alain Reille. He returned to the stage in November 2010 in Sydney Theatre Company's Uncle Vanya, co-starring Cate Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh.[17] Weaving filmed a guest role on Roxburgh's Australian TV series Rake in May 2010.
In May 2009, Weaving accepted a co-starring role in the docudrama Oranges and Sunshine,[18] about the forced migration of thousands of British children to Australia in the 1950s. Filming began in autumn 2009 in Nottingham, England, and Adelaide, South Australia, and continued through January 2010. The film premiered at the Rome International Film Festival on 28 October 2010 and garnered positive reviews. 2010 saw the release of Legend of the Guardians (formerly The Guardians of Ga'Hoole), in which Weaving has another high-profile voice role,[19] portraying two different owls named Noctus and Grimble in Zack Snyder's film adaptation of Kathryn Lasky's popular series of children's books.
On 4 May 2010, it was officially confirmed by Marvel Studios that Weaving would play the fictional Nazi Red Skull in the superhero film Captain America: The First Avenger.[20] Weaving completed filming his role on the project in September 2010 and returned to Sydney to prepare for Uncle Vanya. It is unlikely he will sign on for any further installments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; in an August 2011 Baltimore Sun interview, the actor confided he is weary of typecasting and of "blockbuster" films in general: "I think I've about had enough... I'm not sure how many more of them I'll make. It doesn't feel to me as though they've been the majority of my work, though that's probably the way it seems to most other people."[21]
2011–present
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On 13 March 2011, The Key Man, which Weaving filmed in 2006, finally debuted at the South By Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas.[22] The child migrant saga Oranges and Sunshine opened in the UK on 1 April, the culmination of months of success on the festival circuit in late 2010-early 2011.[23] In March, the Sydney Theatre Company and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced that STC's 2010 production of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya would be reprised in Washington, D.C., during the month of August.[24] In April, months of speculation finally ended when Weaving appeared on The Hobbit's New Zealand set, shortly before a production spokesman officially confirmed the actor's return as Elrond in Peter Jackson's prequel trilogy to The Lord of the Rings.[25] He was part of the cast of the Wachowskis' adaptation of David Mitchell's novel Cloud Atlas.[26] The project, co-starring Tom Hanks, Ben Whishaw, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, and Susan Sarandon, began filming in September 2011 and was released in October 2012.
2012 found Weaving re-focusing on his theatrical career, with a return to the Sydney Theatre Company to star in a new adaptation of Christopher Hampton's play Les Liaisons Dangereuses in March.[27] He portrayed the notorious Vicomte de Valmont, a character he first played onstage in 1987. His frequent stage foil Pamela Rabe costarred. Weaving and Cate Blanchett reprised their roles in STC's internationally lauded production of Uncle Vanya for a ten-day run at New York's Lincoln Center in July.[28]
The busy actor joined the cast of three forthcoming Australian films in summer 2012. The Western-tinged police thriller Mystery Road, written and directed by Ivan Sen, began filming in June 2012.[29] Weaving appeared in the prison drama Healing for director Craig Monahan, with whom he previously made The Interview (1998) and Peaches (2005).[30] He appeared in a segment of the Australian anthology film The Turning, based on Tim Winton's collection of linked stories, entitled "The Commission", directed by David Wenham.[31] He ended 2013 co-starring with Richard Roxburgh and Philip Quast in Samuel Beckett's Waiting For Godot, for the Sydney Theatre Company.[32][33]
In the spring of 2013, Weaving reprised the Agent Smith role for a General Electric television commercial for their "Brilliant Machines" innovations in healthcare management technology, which was slated to air during a break from 13 April's edition of Saturday Night Live, and subsequently continued to receive multiple airings on major cable networks.[34]
From 26 July to 27 September 2014, Weaving played the titular role of Sydney Theatre Company's production of Macbeth.[35] In an unusual treatment of the Shakespearian tragedy by young Sydney director Kip Williams, Weaving's performance was described by Peter Gotting of The Guardian as "the role of his career".[36]
In October 2015, Weaving joined the cast of the film adaption of Craig Silvey's novel Jasper Jones.[37][38]
In 2018, Weaving starred as Thaddeus Valentine in Mortal Engines. In the same year, he appeared alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in the miniseries Patrick Melrose.
In 2020, Weaving starred as Alfred in Tony Kushner's adaptation of The Visit.[39]
Since 2021, Weaving has starred as Glen Mathieson[40] in the Australian intergenerational drama series Love Me.
In 2024, Weaving played character Frank Harkness in season 4 of Slow Horses.
Other roles
[edit]In 2004, Weaving became an ambassador for Australian animal rights organisation Voiceless, the animal protection institute. He attends events, promotes Voiceless in interviews, and assists in their judging of annual grants recipients.[41]
As of 2022[update], Weaving is on the board of the Adelaide Film Festival.[42]
Personal life
[edit]When he was 13 years old, Weaving was diagnosed with epilepsy. Although the condition rarely affected him and stopped in his early 30s, he still chooses not to drive, given the risk of a seizure.[43][44]
He has been in a relationship with Katrina Greenwood since 1984;[45] they live in Sydney and have two children together: Harry Greenwood, an actor, and Holly Greenwood, an artist.[46] The children were given their mother's surname, which Weaving's son described as the family's "stand against the patriarchy."[47]
Weaving has a brother and a sister. He is the uncle of actress Samara Weaving, who began her career in Australia before transitioning to American roles. Both appeared in the 2013 Australian film Mystery Road. His younger niece Morgan Weaving appeared on the Australian soap opera Home and Away alongside her sister.[48]
Awards
[edit]- 1991 – Australian Film Institute Awards, Best Actor in a Lead Role: Proof
- 1998 – Australian Film Institute Awards, Best Actor in a Lead Role: The Interview
- 2005 – Australian Film Institute Awards, Best Actor in a Lead Role: Little Fish
- 2007 – The Constellation Awards, Best Male Performance in a 2006 Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, or Miniseries: V for Vendetta
- 2011 – Sydney Theatre Award, Best Supporting Actor: Sydney Theatre Company's Uncle Vanya Archived 21 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- 2012 – Helen Hayes Award, Best Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production: Sydney Theatre Company's Uncle Vanya
- 2018 – Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Play, for Arturo Ui in the Sydney Theatre Company's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui[49]
- 2018 – Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film: Patrick Melrose
- 2020 – Fargo Film Festival, Best Actor: Hearts and Bones[50]
- 2020 – Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia[51]
- 2024 - AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama: Love Me[52]
- 2024 - AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role: The Rooster[52]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Bodyline | Douglas Jardine | 7 episodes |
| 1987 | Frontier | Governor Arthur | 3 episodes |
| 1988 | Melba | Charles Armstrong | 6 episodes |
| The Dirtwater Dynasty | Richard Eastwick | 5 episodes | |
| Dadah Is Death | Geoffrey Chambers | Television film | |
| 1989 | Bangkok Hilton | Richard Carlisle | 3 episodes |
| 1993 | Seven Deadly Sins | Lust | Episode: "Lust" |
| 1995 | Bordertown | Kenneth Pearson | 10 episodes |
| 1996 | The Bite | Jack Shannon | 2 episodes |
| Naked: Stories of Men | Martin Furlong | Episode: "Coral Island" | |
| 1997 | Halifax f.p. | Det. Sgt. Tom Hurkos | Episode: "Isn't It Romantic" |
| 2003 | After the Deluge | Martin Kirby | Television film |
| 2010 | Rake | Prof Graham Murray | Episode: "R vs Murray" |
| Inside the Firestorm | Narrator | Documentary | |
| I, Spry | Narrator | Documentary | |
| 2017 | Seven Types of Ambiguity | Dr Alex Klima | 5 episodes |
| 2018 | Patrick Melrose | David Melrose | |
| 2021 | Mr. Corman | Artie Corman | Episode: "Mr. Corman" |
| 2021–23 | Love Me | Glen | 12 episodes |
| 2023 | Koala Man | King Emudeus | Episode: "Emu War II" |
| 2024 | Slow Horses | Frank Harkness | Season 4 |
Video games
[edit]| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Enter the Matrix | Agent Smith | |
| 2006 | The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II[55] | Elrond | |
| 2009 | The Lord of the Rings: Conquest[56] |
Theatre
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Warner, Harry (3 September 2024). "Hugo Weaving refuses to watch Rings of Power series". JOE.ie. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
- ^ Team, The IF (14 November 2008). "Hugo Weaving honoured as living legend".
- ^ "Member of the Order of Australia". PM&C. Archived from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
- ^ a b c "Meet the listener: Anne Lennard, wartime evacuee – Life Matters". Australia: ABC. 29 September 2009. Archived from the original on 22 January 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ^ a b "Quiet achiever". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 April 2006. Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
- ^ "Hugo Weaving Profile: Biography, Filmography & Photos". uk.movies.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ^ "Weaving no red carpet spells". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 March 2004. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ "Schools In Sydney - NSW Schools - Private Schools Sydney - Find a School". 30 August 2007. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ "Hugo at home (Hugo Weaving), 2011". National Portrait Gallery collection. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ "The Magic Pudding (2000)". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 March 2016.[dead link]
- ^ Froggatt, Emma (31 July 2015). "Hugo Weaving's top 10 on-screen moments – in pictures". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "V for Vendetta': Reel and real events resonate for star Natalie Portman". tribunedigital-mcall. 16 March 2006. Archived from the original on 11 March 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ "Six actors who were fired from films". NewsComAu. 28 December 2013. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ Karly Rayner. "I Was Fired From The Amazing Spider-Man 2... Was I Awful?". moviepilot.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ "Depth among the shallows". The Age. Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Digital. 12 February 2010. Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
- ^ "BBC".
- ^ Uncle Vanya Archived 24 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine at the Sydney Theatre Company
- ^ a b Jaafar, Ali (23 November 2009). "Emily Watson joins 'Oranges'". Variety.
- ^ Zack Snyder's Guardians of Ga'Hoole Cast Coming Together Archived 6 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine 20 November 2009
- ^ "Hugo Weaving confirmed as Red Skull in Captain America". Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
- ^ "From 'Captain America' to 'Uncle Vanya,' Hugo Weaving stretches his acting chops". The Baltimore Sun. 5 August 2011. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013.
- ^ SXSW Exclusive First Look: 'The Key Man' Poster Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Film School Rejects (10 March 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-04.
- ^ "Oranges and Sunshine: an illuminating true-life drama". The Guardian. London. 14 March 2011. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ "Kennedy Center offers Cate Blanchett, hip-hop, 'The Addams Family'". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 24 June 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
- ^ "Kiwi actor steps into Hobbit breach". The Dominion Post. 2 May 2011. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012.
- ^ Roxborough, Scott (11 May 2011). "Hugo Weaving, Ben Whishaw Join 'Cloud Atlas' (Cannes Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ^ "Curtain's up on Liaison with wicked wit". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 September 2011. Archived from the original on 25 September 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- ^ Mckinley, James C. Jr. (18 December 2011). "A New York Stop for Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving and 'Uncle Vanya'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
- ^ "Ivan Sen's Mystery Road begins filming in Qld". Inside Film. 26 June 2012. Archived from the original on 29 June 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ^ "Screen Australia Backs 4 Films, 8 TV Projects". Deadline. 25 June 2012. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
- ^ "A Dane takes Aussie film sales to a new level". SBS. 12 November 2012. Archived from the original on 11 March 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ "Cate Blanchett Lights Up Lincoln Center". Gotham Magazine. June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- ^ "Sydney Theatre Company 2013 Season". Time Out Sydney. 6 September 2012. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012.
- ^ Connelly, Brendon (13 April 2013). "Agent Smith Returns – A General Electric Commercial Set in the World of the Matrix". bleedingcool.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ^ "Sydney Theatre Company - Macbeth". Sydney Theatre Company. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ Peter Gotting (28 July 2014). "Macbeth review – Hugo Weaving finds the role of his career". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "Incredible cast brought together for the film adaption of the iconic Australian novel, Jasper Jones". Film Ink (Australia). Archived from the original on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ Morris, Linda (18 October 2015). "Hugo Weaving, Toni Collette join all-star cast of Jasper Jones". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 24 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ^ "Lesley Manville and Hugo Weaving in The Visit at the National Theatre: first look photos | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ Love Me (TV Mini Series 2021– ) - IMDb, archived from the original on 17 June 2023, retrieved 17 June 2023
- ^ "Hugo Weaving | Voiceless". Voiceless. February 2012. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- ^ Debelle, Penelope (7 October 2022). "The state of science fiction". InDaily . Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Hoffman, Barbara (26 July 2012). "Aussie lord of the stage". New York Post. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- ^ "Quiet achiever". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 April 2006.
- ^ McCauley, Mary Carole (5 August 2011). "From 'Captain America' to 'Uncle Vanya,' Hugo Weaving stretches his acting chops". themorningcall.com. The Morning Call. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ "Harry Greenwood shines in first lead TV role in Gallipoli and he's the spitting image of dad Hugo Weaving". News.com.au. 30 January 2015. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ Blake, Elissa (2 November 2016). "Actor Harry Greenwood has 'the ideal sounding board' – his father, Hugo Weaving". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ T. V. 3. "Samara Weaving (as Indigo Walker)". Home and Away Cast Biographies. TV3. Archived from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "2018 Nominees | Helpmann Awards". www.helpmannawards.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
- ^ "Best Actor | Fargo Film Festival". Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ "Australian Honours Search Facility: Mr. Hugo Wallace Weaving". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ a b "AACTA Awards 2024: winners". TV Tonight. 10 February 2024. Archived from the original on 11 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ Buckmaster, Luke (7 August 2023). "The Rooster review – Hugo Weaving kicks this study of masculinity into gear". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "The Rooster". MIFF 2023. 30 July 2023. Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth II". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ "The Lord of the Rings: Conquest". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "HUGO WEAVING". www.sydneytheatre.com.au. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ "Richard Roxburgh and Hugo Weaving seduce London critics with Waiting for Godot". amp.smh.com.au. 8 June 2015. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui". Sydney Theatre Company. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Review: The Visit or The Old Lady Comes to Call (National Theatre)". 14 February 2020. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "Wonnangatta". www.sydneytheatre.com.au. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "The President by Thomas Bernhard". Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
Further reading
[edit]- The Dictionary of Performing Arts in Australia – Theatre . Film . Radio . Television – Volume 1 – Ann Atkinson, Linsay Knight, Margaret McPhee – Allen & Unwin Pty. Ltd., 1996
- The Australian Film and Television Companion – compiled by Tony Harrison – Simon & Schuster Australia, 1994
External links
[edit]
- Hugo Weaving at IMDb
- Hugo Weaving at TCM
Hugo Weaving
View on GrokipediaEarly years
Childhood and family background
Hugo Wallace Weaving was born on 4 April 1960 in Ibadan, in colonial Nigeria, to British parents Anne Lennard, a tour guide and teacher, and Wallace Weaving, a seismologist. He has an older brother, Simon, and a younger sister, Anna.[11][3] His birth in Nigeria stemmed from his father's professional assignments abroad, marking the beginning of a peripatetic early life shaped by international relocations.[12] Due to Wallace Weaving's career in seismology, the family frequently moved, spending time in South Africa during Weaving's childhood and in England before finally settling in Australia in 1976 when Weaving was 16 years old, arriving in Sydney where he would later complete his education. The family's British heritage, rooted in England, combined with this nomadic existence across continents, exposed young Weaving to diverse cultures, languages, and environments, cultivating a sense of adaptability and global perspective from an early age.[12][3][13] At age 13, while living in England, Weaving was diagnosed with epilepsy, experiencing seizures approximately once a year that initially disrupted his childhood.[12] These episodes, which persisted into his adulthood before being managed, added a layer of challenge to his formative years amid the family's ongoing transitions.[12]Education and training
Upon arriving in Australia with his family in 1976 at the age of 16, Hugo Weaving attended Knox Grammar School in Sydney from 1976 to 1978.[14] The school, known for its strong drama program, provided an environment where Weaving cultivated a passion for acting through participation in school plays.[14][4] His multicultural upbringing, marked by residences in Nigeria, South Africa, and England before settling in Australia, enhanced his adaptability to the formal, all-boys structure of Knox Grammar.[15] This period represented a transitional phase for Weaving, bridging his international childhood experiences with a commitment to the arts in his new home country.[14] To formalize his acting aspirations, Weaving enrolled at Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney, graduating in 1981 with a Diploma of Dramatic Art (Acting).[15] At NIDA, he honed his craft in an intensive program renowned for producing leading performers.[4] Following his graduation, Weaving embarked on early professional experiences through a two-year contract with the Sydney Theatre Company, where he took on minor theatre roles that served as foundational steps toward his acting career.[15] This initial involvement in Australian theatre allowed him to build practical skills and connections in the industry.[4]Professional career
Early roles (1980s–1990s)
Hugo Weaving began his professional acting career shortly after graduating from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 1981, securing a two-year contract with the Sydney Theatre Company that established his early stage presence in Australian productions.[15] During the 1980s, he appeared in notable theatre works, including a critically acclaimed performance as the Vicomte de Valmont in Christopher Hampton's Les Liaisons Dangereuses in 1987.[16] These roles honed his versatility and contributed to his reputation as a compelling stage performer in Sydney's theatre scene. Weaving's television debut came in 1984 with the Australian miniseries Bodyline, where he portrayed English cricket captain Douglas Jardine during the controversial 1932–33 Ashes series.[17] He followed this with supporting roles in other Australian TV productions, such as the miniseries The Dirtwater Dynasty (1988) and Bangkok Hilton (1989), opposite Nicole Kidman, which showcased his ability to handle period dramas and intense character studies.[18] These early television appearances marked his transition from theatre to screen, building a foundation in supporting parts within the Australian industry. By the early 1990s, Weaving shifted toward leading film roles, beginning with his portrayal of the blind photographer Martin in Proof (1991), directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse, for which he won the Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role—his first major accolade.[19] This performance highlighted his nuanced depiction of vulnerability and paranoia, earning praise for elevating the low-budget independent film. His breakthrough came in 1994 with The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, where he played the drag queen Anthony "Tick" Belrose / Mitzi Del Bra, a role that blended comedy, pathos, and social commentary on LGBTQ+ experiences in rural Australia, garnering international attention for its bold energy.[20] Weaving continued this momentum with the lead in The Interview (1998), directed by Craig Monahan, as Eddie Rodney Fleming, a seemingly innocuous man interrogated over a crime, which allowed him to explore psychological depth and ambiguity. For this, he received another AFI Award for Best Actor, solidifying his status as a leading figure in Australian cinema by the decade's end.[21]International breakthrough (2000s)
Hugo Weaving's international breakthrough began with his portrayal of Agent Smith in the Matrix trilogy, directed by the Wachowskis, starting with the 1999 film The Matrix and continuing through The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions in 2003. This role, as the relentless AI enforcer, showcased his ability to embody cold authority and marked his entry into major Hollywood productions, elevating him from Australian cinema to global recognition.[22][23] Building on this momentum, Weaving took on the role of Elrond, the wise Elven lord, in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, appearing in The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003). Filmed primarily in New Zealand during the late 1990s and early 2000s, the production demanded extensive commitment, including prosthetics and motion capture, which further solidified his status as a versatile character actor in epic fantasy.[24][25] In 2005, Weaving starred as the masked anarchist V in V for Vendetta, a dystopian thriller adapted from the graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, reuniting him with the Wachowskis as screenwriters. His performance, delivered entirely through a Guy Fawkes mask and stylized movement, emphasized themes of resistance against tyranny and contributed to the film's cult status.[26][27] Weaving expanded into voice acting during this period, voicing the patriarchal Noah the Elder in the animated Happy Feet (2006) and the villainous Decepticon leader Megatron in Michael Bay's Transformers (2007), Revenge of the Fallen (2009), and Dark of the Moon (2011). These roles highlighted his vocal range in family entertainment and blockbuster action, respectively.[28][23] Meanwhile, he maintained ties to Australian cinema with leading roles like the neurotic detective Harvey in the romantic comedy Russian Doll (2001), balancing high-profile international commitments with local projects.[29][30]Contemporary work (2010s–2020s)
In the early 2010s, Hugo Weaving expanded his presence in major franchises while demonstrating his versatility through multifaceted performances. He portrayed the villainous Red Skull in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), a Marvel Comics adaptation directed by Joe Johnston, where his depiction of the disfigured Nazi leader Johann Schmidt added a layer of chilling intensity to the superhero origin story. The following year, Weaving took on six distinct roles in the ambitious ensemble film Cloud Atlas (2012), directed by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer, including the tyrannical Nurse Noakes in a dystopian future segment and the sinister Bill Smoke in a 1970s thriller subplot, allowing him to explore a spectrum of moral ambiguities across interconnected timelines.[31] Weaving reprised his role as the elf lord Elrond in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy (2012–2014), appearing in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012), The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013), and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014), bridging the prequel narrative to his earlier work in The Lord of the Rings films while contributing to the epic fantasy's visual and lore-driven scope. Later in the decade, he starred as the ambitious and ruthless Thaddeus Valentine, the head of the Guild of Historians, in the post-apocalyptic adventure Mortal Engines (2018), directed by Christian Rivers, where his charismatic yet menacing performance drove the film's central conflict over ancient technologies in a world of mobile cities.[32] Entering the 2020s, Weaving shifted toward television with roles that highlighted his dramatic depth in ensemble casts. He played Glen, a complex family patriarch navigating modern relationships and personal regrets, in the Australian series Love Me (2021–2023), a Binge/Foxtel production created by Alison Bell and Gabriel Partos, spanning two seasons that examined intergenerational love across four family units.[33] In 2024, Weaving appeared as the antagonistic ex-MI5 operative Frank Harkness in season four of the Apple TV+ spy thriller Slow Horses, directed by James Hawes, bringing a formidable presence to the espionage intrigue; he is confirmed to return for season five.[34] Weaving continued his screen work with supporting roles in independent films that emphasized character-driven narratives. In The Royal Hotel (2023), directed by Kitty Green, he portrayed Billy, the boisterous and predatory pub owner in a remote Australian mining town, contributing to the film's tense exploration of gender dynamics and isolation through his unsettling charisma.[35] He also starred as Daniel, a reclusive farmer grappling with profound loss and isolation, in the Australian drama The Rooster (2023), directed by Mark Leonard Winter, which delves into themes of grief and mental health in rural settings. He followed this with the lead role of Noel, a grieving father confronting loss during the holiday season, in the Australian drama How to Make Gravy (2024), directed by Nick Waterman and inspired by Paul Kelly's song, which premiered on Binge and Foxtel.[36] Looking ahead to 2025, Weaving is involved in several diverse projects underscoring his ongoing commitment to varied genres. He joins the cast of the erotic thriller Hold Still, produced by Seymour Pictures and currently filming in New Zealand, adding to his repertoire of intense dramatic roles.[37] Weaving leads the offbeat legal dramedy series The Great White for ABC Australia, co-directed by Mia Wasikowska and produced by See-Saw Films, focusing on unconventional courtroom antics in a coastal setting.[38] Additionally, he stars opposite Heather Mitchell in the untitled romance drama Dalliance for Paramount+, a Roadshow Rough Diamond production reuniting the Love Me co-stars as mismatched lovers whose lives intersect dramatically on a Sydney ferry.[39] Post-franchise, Weaving has increasingly gravitated toward independent cinema and voice performances that leverage his distinctive baritone. His voice work persisted into the 2010s with the role of Megatron in Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), while the 2020s saw him narrate documentaries and provide voiceovers in Australian productions, maintaining his versatility without the constraints of large-scale blockbusters. This focus on indie projects has allowed him to prioritize nuanced, character-centric stories that align with his established range.[40]Other ventures
Philanthropy and activism
Hugo Weaving has been actively involved in animal rights advocacy, serving as an ambassador for the Australian animal protection organization Voiceless since 2004. In this role, he has promoted awareness of factory farming practices and supported reforms to improve animal welfare standards, including voicing narrations for campaigns and attending events to highlight issues like intensive animal agriculture.[41][42] For instance, in 2012, Weaving featured in a series of television advertisements for Voiceless that focused on the conditions of animals in factory farms, urging viewers to consider the ethical implications of food production.[43] Weaving has publicly discussed his commitment to animal welfare in interviews, linking it to his personal values and family influences. He ceased eating red meat around 2002, inspired by his children's decision to adopt a vegetarian diet, and has emphasized the importance of compassion toward animals as a core principle.[44] These statements often tie his advocacy to broader ethical considerations, such as reducing animal suffering through dietary choices and supporting organizations that challenge exploitative industries.[44] Weaving has also advocated for marriage equality in Australia. In 2015, he starred in television advertisements for Australian Marriage Equality's #WeCanDoThis campaign, alongside celebrities like Julia Morris, calling for the legalization of same-sex marriage.[10] In 2017, he supported The Equality Campaign by appearing in promotional materials emphasizing the simple logic behind marriage equality.[45] In the environmental sphere, Weaving has contributed to initiatives concerning Australian wildlife conservation, particularly in the wake of natural disasters. He narrated the 2020 documentary Wild Australia: After the Fires, which documents the recovery of native species following the devastating 2019–2020 bushfires, underscoring the need for habitat protection and climate action to safeguard biodiversity.[46] Additionally, in 2022, he narrated the documentary Franklin, which explores philanthropy-driven environmental activism, including the historic campaign to save the Franklin River from damming in the 1980s, featuring interviews with key figures like Bob Brown.[47] His long-term residency in Australia has shaped his focus on local causes, including those tied to the country's unique ecosystems and animal populations.[46]Professional affiliations
Hugo Weaving has served as a board director for the Adelaide Film Festival since November 2020, playing a key role in promoting Australian cinema through strategic oversight and public engagement at festival events.[48][49] Over several decades, Weaving has maintained extensive collaborations with the Sydney Theatre Company, contributing to more than 20 productions, readings, and workshops that have enriched Australian theatre.[50] Weaving has been involved with the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), notably presenting awards at ceremonies such as the 2013 AACTA Awards, which underscores his ongoing support for the Australian screen industry.[51] (Note: Use actual AACTA official link if available; based on search, it's from AACTA channel.) In 2024–2025, Weaving took on advisory roles in emerging projects, including narrating the epic sci-fi fantasy novel Maya: Seed Takes Root as part of its promotional launch, helping to build anticipation for the Maya Narrative Universe.[52][53]Personal life
Family and relationships
Hugo Weaving has been in a long-term relationship with theatre director and artist Katrina Greenwood since 1984, having first met her as childhood playmates in Sydney's Wahroonga suburb when they were four years old.[3][7] The couple first reconnected during Weaving's time at NIDA in 1980. They began their relationship in their mid-20s, when both were single, and quickly formed a profound partnership.[3] They have never married, emphasizing the stability of their bond without formal ties, which Weaving has described as rooted in equality and mutual commitment amid his nomadic early professional life.[7][3] Weaving and Greenwood have two children: a son, Harry Greenwood, born in 1989, who has pursued a career as an actor, and a daughter, Holly Greenwood, born in 1993, who is an artist represented by galleries in Sydney.[54][55] The couple decided to start a family after six years together, integrating parenting into their shared creative lives while shielding their children from public scrutiny.[3] The family has been based in Sydney, Australia, where Weaving and Greenwood have maintained a low public profile, allowing them to nurture a stable home environment despite Weaving's international work commitments.[7][3] Weaving has noted that Australia's relative distance from Hollywood facilitates this privacy, enabling the family to focus on everyday joys like cooking and gardening.[7]Health challenges
Hugo Weaving was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 13 and experienced seizures starting in his teenage years.[12][56] He began managing the condition with medication shortly after diagnosis, which helped control the frequency of seizures; by adulthood, they occurred approximately once a year but became rare overall.[12][57] The seizures ceased entirely in his 40s, entering a state of remission that allowed him to discontinue long-term medication after a challenging 10-year withdrawal process, during which he experienced increased anxiety and irritability as he adjusted to his unmedicated emotional state. Due to his condition, Weaving was unable to drive until after remission, obtaining his license following two seizure-free years.[58][12] Weaving has publicly discussed his epilepsy in interviews since the 2010s, noting that it never significantly interrupted his acting career and emphasizing its role in building personal resilience. He has continued to advocate for epilepsy awareness, including as a keynote speaker as of 2025.[12][57][18] As of 2025, his condition remains in remission with no reported seizures in over two decades.[58]Awards and recognition
Major awards
Hugo Weaving has received numerous accolades throughout his career, with a particular emphasis on recognition from Australian institutions for his contributions to film and theatre. He is the recipient of six Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards—formerly known as the Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards—highlighting his versatility in both leading and supporting roles across decades of Australian cinema. These wins underscore his status as one of Australia's most honored actors, often celebrated for performances that blend emotional depth with subtle intensity.[59] Weaving's first AACTA Award came in 1991 for his portrayal of the blind photographer Martin in Proof, directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse, where he won Best Actor in a Leading Role; the film itself swept multiple categories that year, marking an early career milestone.[60] He secured his second win in 1998 for The Interview, earning Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role as the psychologically unraveling Eddie Fleming, a role that showcased his ability to convey quiet desperation. In 2005, Weaving claimed another Best Actor in a Leading Role award for Little Fish, playing the recovering addict Ray Meagre opposite Cate Blanchett, contributing to the film's 13 nominations and five total wins.[61] Transitioning to supporting roles, he won Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2011 for Oranges and Sunshine, embodying the tormented Jack in this historical drama about the British child migrant program.[62] His fifth AACTA came in 2015 for Best Supporting Actor as the eccentric Sergeant Farrat in The Dressmaker, a satirical take on small-town Australia that earned the film four awards overall.[63] His sixth win was in 2024 for Best Supporting Actor as the hermit in The Rooster, a drama exploring themes of redemption and isolation.[64]| Year | Award | Category | Work | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | AACTA (AFI) | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Proof | First win; film won Best Film, Best Director, and more.[60] |
| 1998 | AACTA (AFI) | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role | The Interview | Film won Best Film; Weaving's second leading win. |
| 2005 | AACTA (AFI) | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Little Fish | Third leading win; co-star Cate Blanchett also won Best Actress.[61] |
| 2011 | AACTA | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Oranges and Sunshine | Inaugural AACTA ceremony; film nominated for six awards.[62] |
| 2015 | AACTA | Best Supporting Actor | The Dressmaker | Fifth overall win; reunited with Proof director Moorhouse.[63] |
| 2024 | AACTA | Best Supporting Actor | The Rooster | Sixth overall win; film nominated for Best Film.[64] |