Hugo Weaving
Hugo Weaving British Nigeria | |
---|---|
Citizenship | UK (from parents) |
Education | National Institute of Dramatic Art (BFA) |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1980–present |
Partner | Katrina Greenwood (1984–present) |
Children | 2, including Harry Greenwood |
Relatives | Samara Weaving (niece) |
Hugo Wallace Weaving
Born in
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
Weaving was born on 4 April 1960 at the
While in the UK, he attended The Downs School, Wraxall, near Bristol, and Queen Elizabeth's Hospital.[5] 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.[6] He graduated from Sydney's National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1981.[7]
Career
1984–1998
Weaving's first television role was in the 1984 Australian television series
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
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.[8]

He received additional acclaim in the role of the
Weaving reprised his role as Elrond for the video game

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
Weaving played a supporting role in
Weaving spent the summer of 2009 starring in the
In May 2009, Weaving accepted a co-starring role in the docudrama
On 4 May 2010, it was officially confirmed by
2011–present

On 13 March 2011, The Key Man, which Weaving filmed in 2006, finally debuted at the
2012 found Weaving re-focusing on his theatrical career, with a return to the Sydney Theatre Company to star in a new adaptation of
The busy actor joined the cast of three forthcoming Australian films in summer 2012. The Western-tinged police thriller
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.[32]
From 26 July to 27 September 2014, Weaving played the titular role of Sydney Theatre Company's production of Macbeth.[33] 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".[34]
In October 2015, Weaving joined the cast of the film adaption of Craig Silvey's novel Jasper Jones.[35][36]
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.[37]
Since 2021, Weaving has starred as Glen Mathieson[38] in the Australian intergenerational drama series Love Me.
In 2024, Weaving played character Frank Harkness in season 4 of Slow Horses.
Other roles
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.[39]
As of 2022[update], Weaving is on the board of the Adelaide Film Festival.[40]
Personal life
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.[41][42]
He has been in a relationship with Katrina Greenwood since 1984;[43] they live in Sydney and have two children together: Harry Greenwood, an actor, and Holly Greenwood, an artist.[44] The children were given their mother's surname, which Weaving's son described as the family's "stand against the patriarchy."[45]
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.[46]
Awards
- 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[47]
- 2018 – Patrick Melrose
- 2020 – Fargo Film Festival, Best Actor: Hearts and Bones[48]
- 2020 – Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia[49]
- 2024 - AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama: Love Me[50]
- 2024 - AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role: The Rooster[50]
Filmography
Film
Television
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" |
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
Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | Enter the Matrix | Agent Smith | |
2006 | The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II[53] | Elrond | |
2009 | The Lord of the Rings: Conquest[54] |
Theatre
References
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- ^ 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.
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- ^ "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. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- InDaily . Archivedfrom 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". 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.
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- ^ "Best Actor | Fargo Film Festival". Retrieved 2 December 2024.
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- ^ 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
- 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
- Hugo Weaving at IMDb
- Hugo Weaving at TCM