Ewen Leslie

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Ewen Leslie
Born (1980-07-27) 27 July 1980 (age 45)
Education John Curtin College of the Arts [1]
Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (2000) [2]
Occupation Actor
Years active1993–present
PartnerNicole O'Donohue [3] [4]
Children2 [3] [4]

Ewen Leslie (born 27 July 1980) is an Australian actor.

Contents

Early life and education

Leslie is from Fremantle, Western Australia. He was acting in school plays at the age of ten. After seeing a newspaper advertisement for auditions for children's series Ship to Shore , he secured a role on the show from the age of 12 to 14. From there he attended high school at John Curtin College of the Arts, via a theatre scholarship, attending at the same time as fellow actor Sam Worthington, who was several years older. [1]

Leslie wanted to attend Sydney's National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) after his senior year, but missed the auditions. [1] Instead, he ended up studying acting at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in Perth, graduating in 2000. [2]

Career

Theatre

After graduating from WAAPA, Leslie moved to Sydney, and between bar work shifts at the Old Fitzroy Hotel, he began performing in shows at the venue. His first paid stage-acting job was a small part in a 2007 production of Paul at Belvoir Theatre, which lead to further stage roles at Belvoir. He eventually scored a role in Riflemind, a play by Andrew Upton which for Sydney Theatre Company directed by Oscar-winning actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman and starring Hugo Weaving and Martin Csokas. His performance caught the attention of Cate Blanchett. [1] [5]

He joined the STC Actors Company in 2008 and won a Helpmann Award [6] and a Sydney Theatre Award [7] for his performance as Prince Hal/Henry V opposite Cate Blanchett in The War of the Roses (directed by Benedict Andrews). [8]

In 2010, Leslie played Richard III at the Melbourne Theatre Company directed by Simon Philips. Alison Croggon in The Australian wrote: "This is a deeply intelligent performance, physically and emotionally unafraid. It marks the ascension of a remarkable actor". [9] He won his second Helpmann Award and a Green Room Award for this performance.

The following year, Leslie played Hamlet in a sellout season at the Melbourne Theatre Company, [10] a role he would reprise in 2013 in Sydney for Belvoir St Theatre. He played one of the lead roles in The Wild Duck (directed by Simon Stone) [11] which had successful seasons in Sydney, Melbourne and Oslo for The Ibsen Festival.

In 2013 he was The Player in STC's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead opposite Toby Schmitz and Tim Minchin. [12] In 2015 he travelled to Paris to perform in Simon Stone's production of Thyestes , and played the title role in Belvoir's production of Ivanov . [13]

In 2021, Leslie returned to the Sydney Theatre Company to perform in Kip Williams' production of Julius Caesar performed by only three actors.

Film and television

Leslie's first break came when he was cast as the lead role in 2005 drama Jewboy , a film that screened at the Cannes Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival. He has played lead roles in several drama films – Three Blind Mice (2008), Dead Europe (2012), and The Daughter (2015) and The Butterfly Tree (2017). His or her film appearances include war film Kokoda (2006), erotic psychological horror drama Sleeping Beauty (2011), war drama The Railway Man (2013), black comedy The Mule (2014), outback drama Sweet Country (2017) and colonial thriller The Nightingale (2017). Leslie also voiced the character of Pigling Bland in the live action / animated Peter Rabbit films. [14]

His notable television roles include Operation Buffalo , The Luminaries , The Gloaming , The Cry , Safe Harbour , Fighting Season , Deadline Gallipoli , Devil's Dust , Mabo , Redfern Now and Rake .

In 2017, Leslie won an AACTA Award for his role as Pyke in the second season of Top of the Lake , opposite Elisabeth Moss, Nicole Kidman and Alice Englert. Maureen Ryan in Variety wrote that his performance was "subtle and powerful", while Michael Idato in the Sydney Morning Herald wrote, "In a world where fame is fleeting and often hoisted upon the undeserved, Leslie is a proper revelation. He's a stunning performer, perhaps one of the best on our screens". [15]

In 2024, Leslie appeared in Stan thriller series Exposure and drama series Prosper. [16] [17] In December 2024, Leslie was named in the cast for Foxtel drama The Twelve. [18]

Leslie has also performed voiceover work on television commercials for My State Bank, Subaru, McDonald's McCafé, University of Melbourne, Repco RACQ and BMG. [19]

Personal life

Leslie's partner of over 20 years is award-winning film producer Nicole O'Donohue, and together they have two children, Elliot and Eve. [3] [4]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998JusticeBully
2002The DoppelgangersFitzShort film
2004Sold OutPunterShort film
Right Here Right NowSBLT Sam FisherFeature film
2005 Jewboy YuriFeature film
Live to GiveSebShort film
The MechanicalsToast ManShort film
2006 Kokoda WilsteadFeature film
2007KatoombaDonShort film
2008 Three Blind Mice SamFeature film
Netherland Dwarf DadShort film
2009LonelyBobShort film
ApricotMarcelShort film
2011 Sleeping Beauty BirdmannFeature film
2012 Dead Europe IsaacFeature film
SuspendedDaveShort film
2013Scene 16LukeShort film
The Railway Man ThompsonFeature film
2014 The Mule Detective Les ParisFeature film
2015 The Daughter Oliver FinchFeature film
Death in BloomChristopher CrumplesShort film
2017 The Butterfly Tree AlFeature film
Sweet Country Harry MarchFeature film
FaceJamesShort film
2018 Peter Rabbit Pigling Bland (voice)Feature film
The Nightingale GoodwinFeature film
2021 Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway Pigling Bland (voice)Feature film
2022 The Stranger Assistant Commissioner MillikenFeature film
TBAMr PillowUpcoming

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993 Ship to Shore Guido Bellini52 episodes
1996 Bush Patrol Dave1 episode
1997 The Gift BoyEpisode: "The Cockroach Rap"
2001 Wild Kat Morgan Ritchie13 episodes
2002 The Road from Coorain RegTelevision film
The Junction Boys Luke MasonTelevision film
2003 All Saints Tony Hunter3 episodes
2006 Love My Way Duc8 episodes
2007 Lockie Leonard John East7 episodes
2009 My Place Mr. Bracey1 episode
2012 Mabo Bryan Keon-CohenTelevision film
Devil's Dust Matt Peacock Miniseries
Redfern Now Mr. Parish2 episodes
2013 Top of the Lake Steve (voice)Episode: "The Edge of the Universe"
Mr & Mrs Murder HugoEpisode: "The Course Whisperer"
2014 Wonderland Nick Deakin8 episodes
2015 Deadline Gallipoli Keith Murdoch 1 episode
No Activity Police officer (voice)6 episodes
2016 Janet King Patrick Bocarro5 episodes
Rake Bevan Leigh3 episodes
2017 Top of the Lake Pyke6 episodes
Sisters Abraham2 episodes
2018 Safe Harbour Ryan GallagherMiniseries
Fighting Season Captain Edward 'Ted' NordenfeltMain cast
The Cry Alistair RobertsonMain cast
2020 The Luminaries Crosbie WellsMain cast
The Gloaming Alex O’ConnellMain cast
Operation Buffalo Major Leo CarmichaelMain cast
2022 Pieces of Her Arthur Gibson4 episodes
Bali 2002 Tom Keirath1 episode
2023 The Clearing Tom Atkins1 episode
2024 Prosper Dion Quinn8 episodes
Colin from Accounts Constable Byrne1 episode
Exposure Jim1 episode
2025 The Twelve Season 3: "Cape Rock Killer"

Theatre

YearShowRoleVenue
2002Flowers in the Snow Newtown Theatre, Sydney for Short+Sweet
2003Votive OfferingsTroy Darlinghurst Theatre, Sydney
Woyzeck Doctor Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney
Chicks Will Dig You!Seb Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney
2004Cross SectionsAaron Tamarama Rock Surfers, Sydney
This Blasted Earth / A Christmas Miracle With MusicFather Tim / Scarlett Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney with Tamarama Rock Surfers, Sydney
2005Top Shorts Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney with Naked Theatre Company
2005–2006ShakesperealismLewisThe Naked Theatre Company
2006Emergency Sex (and Other Desperate Measures) Wharf Theatre, Sydney
Plays: By Himself Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney
2007 Paul Yeshua Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney
Dead Caesar Cassius Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
RiflemindLee
2008The Serpent's TeethSam Lewis Sydney Opera House with STC
GallipoliBilly Hughes / Atatürk Sydney Theatre
2009 The War of the Roses Prince Hal / Henry V / George of Clarence Sydney Theatre, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth
The Promise Marat Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney
2010 Richard III Richard III, Duke of Gloucester Southbank Theatre, Melbourne with MTC
The Trial Josef K. Wharf Theatre, Sydney, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, Subiaco Arts Centre, Perth with STC
2011 Hamlet Prince Hamlet MTC
2011–2012 The Wild Duck Hjalmar Ekdal Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, Nationaltheatret, Oslo, Norway with Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney
2013 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Brick Pollitt Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney, Theatre Royal Sydney
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead The Player STC
Hamlet Prince Hamlet Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney
2015 Thyestes Atreus Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney, Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers, France
Ivanov Nikolai Ivanov Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney
2021 Julius Caesar Cassius / various roles Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
2022–2023 The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Henry Jekyll / Edward Hyde / various roles Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide with STC

[2] [20]

Awards and nominations

YearCeremonyCategoryWorkResult
2005 Australian Film Institute Awards Outstanding Achievement in Craft in a Non-Feature Jewboy Nominated
2006Movie Extra Filmink AwardsBest Australian NewcomerNominated
2009 Sydney Theatre Awards Best Actor in a Lead Role The War of the Roses Won
Helpmann Awards Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play Won
2010 Best Male Actor in a Play Richard III Won
Green Room Awards Best Male ActorWon
2011 Sydney Theatre Awards Best Actor in a Lead Role The Wild Duck Nominated
2012 Australian Film Critics Association AwardsBest Actor Dead Europe Nominated
Film Critics Circle of Australia AwardsBest ActorNominated
Green Room Awards Best Ensemble – Theatre Companies The Wild Duck Nominated
Best Male ActorNominated
2013 Equity Ensemble Awards Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Television Movie or Miniseries Mabo Nominated
Devil's Dust Won
Sydney Theatre Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Nominated
2014 Glugs Theatrical Awards Best Supporting ActorNominated
Helpmann Awards Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play Nominated
AACTA Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Dead Europe Nominated
2015 Sydney Theatre Awards Best Actor in a Lead Role Ivanov Nominated
2016 AACTA Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role The Daughter Nominated
Film Critics Circle of Australia AwardsBest ActorNominated
2017 Australian Film Critics Association AwardsBest ActorNominated
AACTA Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role The Butterfly Tree Nominated
Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama Top of the Lake Won
2018 Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actor Safe Harbour Nominated
2019 Australian Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actor Sweet Country Nominated
Equity Ensemble Awards Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Television Movie or Miniseries Safe Harbour Nominated
Logie Awards Most Outstanding Supporting Actor Fighting Season Nominated
AACTA Awards Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama Fighting Season Nominated
AACTA Awards Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama The Cry Nominated
2020 New Zealand Film and Television Awards Best Supporting Actor The Luminaries Nominated
2020 AACTA Awards AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama Operation Buffalo Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Ewen Leslie: Our Next Big Thing". Stage Whispers. November 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 "Ewen Leslie" (PDF). Shanahan.
  3. 1 2 3 "Talent. Charm. Ambition. He's a star in the making, but who is he?". The Sydney Morning Herald . 15 May 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 "Actor Ewen Leslie". The Saturday Paper . 23 July 2022.
  5. Waites, James (12 October 2007). "Riflemind | Sydney Theatre Company". Australian Stage. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  6. "Past nominees and winners". Helpmann Awards . Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  7. "2009". Sydney Theatre Awards . Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  8. Boland, Michaela (22 January 2009). "The War of the Roses – Part 1 and Part 2". Variety . Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  9. Croggon, Alison (3 May 2010). "This Richard III is one of the greats". The Australian . Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  10. Boland, Michaela (11 August 2011). "Hamlet too successful for Melbourne Theatre Company's own good". The Australian . Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  11. Woodhead, Cameron (23 February 2012). "The Wild Duck". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  12. Blake, Jason (11 August 2013). "Alive yet alone, Stoppard players shine together". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  13. Blake, Jason (24 September 2015). "Ivanov review: Entertaining Ewen Leslie brings dry Australian laughs to Russian tale of woe". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  14. Martyn, Shona (4 February 2019). "Lunch with: The Cry actor Ewen Leslie". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  15. Idato, Michael (22 August 2017). "Top of the Lake: China Girl is Nicole Kidman's finest hour". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  16. Knox, David (24 May 2024). "Airdate: Exposure | TV Tonight". TV Tonight . Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  17. Knox, David (17 November 2023). "Airdate: Prosper | TV Tonight". TV Tonight . Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  18. Staff Writer. "Cast revealed for third season of award-winning anthology series, THE TWELVE: CAPE ROCK KILLER". Screenwest . Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  19. "Ewen Leslie". EM Voices.
  20. "Ewen Leslie theatre credits". AusStage .