Ian Bliss

Last updated

Ian Bliss
Born (1966-06-30) 30 June 1966 (age 59)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Education National Institute of Dramatic Art
OccupationActor
Years active1991–present
Known for
Spouse
​
(m. 2001)​
Children2

Ian Bliss (born 30 June 1966) is an Australian film, television, and stage character actor, he has appeared in numerous Australian television dramas including Heartbreak High , Wentworth and as several characters in the Underbelly universe.

Contents

Education

Bliss graduated from Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art. [1] Bliss also attained a Bachelor of Education while studying his acting degree at NIDA. [2]

Career

Bliss starred in an episode of Halifax f.p. in 1996.

He is best known for his role as Bane and Agent Smith in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions (2003), for which he was chosen by the Wachowskis because of his accurate impersonation of Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith's program form), and also his partial resemblance to Weaving.

After the Matrix sequels, Bliss took minor roles in the feature films Stealth and Superman Returns . He played the Peacekeeper scientist Drillic in the Farscape episode "Losing Time". Bliss appeared in episode 8 of the 2010 HBO miniseries The Pacific as Capt. Le Francois, and appeared in surf series The Reef. He has appeared in several Australian television drama series including Heartbreak High , [3] Underbelly , Blue Murder and Canal Road .

Stage performances include the lead role in War Horse, in Sydney's Lyric Theatre. [4]

Bliss is also a sought-after voice-over artist [5] and has provided his voice to many animated series such as Big Words, Small Stories, Kuu Kuu Harajuku , Get Ace and SheZow . [6] [7] He has also given his voice to the Bowel Cancer Australia campaigns that went to air every year from 2018. Bliss also provided his voice for numerous audiobooks including Dinner with the Schnabels and Final Act. [8] [9]

Bliss appeared in Underbelly adaptation Informer 3838 as Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland, the commissioner who oversaw the gangland war issuing Taskforce Purana. This was his third appearance in the Underbelly universe, having also appeared in the original Underbelly as 'Mr L' and in Fat Tony & Co as Bernie Edwards. [10] [11]

In 2018 Bliss appeared in season 6 of Wentworth , playing Senior Detective Collins; he reprised the role in the final series of Wentworth, appearing in a total of six episodes. [12]

Bliss in 2022 joined the cast for SBS drama Safe Home , where he played Detective O'Connor. [13]

In 2023, he appeared in the horror movie Late Night with the Devil in the role of Carmichael Haig. [14] [15] [16] Bliss revealed later in an interview that he originally was hired as a reader for the movie's audition process and was set to play a different role in the film, but four days before filming began, he was asked to take over the role of Haig. [17] In the same interview, Bliss confirmed that he would appear in the upcoming Netflix series The Survivors.

In 2023, Bliss appeared in the theatre play My Sister Jill. [18] [19]

On 5 March 2025, Bliss was announced as a nominee for Best Supporting Actor for the Australian Film Critics Association Awards for his role in Late Night with the Devil. [20]

Personal life

Bliss has been married to actress Jacquie Brennan since 2001. They both met on the production of the theatre play Silhouette. Bliss and Brennan have two children together. [21]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994PreciousJeanShort film
Country Life David ArchdaleFeature film
1999 Siam Sunset MartinFeature film
Passion Army OfficerFeature film
PowerburnDex
2000BoundCarterShort film
2001 The Bank Executive #1Feature film
2003 The Matrix Reloaded Bane / Agent SmithFeature film
The Long LunchItalo Julep
The Matrix Revolutions Bane / Agent SmithFeature film
2005 Man-Thing Rodney ThibadeauxFeature film
Stealth Lt. Aaron ShaftsburyFeature film
DanyaPatrickShort film
2006 Superman Returns Shuttle CommanderFeature film
2008Playing for CharlieDrew Hobbs
2009Together AloneVladimusShort film
2016Waster of TimeTime TravellerShort film
2020 Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears Vincent Montaguefeature film
2023 Late Night with the Devil Carmichael Haigfeature film- Nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Australian Film Critics Association) [20]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
1991 Pugwall Man on PhoneTV series, 2 episodes
1995 Blue Murder Bobby ChapmanTV miniseries, 2 episodes [22]
1995-1996 Heartbreak High Andrew BellTV series, 23 episodes [23]
1996 Halifax f.p. GarryTV series, episode: "Cradle and All"
1996-2000 Water Rats Colin Fleetwood / Max PrescottTV series, 4 episodes
1997 Big Sky James McCourtTV series, episode: "The McCourt Family"
Home and Away Kye LyonsTV series, 6 episodes
Murder Call Scott McKennaTV series, episode: "Ashes to Ashes"
1998 Good Guys Bad Guys Keith McLeodTV series, episode: "Blood Is Thicker Than Walter"
1999-2001 BackBerner VariousTV series, 11 episodes
2000 Tales of the South Seas TV series, episode: "Blackbirding"
2000-2003 Stingers Nick Lynch / Masely / Marty StockwellTV series, 3 episodes
2001 Farscape PK Scientist DrillicTV series, episode: "Losing Time"
2002 The Lost World Professor HamiltonTV series, episode: "Suspicion" [24]
Bootleg Darius CroweTV series, 3 episodes
2002-2007 All Saints Kevin Maguire / Jimmy 'Buzz' BeasleyTV series, 7 episodes
2003 The Postcard Bandit PotterTV movie
Blue Heelers Dave WilliamsTV series, episode: "Safety Last"
Making TimeCol BryantTV movie
2004-2006 Love My Way Darren LongmanTV series, 4 episodes
2005-2007 McLeod's Daughters Detective Christopher MontelloTV series, 2 episodes
2006 Tripping Over KenTV series 4 episodes
2007The Catalpa RescueJohn BreslinTV movie
Gumnutz: A Juicy Tale Larry / Peer Point J. Marino (voice)TV movie
2007-2010 City Homicide Lance Hardwick / Toby HendricksTV series, 2 episodes
2008 Underbelly Mr. LTV series, 6 episodes
Canal Road Bradley ThompsonTV series, 1 episode
Very Small Business Tony OrsiniTV series, 5 episodes
Monash: The Forgotten AnzacCharles BeanTV movie
2009 Dirt Game BartTV series, episode: "Boab Dreaming"
Rush Ollie GodardTV series, 1 episode
2010 The Pacific Capt. Le FrancoisTV miniseries, episode: "Iwo Jima"
2011 Killing Time Detective Inspector PatteronTV series, 2 episodes [25]
Twentysomething AuctioneerTV series, episode: "Lost and Found"
Crownies Inspector Red BindallTV series, 1 episode
2012 Underground: The Julian Assange Story VinceTV movie
2013 The Doctor Blake Mysteries Keith MorriseyTV series, episode: "Still Water"
Mr & Mrs Murder Robin BoydellTV series, episode: "A Dog's Life"
2014 Fat Tony & Co. Bernie EdwardsTV miniseries, 2 episodes
The Time of Our Lives Tony BridgesTV series, episode: "The Negotiation"
Get Ace Professor Pringle (voice)TV series, 9 episodes [26]
ANZAC Girls Colonel Constantine de CrespignyTV series, episode: "Love"
It's a Date AlanTV series, 1 episode
2015 Gallipoli Colonel BrazierTV miniseries, episode: "The Breakout"
2015-2018 Kuu Kuu Harajuku Commander Bo-ring / General No Fun / VariousTV series, 156 episodes; voice roles
2016 Wanted Luke DelaneyTV series, 2 episodes
Hunters BurtonTV series, episode: "The Beginning & the End"
Winners & Losers Colin GammellTV series, 2 episodes
The Wrong Girl GarethTV series, 1 episode
2017Sherazade: The Untold StoriesYunan (voice)TV series, 5 episodes
2018 Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted to You Val Guest (uncredited)TV miniseries, 1 episode
Wrong Kind of Black Police Officer 1TV series, 4 episodes
2018-2021 Wentworth Senior Detective CollinsTV series, 6 episodes
2019 Reef Break JonesTV series, episode: "The Hohenzollern Collection"
2020 Informer 3838 Simon Overland TV series, 2 episodes
2021 Fires Gary SaundersTV series, 1 episode
Big Words, Small StoriesGrandpa Rex, Chaz, Various (voices)TV series, 65 episodes
Harrow Charlie ObergTV series, 1 episode
2023 Safe Home Detective O'ConnorTV series, 4 episodes
Utopia DougTV series, 1 episode
2025 The Survivors Geoff MallottTV series: 5 episodes

Audio books

YearTitleRoleNotes
2022Dinner with the SchnabelsNarratorAuthor: Tony Jordan
2021Final ActNarratorAuthor: Sarah Bailey
2016CladeNarratorAuthor: James Bradley

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2003 Enter the Matrix Bane / Agent SmithVideo game

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
2025The Black Woman of GippslandSergeant / Ensemble Melbourne Theatre Company [27]
2023My Sister JillJack Melbourne Theatre Company
2018 Jasper Jones Mr Bucktin/Warick Queensland Theatre Company [28]
2017Dream LoverEnsemble
2016 Jasper Jones Mr Bucktin/Warick Queensland Theatre Company
2014-15North By NorthwestBudnikov Melbourne Theatre Company
2013 War Horse Ted Narracott / Colonel StraussAustralIan tour
2011 Hamlet Marcellus Melbourne Theatre Company
ApologiaPeter
2010 Richard III Clarance / Ratcliff
2009Savage RiverKingsley Griffin Theatre Company
1999SilohoutteInspector Brunton Marian Street Theatre
1997Jake and PeteCrow / SnakeTheatre of Image
Lone StarCletis
1994 The Happy Prince Mayor
2001-08Jake and PeteCrow / SnakeInternational tour
Journey's End Stanhope

Awards

YearTitleAwardCategoryResultRef
2025 Late Night with the Devil Australian Film Critics Association AwardBest Supporting ActorNominated [20]
2024My Sister Jill Green Room Awards Best ProductionWon [29]
Best EnsembleWon
2015North By NorthwestBest EnsembelWon [30]

References

  1. ↑ Jary, Marta. "State of Bliss: Australian Actor Ian Bliss Has a Distinctive Face That Has Been Seen in Homegrown Film Productions Such as Siam Sunset (John Poison, 1999) and the Bank (Robert Connolly, 2001)". Metro Magazine . No. 141 (Summer 2004 ed.).
  2. ↑ "Ian Bliss | Careers Talk AUS" . Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  3. ↑ "Australian Television: Heartbreak High: cast pictures". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  4. ↑ Palathingal, George (28 March 2013). "My perfect weekend: Ian Bliss, actor". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "Ian Bliss". scoutmanagement.com.au. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  6. ↑ "KuuKuu Harajuku series 1 (2016) - The Screen Guide - Screen Australia". www.screenaustralia.gov.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "Big Words, Small Stories (2021) - The Screen Guide - Screen Australia". www.screenaustralia.gov.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  8. ↑ Final Act. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  9. ↑ Dinner with the Schnabels. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "Australian Television: Informer 3838: cast". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  11. ↑ "Australian Television: Underbelly: Cast".
  12. ↑ "Australian Television: Wentworth: series 6 cast". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  13. ↑ "SBS reveal cast for new Australian thriller series Safe Home". SBS Corporate. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  14. ↑ "Stomach-Ripping And Throat-Slitting: LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL At SXSW". FANGORIA. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  15. ↑ Mendelsohn, Jon (24 June 2022). "David Dastmalchian to Star in Indie Horror 'Late Night With the Devil'". Collider. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  16. ↑ Keast, Jackie (12 January 2023). "'Late Night with the Devil', 'Monolith', 'Talk to Me' off to SXSW". IF Magazine. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  17. ↑ NIDA (18 April 2024). "Behind the Scenes with Ian Bliss: Exploring the Making of Late Night with the Devil". www.nida.edu.au. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  18. ↑ On, Thuy (29 September 2023). "Theatre review: My Sister Jill, Southbank Theatre". www.artshub.com.au. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  19. ↑ "What's On". www.mtc.com.au. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  20. 1 2 3 "Late Night with the Devil leads with nominations for the 2024 Australian Film Critics Association Awards - The Curb | Film and Culture". www.thecurb.com.au. 5 March 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  21. ↑ Preston, Kahla (25 April 2020). "How We Met: 'He said if I made him a bread and butter pudding, he'd propose'". honey.nine.com.au. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  22. ↑ Australian Television: Blue Murder: cast
  23. ↑ Australian Television: Heartbreak High: episode guide: series 3
  24. ↑ Australian Television: The Lost World: guest stars
  25. ↑ Australian Television: Killing Time: cast
  26. ↑ "Get Ace (2014) - The Screen Guide - Screen Australia". www.screenaustralia.gov.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  27. ↑ "The Black Woman of Gippsland". www.mtc.com.au. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  28. ↑ "Jasper Jones". www.mtc.com.au. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  29. ↑ "2024 Green Room Award Winners Announced | Stage Whispers". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  30. ↑ "Green Room nominees announced". www.artshub.com.au. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.