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. – David Wenham
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. – David Wenham
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. – David Wenham
I’ve ended up spending more time in front of a camera than on stage, but the stage is where I come from. – David Wenham
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. – David Wenham
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. – David Wenham
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. – David Wenham
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. – David Wenham
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. – David Wenham
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. – David Wenham
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. – David Wenham
I would love to direct a feature and have Robert Connolly produce it. That would be really fab. – David Wenham
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. – David Wenham
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. – David Wenham
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. – David Wenham
I’ll never forget anything about Middle Earth. That’s part of my memory now so I won’t miss anything. – David Wenham
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. – David Wenham
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. – David Wenham