"WHAT IS DEFILING?"
QUICK BIO
BIOGRAPHY
New Zealand Actor, Director and Producer, Manu Bennet (Also known as John/Jon Bennett), was the proud son of Queensland Bikini Model/Beauty Queen mother and Hawkes Bay Entertainer father. He has an Uncle that played piano for the legendary Elvis Presley.
Bennett is of Māori descent, predominantly Te Arawa and Ngati Kahubgunu, and also Irish descent, both from his father. His mother is of Scottish and Spanish ancestry.
At only a few months old, his family moved over to Australia, and was then raised between Sydney and Newcastle.
Due to a tragic accident, he lost both his mother and brother to a car crash, and as a result, Bennett was in a two week coma.
Bennett is of Māori descent, predominantly Te Arawa and Ngati Kahubgunu, and also Irish descent, both from his father. His mother is of Scottish and Spanish ancestry.
At only a few months old, his family moved over to Australia, and was then raised between Sydney and Newcastle.
Due to a tragic accident, he lost both his mother and brother to a car crash, and as a result, Bennett was in a two week coma.
In 1986, Bennett returned to New Zealand to attend Te Aute College, where he played for the 1st XV. On returning back to Australia he was chosen to play in the New South Wales Schoolboys Rugby Union Team. He decided to quit rugby and to attend university to study dance and drama. After graduating, he won a scholarship to attend the Lee Strasberg Theatre institute in Los Angeles.
Bennett’s film work includes 30 Days of Night (2007), Sinbad and the Minotaur (2011), The Marine (2006) and The Condemned (2007).
And his television credentials include portraying Mark Antony in Xena: Warrior Princess (2000), Crixus in Spartacus (2010-2013) and Slade Wilson in Arrow (2013-2015). He has also played guest roles in Water Rats (1996-1997), All Saints (1998) and BeastMaster (1999).
Bennett had the opportunity to work alongside Richard Taylor, from Academy Award winning firm, Weta Workshop, on Creature Quest. Little did he know that he’d get this opportunity again with a much bigger scale production.
A few months before An Unexpected Journey was due to be released, Bennett was hired to play the protagonist, Azog the Defiler, which was based on a character in Tolkien’s legendarium. This was due to when the company approached him the first time; he had prior commitments with Spartacus.
Bennett’s film work includes 30 Days of Night (2007), Sinbad and the Minotaur (2011), The Marine (2006) and The Condemned (2007).
And his television credentials include portraying Mark Antony in Xena: Warrior Princess (2000), Crixus in Spartacus (2010-2013) and Slade Wilson in Arrow (2013-2015). He has also played guest roles in Water Rats (1996-1997), All Saints (1998) and BeastMaster (1999).
Bennett had the opportunity to work alongside Richard Taylor, from Academy Award winning firm, Weta Workshop, on Creature Quest. Little did he know that he’d get this opportunity again with a much bigger scale production.
A few months before An Unexpected Journey was due to be released, Bennett was hired to play the protagonist, Azog the Defiler, which was based on a character in Tolkien’s legendarium. This was due to when the company approached him the first time; he had prior commitments with Spartacus.
The day he turned up for work, and was put into an outfit with tiny balls all over him, was the first time he saw his character Azog. When he walked out onto the MoCap stage, he felt and looked like an idiot. The producers showed Bennett what he was going to look like, and to him he saw a nine-foot-tall Arnold Schwarzenegger like monster, and from there it was a voyage of discovery. Originally, Azog was to be portrayed by a performer wearing prosthetic make-up and scenes featuring the character had to be shot in that way; but, as the film progressed, it became clear that Azog’s relentlessly vegenful personality required a more dynamic treatment that could only be achieved using motion-capture and digital animation.
His portrayal of Azog won him exceptional praise from director Sir Peter Jackson who stated that he was “the Breakout performance” of the film. Not only was he an exceptional actor, but he also brought a considerable amount of experience.
But acting isn’t just what Bennett can be remembered for, he was on the cover of two high profile magazines, Muscle and Fitness and Men’s Health.
He now lives with his Israeli wife, Karin Horen, and their three daughters.
His portrayal of Azog won him exceptional praise from director Sir Peter Jackson who stated that he was “the Breakout performance” of the film. Not only was he an exceptional actor, but he also brought a considerable amount of experience.
But acting isn’t just what Bennett can be remembered for, he was on the cover of two high profile magazines, Muscle and Fitness and Men’s Health.
He now lives with his Israeli wife, Karin Horen, and their three daughters.
AWARDS
Manu Bennett hasn't won any awards, although he has been part of the ensemble awards.
MOST NOTABLE MILESTONES
1993:
1996: 1999: 2000: 2001 2002: 2003: 2006: 2007: 2010: 2012: |
Bennetts professional career began in the teen soap Paradise Beach.
Bennett participated in theatre Bennett landed his first leading role in a feature film entitled Tomoko, which was shot on location in Tokyo. Bennett returned to New Zealand to appear in the popular television drama as Jack Hewitt in Shortland Street and also Marc Antony in Xena: Warrior Princess. Bennett was able to show off his dancing skills as a salsa dance teacher in the award-winning Australian film, Lantana. Bennett worked alongside his director cousin, Michael Bennett, on the Māori Twilight Zone styled series, Mataku. Hosted Going Straight, a New Zealand reality show Bennett was cast in The Marine alongside WWE wrestling star, John Cena and Robert Patrick. He was also cast opposite Josh Harnett to play Deputy Billy Kitka in the US film, 30 Days of Night Bennett was cast as one of the ten convicts alongside Steve Cold Steve Austin and Vinnie Jones in The Condemned. Co-starred in the new American television series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Bennett played the character of Crixus, Champion of Capua. He was the only cast member of the show who starred in all three seasons, and the prequel, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, as well as starring in most of the episodes of this series. Got the opportunity to play Azog the Defiler in The Hobbit trilogy. He was also cast in the first season of Arrow as Slade Wilson. |
MANU BENNETT PORTRAYS:
AZOG
The Hobbit Trilogy |