5 Internationally Famous Australian Actors Who Formally Studied Drama
Acting is one of the few remaining industries that you can, in theory, get into without any formal qualifications or study. Every now and then, you will still find a successful actor who somehow, seemingly miraculous ‘just fell into it’. This is very rarely the case though.
The vast majority of the time, actors have put in years of gruelling effort and commitment to get to where they are. As videography and film production take giant leaps forward, audiences are demanding more and more depth of performance. The dramatic overacting of the silent movies era is long gone. Audiences want more than ever from their actors, and dedicated, formal study of the dramatic arts has been the key for many of the true supernovas of modern acting.
Today we take a brief look at 5 internationally famous Australian actors who formally studied acting.
1. Hugh Jackman
Probably best known for his X-Men character ‘Wolverine’, Hugh Jackman has also starred in a number of other international box office hits.
Not just an onscreen actor, Hugh has shown that his talent has many different facets by singing and dancing his way through sold out musical theatre shows on Broadway and around the world!
Hugh studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
2. Nicole Kidman
One of Australia’s sweethearts, Nicole initially studied at the Phillip Street Theatre in Sydney, before moving to The Australian Theatre for Young People.
This education helped put her well on the path to worldwide recognition including a Golden Globe award for her role in ‘Moulin Rouge’, and an Academy Award for the film ‘The Hours’.
3. Cate Blanchett
As an acclaimed actor and theatre director, Cate knows the acting business from multiple angles. She is also currently the only Australian to have won two coveted Oscars. These awards are just two in a list too long to mention here!
Cate studied her craft at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney.
4. Geoffrey Rush
Possibly the most famous Queenslander in the acting world, Geoffrey Rush was born in Toowoomba. He went to high school in Brisbane, and then later graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Arts.
Geoffrey is both an actor and film producer, showing once again that, in the acting industry, some of the biggest successes work on both sides of the screen and stage.
5. Toni Collette
Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Toni Collette rounds out our list and also sets a shining example, having studied at both The Australian Theatre for Young People AND The National Institute of Dramatic Arts. Known for her funny, quirky roles, Toni won international recognition for her roles in ‘The Sixth Sense’ and ‘Little Miss Sunshine’.
Between these 5, there is global and professional recognition beyond most people’s wildest dreams… and all of them started their path to international success through the committed and formal study of their craft.
When future fans are reading your professional bio, where will it say you studied your craft? Drama Works is now the exclusive South East Queensland provider of the nationally recognised Certificate IV in Acting for Stage and Screen. It would be a privilege to help you begin your acting journey — click here to learn more.
