Manu Bennett New Zealand actor Date of Birth: 10.10.1969 Country: New Zealand

Manu Bennett Biography

Manu Bennett, a New Zealand actor, gained fame for his portrayal of the Gaulish gladiator Crixus in the series 'Spartacus: Gods of the Arena' and 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand'. Another notable role was that of the orc leader Azog the Defiler in Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit' film trilogy, based on J.R.R. Tolkien's novel. Bennett also played the supervillain Slade Wilson (Deathstroke) in the series 'Arrow'.

Born on October 10, 1969, in Auckland, New Zealand, Manu Bennett comes from a diverse heritage. His mother was an Australian bikini model, while his father was a New Zealand singer. When Bennett was just a few months old, his family moved to Australia. His ancestry includes Maori, Spanish, Scottish, and Australian roots. Bennett spent his childhood in Sydney and Newcastle.

In 1986, Bennett returned to New Zealand and enrolled at Te Aute College. During his college years, he played rugby. Upon returning to Australia, he joined the New South Wales Schoolboys Rugby Union Team. However, his growing interest in modern dance, classical ballet, and piano led him to quit sports. He began studying acting and dance, eventually earning a scholarship to the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Los Angeles.

In 1993, Bennett made his professional breakthrough by appearing in the teenage soap opera 'Paradise Beach'. He then landed minor roles in Australian serial dramas such as 'Water Rats', 'All Saints', and 'Beastmaster'. In 1996, Bennett ventured into theater, playing a role in the play 'Lady Chatterley's Lover', directed by Australian theater and film director Robert Chuter. In 1999, he secured his first leading role in the film 'Tomoko', which was shot in Tokyo and starred Rumiko Koyanagi.

In 2000, Bennett appeared in the television series 'Xena: Warrior Princess', playing the role of Mark Antony. His next role in the drama 'Lantana' in 2001 allowed him to showcase his dance skills as he played the salsa instructor Steve Valdes. After several projects, including the series 'Shortland Street', 'Street Legal', 'Mataku', and hosting the New Zealand reality show 'Going Straight', Bennett joined the cast of the action film 'The Marine'. In 2006, he starred in the horror film '30 Days of Night' alongside Josh Hartnett.

In 2010, Bennett began working on the Australian series 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand'. He was the only actor to appear in all three seasons and the prequel 'Spartacus: Gods of the Arena'. Recently, it was announced that Bennett would star in Rupert Wainwright's upcoming thriller 'Shadows from the Sky'. Bennett has three children with Israeli socialite Karin Horen. In an interview, he revealed the tragic accident that claimed the lives of his mother and brother, during which he spent two weeks in a coma. Bennett credited his girlfriend, a ballerina, for encouraging him to pursue acting and helping him find a way to express his emotions. According to Bennett, his acting career helped him begin living again.