Ewen Leslie (born 27 July 1980) is an Australian actor.
Early life and education
Leslie is from Fremantle, Western Australia. He was acting in school plays at the age of ten. After seeing a newspaper advertisement for auditions for children's series Ship to Shore, he secured a role on the show from the age of 12 to 14. From there he attended high school at John Curtin College of the Arts, via a theatre scholarship, attending at the same time as fellow actor Sam Worthington, who was several years older.
Leslie wanted to attend Sydney's National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) after his senior year, but missed the auditions. Instead, he ended up studying acting at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in Perth, graduating in 2000.
Career
Theatre After graduating from WAAPA, Leslie moved to Sydney, and between bar work shifts at the Old Fitzroy Hotel, he began performing in shows at the venue. His first paid stage-acting job was a small part in a 2007 production of Paul at Belvoir Theatre, which lead to further stage roles at Belvoir. He eventually scored a role in Riflemind, a play by Andrew Upton which for Sydney Theatre Company directed by Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman and starring Hugo Weaving and Martin Csokas. His performance caught the attention of Cate Blanchett.
He joined the STC Actors Company in 2008 and won a Helpmann Award and a Sydney Theatre Award for his performance as Prince Hal/Henry V opposite Cate Blanchett in The War of the Roses (directed by Benedict Andrews).
In 2010, Leslie played Richard III at the Melbourne Theatre Company directed by Simon Philips. Alison Croggon in The Australian wrote: "This is a deeply intelligent performance, physically and emotionally unafraid. It marks the ascension of a remarkable actor". He won his second Helpmann Award and a Green Room Award for this performance.
The following year, Leslie played Hamlet in a sellout season at the Melbourne Theatre Company, a role he would reprise in 2013 in Sydney for Belvoir St Theatre. He played one of the lead roles in The Wild Duck (directed by Simon Stone) which had successful seasons in Sydney, Melbourne and Oslo for The Ibsen Festival.
In 2013 he was The Player in STC's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead opposite Toby Schmitz and Tim Minchin. In 2015 he travelled to Paris to perform in Simon Stone's production of Thyestes, and played the title role in Belvoir's production of Ivanov.
In 2021, Leslie returned to the Sydney Theatre Company to perform in Kip Williams' production of Julius Caesar performed by only three actors.
Film and television Leslie's first break came when he was cast as the lead role in 2005 drama Jewboy, a film that screened at the Cannes Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival. He has since played lead roles in several drama films – Three Blind Mice (2008), Dead Europe (2012), The Daughter (2015) and The Butterfly Tree (2017). His other film appearances include war film Kokoda (2006), erotic psychological horror drama Sleeping Beauty (2011), war drama The Railway Man (2013), black comedy The Mule (2014), outback drama Sweet Country (2017) and colonial thriller The Nightingale (2017). Leslie also voiced the character of Pigling Bland in the live action / animated Peter Rabbit films.
His notable television roles include Operation Buffalo, The Luminaries, The Gloaming, The Cry, Safe Harbour, Fighting Season, Deadline Gallipoli, Devil's Dust, Mabo, Redfern Now and Rake.
In 2017, Leslie won an AACTA Award for his role as Pyke in the second season of Top of the Lake, opposite Elisabeth Moss, Nicole Kidman and Alice Englert. Maureen Ryan in Variety wrote that his performance was "subtle and powerful", while Michael Idato in the Sydney Morning Herald wrote, "In a world where fame is fleeting and often hoisted upon the undeserved, Leslie is a proper revelation. He's a stunning performer, perhaps one of the best on our screens".
In 2024, Leslie appeared in Stan thriller series Exposure and drama series Prosper. In December 2024, Leslie was named in the cast for Foxtel drama The Twelve.
Leslie has also performed voiceover work on television commercials for My State Bank, Subaru, McDonald's McCafé, University of Melbourne, Repco RACQ and BMG.
Personal life Leslie's partner of over 20 years is award-winning film producer Nicole O'Donohue, and together they have two children, Elliot and Eve.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1998 Justice Bully 2002 The Doppelgangers Fitz Short film2004 Sold Out Punter Short film Right Here Right Now SBLT Sam Fisher Feature film2005 Jewboy Yuri Feature film Live to Give Seb Short film The Mechanicals Toast Man Short film 2006 Kokoda Wilstead Feature film 2007 Katoomba Don Short film2008 Three Blind Mice Sam Feature film Netherland Dwarf Dad Short film2009 Lonely Bob Short film Apricot Marcel Short film 2011 Sleeping Beauty Birdmann Feature film2012 Dead Europe Isaac Feature film Suspended Dave Short film2013 Scene 16 Luke Short film The Railway Man Thompson Feature film 2014 The Mule Detective Les Paris Feature film2015 The Daughter Oliver Finch Feature film Death in Bloom Christopher Crumples Short film2017 The Butterfly Tree Al Feature film Sweet Country Harry March Feature film Face James Short film2018 Peter Rabbit Pigling Bland (voice) Feature film The Nightingale Goodwin Feature film 2021 Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway Pigling Bland (voice) Feature film 2022 The Stranger Assistant Commissioner Milliken Feature film 2026 Leviticus Feature film Mr Pillow Upcoming Starman Upcoming
Television Year Title Role Notes 1993 Ship to Shore Guido Bellini 52 episodes 1996 Bush Patrol Dave 1 episode 1997 The Gift Boy Episode: "The Cockroach Rap" 2001 Wild Kat Morgan Ritchie 13 episodes2002 The Road from Coorain Reg Television film The Junction Boys Luke Mason Television film 2003 All Saints Tony Hunter 3 episodes 2006 Love My Way Duc 8 episodes 2007 Lockie Leonard John East 7 episodes 2009 My Place Mr. Bracey 1 episode2012 Mabo Bryan Keon-Cohen Television film Devil's Dust Matt Peacock Miniseries Redfern Now Mr. Parish 2 episodes2013 Top of the Lake Steve (voice) Episode: "The Edge of the Universe" Mr & Mrs Murder Hugo Episode: "The Course Whisperer" 2014 Wonderland Nick Deakin 8 episodes2015 Deadline Gallipoli Keith Murdoch 1 episode No Activity Police officer (voice) 6 episodes2016 Janet King Patrick Bocarro 5 episodes Rake Bevan Leigh 3 episodes2017 Top of the Lake Pyke 6 episodes Sisters Abraham 2 episodes2018 Safe Harbour Ryan Gallagher Miniseries Fighting Season Captain Edward 'Ted' Nordenfelt Main cast The Cry Alistair Robertson Main cast2020 The Luminaries Crosbie Wells Main cast The Gloaming Alex O’Connell Main cast Operation Buffalo Major Leo Carmichael Main cast 2022 Pieces of Her Arthur Gibson 4 episodes Bali 2002 Tom Keirath 1 episode2023The ClearingTom Atkins1 episode2024ProsperDion Quinn8 episodesColin from AccountsConstable Byrne1 episodeExposureJim1 episode2025The Twelve Season 3: "Cape Rock Killer"
Theatre Year Show Role Venue 2002 Flowers in the Snow Newtown Theatre, Sydney for Short+Sweet2003 Votive Offerings Troy Darlinghurst Theatre, Sydney Woyzeck Doctor Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney Chicks Will Dig You! Seb Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney2004 Cross Sections Aaron Tamarama Rock Surfers, Sydney This Blasted Earth / A Christmas Miracle With Music Father Tim / Scarlett Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney with Tamarama Rock Surfers, Sydney 2005 Top Shorts Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney with Naked Theatre Company 2005–2006 Shakesperealism Lewis The Naked Theatre Company2006 Emergency Sex (and Other Desperate Measures) Wharf Theatre, Sydney Plays: By Himself Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney2007 Paul Yeshua Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney Dead Caesar CassiusWharf Theatre, Sydney with STC Riflemind Lee2008 The Serpent's Teeth Sam Lewis Sydney Opera House with STC Gallipoli Billy Hughes / Atatürk Sydney Theatre2009 The War of the Roses Prince Hal / Henry V / George of Clarence Sydney Theatre, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth The Promise Marat Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney2010 Richard III Richard III, Duke of Gloucester Southbank Theatre, Melbourne with MTC The Trial Josef K. Wharf Theatre, Sydney, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, Subiaco Arts Centre, Perth with STC 2011 Hamlet Prince Hamlet MTC 2011–2012 The Wild Duck Hjalmar Ekdal Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, Nationaltheatret, Oslo, Norway with Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney2013 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Brick Pollitt Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney, Theatre Royal Sydney Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead The Player STC Hamlet Prince Hamlet Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney2015 Thyestes Atreus Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney, Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers, France Ivanov Nikolai Ivanov Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney 2021 Julius Caesar Cassius / various roles Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC 2022–2023 The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Henry Jekyll / Edward Hyde / various roles Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide with STC
Awards and nominations Year Ceremony Category Work Result 2005 Australian Film Institute Awards Outstanding Achievement in Craft in a Non-Feature Jewboy 2006 Movie Extra Filmink Awards Best Australian Newcomer 2009 Sydney Theatre Awards Best Actor in a Lead Role The War of the Roses Helpmann AwardsBest Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play 2010 Best Male Actor in a PlayRichard III Green Room Awards Best Male Actor 2011 Sydney Theatre Awards Best Actor in a Lead Role The Wild Duck 2012 Australian Film Critics Association Awards Best Actor Dead Europe Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Best Actor Green Room Awards Best Ensemble – Theatre Companies The Wild Duck Best Male Actor 2013 Equity Ensemble Awards Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Television Movie or Miniseries Mabo Devil's Dust Sydney Theatre Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead 2014 Glugs Theatrical Awards Best Supporting Actor Helpmann Awards Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play AACTA Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Dead Europe 2015 Sydney Theatre Awards Best Actor in a Lead Role Ivanov 2016 AACTA Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role The Daughter Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Best Actor 2017 Australian Film Critics Association Awards Best Actor AACTA Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role The Butterfly Tree Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama Top of the Lake 2018 Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actor Safe Harbour 2019 Australian Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actor Sweet Country Equity Ensemble Awards Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Television Movie or Miniseries Safe Harbour Logie Awards Most Outstanding Supporting Actor Fighting Season AACTA Awards Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama Fighting Season AACTA Awards Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama The Cry 2020New Zealand Film and Television AwardsBest Supporting ActorThe Luminaries 2020 AACTA Awards AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama Operation Buffalo
References
External links