Anthony Hayes (born 21 September 1977) is an Australian actor, best known for his roles in War Machine, The Light Between Oceans, The Slap, Look Both Ways, The Boys, Rabbit-Proof Fence, Animal Kingdom and soap opera Paradise Beach.
Career Apart from acting in numerous films and television shows, he also wrote, directed and produced the films Ten Empty (2008), New Skin (2002) and Sweet Dreams (2002), Ten Empty had its world premiere at the Sydney Film Festival (2008). The screenplay was nominated for 2007 Queensland Premier's Literary Awards and 2008 Victorian Premier's Literary Award. New Skin (2002) won the Dendy Award at the 2002 Sydney Film Festival and won Hayes an IF Award as best emerging director. Sweet Dreams (2002) was voted most popular film by the audience at the St Kilda Film Festival in 2003. Hayes also earned AFI and Film Critics Circle award nominations for The Boys.
Hayes received AFI and Film Critics Circle award nominations for best supporting actor in The Square (2009), and won the AFI Award for Best Supporting Actor for Look Both Ways (2005) and Suburban Mayhem (2006).
He was a co-founder of Rogue Stars Productions with fellow actors Brendan Cowell and Leland Kean in 1999.
Although primarily a screen actor, Hayes does voice over work as well., Anthony Hayes
Joel Edgerton nicknamed him 'The King of Western Grit' during the shooting of The Square, The moniker later became the name of a Facebook page, with a collection of movie posters with Hayes' face on them.
Anthony co-wrote the film Gold with writer Polly Smyth. It stars Zac Efron, Susie Porter and himself. He directed and produced it through his company Rogue Star Pictures. The film was shot in South Australia in 2020.
Hayes appeared in all three series of ABC political drama Total Control.
In 2023, Hayes was announced as part of the cast for controversial two part miniseries Warnie in the role of Terry 'TJ' Jenner. The decision to produce the miniseries about Warne after his death was criticised by Warne's daughter Brooke who described it as "beyond disrespectful". The trailer for the miniseries also attracted negative commentary on social media when it was first shown on 31 May 2023. The telemovie garnered mostly negative reviews from the press and public.
Activism In April 2015, Hayes, with his partner, writer Polly Smyth, organised the #saveourboys video featuring celebrities including: Bryan Brown, Guy Pearce, Geoffrey Rush, Joel Edgerton, Luke Hemsworth, Brendan Cowell and Peter Helliar. The video called upon Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to step up and secure the lives of reformed drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran in the last 24 hours before their execution. In the video, Hayes himself said: "show some ticker Tony Abbott. Get to Indonesia. It's your job." The video went viral and amassed much support on social media. Despite many stating the government had done all it could leading up to their deaths, it was later claimed by human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson QC that a number of avenues could have been taken.
Filmography
Feature films + Year Film Role Notes 2024 Better Man Chris Briggs2022 Gold Keith with Zac Efron, Susie Porter2019Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan Colonel Colin Townsend 2017 Cargo Vic Carter with Martin Freeman, Caren Pistorius 2017 War Machine Lt. Commander Pete Duckman 2016 The Light Between Oceans Vernon Knuckey with Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Rachel Weisz 2014 Redfern Now: Promise Me with Wayne Blair, Daniela Farinacci, Lisa Flanagan 2014 Healing Warren with Hugo Weaving, Don Hany, Xavier Samuel 2014 The Rover Soldier 1 with Guy Pearce, Robert Pattinson & Scoot McNairy 2013 The Broken Shore Rick Hopgood with Don Hany, Claudia Karvan 2012 Jack Irish: Bad Debts Vin McKillop with Guy Pearce, Marta Dusseldorp, Aaron Pedersen 2012 The King Is Dead! Escobar with Roman Vaculik, Michaela Cantwell, Lily Adey 2012 Beaconsfield Pat Ball with Shane Jacobson, Lachy Hulme, Cameron Daddo 2011 Burning Man Brian with Matthew Goode, Rachel Griffiths, Bojana Novakovic 2010Beneath Hill 60 Captain William McBride with Jacqueline McKenzie, Brendan Cowell & Steve Le Marquand 2010 Animal Kingdom Detective Justin Norris with Guy Pearce, Luke Ford, Joel Edgerton & Mirrah Foulkes 2009 Prime Mover Salesman / Mechanic – Business Man / Foreman with Michael Dorman, Emily Barclay, Ben Mendelsohn & Gyton Grantley 2008 The List Dale with Nicole da Silva, Nash Edgerton & Kieran Darcy-Smith 2008 The Square Greg "Smithy" Smith with David Roberts, Joel Edgerton & Claire van der Boom 2008 Newcastle Danny with Lachlan Buchanan & Rebecca Breeds 2007 West Kenwood with Khan Chittenden & Gillian Alexy 2006 Suburban Mayhem Kenny with Emily Barclay, Michael Dorman & Robert Morgan 2005 Look Both Ways Andy Walker with William McInnes & Justine Clarke 2004 Get Rich Quick Spud with Marshall Napier 2003 Ned Kelly Sergeant Kennedy with Joel Edgerton 2002 Heroes' Mountain Woody with Craig McLachlan 2002 Rabbit-Proof Fence The Fence Builder with Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury, Kenneth Branagh 2000 Bootmen Huey with Sam Worthington & Adam Garcia 1998 The Sugar Factory Marlo with Matt Day, Marshall Napier & Sam Healy 1998 The Boys Stevie Sprague with David Wenham & Toni Collette
Short films Year Film Role Notes2024Edge of the EarthJoshuaShort 2012 Dumpy Goes to the Big Smoke Portly with Eden Falk, Emily Tomlins 2008 Bleeders Harmless with Joe Bugner, Robert Mammone 2006 The Bridge with Haitham Al'Maan, Anna Cato, Rayne Coram 2005 The Mechanicals LX Man with Anthony Phelan, Justin Smith (Australian actor) 2005 The Heartbreak Tour Tim with Toby Schmitz 2003 Alice Ben 2002 New Skin Max with Jessica Napier & Marshall Napier
TV Year Film Role Notes2026RunBrianTV series: 3 episodes2025NCIS: SydneyLukaTV series: 1 episode2024The Twelve Liam BevanTV series: 3 episodes2023WarnieTJ Jenner Miniseries: 2 episodes 2019-24Total ControlDamien Bauer TV series 2018 Mystery Road Ryan Muller TV miniseries, 6 episodes 2018 Strangers Michael Cohen Miniseries 2016 No Activity Needy 3 episodes 2015 Gallipoli Lieutenant Anthony Chandler Miniseries 2014 Secrets & Lies Ian Cornielle TV series 2013 Mr & Mrs Murder Ralph Alonso TV series 2012 Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms Colin "Caesar" Campbell Miniseries 2012 Devil's Dust Bernie Banton Miniseries 2011 The Slap Gary Miniseries Equity Award for Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Television Movie or Miniseries 2011 SLiDE Stacey TV series 2011 Sea Patrol Henry TV series 2010 Rush Oliver Ginsberg TV series 2010 Killing Time John Bond TV series 2010 Rescue: Special Ops Zac Weston Episode: "Shock Jock" 2010 Raw Luke Episode # 2.4 2008 Review with Myles Barlow Drug Lord Episode # 1.1 – next to Ray Jay 2007 Bastard Boys Sean McSwain with Colin Friels 2006 Two Twisted Julian Knox Episode: "Call Back" 2004 McLeod's Daughters Jack Mcleod Episode: "A McLeod Daughter" – with Sarah Enright & Josef Ber 2004 BlackJack: Sweet Science Brad Anderson with Alex O'Loughlin, Colin Friels & Vince Colosimo 2003 Fat Cow Motel Frank Merryweather Episode # 1.13 1995–2003 Blue Heelers Calvin Baker 3 episodes 2002 White Collar Blue John Santos Episode # 1.17 2001 Tracey McBean Shamus Wong 2000–02 Farscape Molnon / Wa 2 episodes: "Taking the Stone" & "I-Yensch, You-Yensch" 2001 Changi Gordon Yates 5 episodes 1998–99 All Saints Krys Goretski 2 episodes: "Truth and Consequences: Part 1" & "The Price You Pay" 1998 Murder Call Eddie Lamb Season 2, episode 13: "A Dress to Die For" 1998 Water Rats Jarred Episode "Heads or Tales" 1998 Wildside Danny Thompson Episode # 1.7 1997 Fallen Angels Roach 3 episodes 1996 Naked: Stories of Men Young Gibbo Episode: "Coral Island" 1996 Twisted Tales Damien Episode: "Third Party" 1996 Halifax f.p.: Cradle and All Kenny with Peter Hardy 1995 The Last Bullet James 1995 Snowy River: The McGregor Saga Zack Reilly Episode: "The Reilly Gang" 1995 Ocean Girl Michael "Mick" Byrne 13 episodes 1995 Correlli Gazza with Hugh Jackman 1995 G.P. Alex Milanakos Episode: "Trapped" 1995 Fire Slasher Episode: "Glory Days" 1993 Paradise Beach Ritchie 'Grommet' TV series 1992 The Adventures of Skippy Jim Hartley Episode: "Skippy and the Runaway" 1991 Animal Park Damien Halliday
Director, writer and producer Year Title Notes 2022 Gold co-writer, director & producer 2008 Ten Empty writer, director & producer 2002 New Skin writer, director & producer 2002 Sweet Dreams writer, director & producer
Awards and nominations Year Category Award Film Result 1998 Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role AFI Awards The Boys 1999 Best Supporting Actor – Male FCCA Awards The Boys 2002 Best Short Film Over 15 Minutes Sydney Film Festival New Skin 2002 Best Rising Talent IF Awards 2003 Audience Award – Best Film St Kilda Short Film Festival Sweet Dreams 2005 Best Supporting Actor AFI Awards Look Both Ways 2006 Best Supporting Actor AFI Awards Suburban Mayhem 2008 Best Supporting Actor AFI Awards The Square 2009 Best Supporting Actor FCCA Awards The Square 2012 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Television Movie or Miniseries Equity Ensemble Awards The Slap 2012 Best Actor in a Television Drama Golden Nymph Awards (Monte Carlo TV Awards) The Slap 2013 Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Television Movie or Miniseries Equity Ensemble Awards Devil's Dust 2013 Best Actor in a Television Drama or Miniseries AACTA Awards Devil's Dust 2013 Best Actor in a Television Drama Seoul International Drama Awards Devil's Dust 2013 Silver Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Logie Awards Devil's Dust 2015 Best Actor in a Television Drama Golden Nymph Awards (Monte Carlo TV Awards) Secrets & Lies 2018 Silver Logie for Best Supporting Actor Logie Awards Seven Types of Ambiguity 2022 Best Independent Film Saturn Awards Gold 2022 Director's Debut Camerimage International Festival Gold
References
External links
Official website – Anthony Hayes