Eric Bana
Eric Bana is an Australian film and television actor. He began his career as a comedian in the sketch comedy series Full Frontal before gaining critical recognition in the biopic Chopper (2000). After a decade of roles in Australian TV shows and films, Bana gained Hollywood's attention by playing the role of American Delta Force Sergeant Norm "Hoot" Hooten in Black Hawk Down (2001), the lead role as Bruce Banner in the Ang Lee directed film Hulk (2003), Prince Hector in the movie Troy (2004), the lead in Steven Spielberg's Munich (2005), and the villain Nero in the science-fiction film Star Trek (2009). An accomplished dramatic actor and comedian, he received Australia's highest film and television awards for his performances in Chopper, Full Frontal and Romulus, My Father. Bana performs predominantly in leading roles in a variety of low-budget and major studio films, ranging from romantic comedies and drama to science fiction and action thrillers. Eric Bana was the younger of two children; he has a brother, Anthony. He is of Croatian ancestry on his father's side. Bana's paternal grandfather, Mate Banadinović, fled to Argentina after the Second World War, and Bana's paternal grandmother emigrated to Germany and then to Australia in the 1950s with her son, Ivan (Bana's father). His father was a logistics manager for Caterpillar, Inc., and his German-born mother, Eleanor, was a hairdresser. Bana grew up in Melbourne's Tullamarine, a suburban area on the western edge of the city, near the main airport. In a cover story for The Mail on Sunday, he told author Antonella Gambotto-Burke that his family had suffered from racist taunts, and that it had distressed him. "Wog is such a terrible word," he said. He has stated: "I have always been proud of my origin, which had a big influence on my upbringing. I have always been in the company of people of European origin". Showing acting skill early in life, Bana began doing impressions of family members at the age of six or seven, first mimicking his grandfather's walk, voice and mannerisms. In school, he mimicked his teachers as a means to get out of trouble. As a teen, he watched the Mel Gibson film Mad Max (1979), and decided he wanted to become an actor. However, he did not seriously consider a career in the performing arts until 1991 when he was persuaded to try stand-up comedy while working as a barman at Melbourne's Castle Hotel. His stand-up gigs in inner-city pubs did not provide him with enough income to support himself, so he continued his work as a barman and bussing tables.
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Troy
as HectorIn year 1250 B.C. during the late Bronze age, two emerging nations begin to clash. Paris, the...
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King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
as Uther PendragonWhen the child Arthur’s father is murdered, Vortigern, Arthur’s uncle, seizes the crown. Robbed...
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Mary and Max
as Damien (voice)A tale of friendship between two unlikely pen pals: Mary, a lonely, eight-year-old girl living...
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Lone Survivor
as Lieutenant Commander Erik KristensenFour Navy SEALs on a covert mission to neutralize a high-level Taliban operative must make an...
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Memoir of a Snail
as James the Magistrate (voice)Forcibly separated from her twin brother when they are orphaned, a melancholic misfit learns how...
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Munich
as AvnerDuring the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, eleven Israeli athletes are taken hostage and murdered...
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The Other Boleyn Girl
as Henry TudorA sumptuous and sensual tale of intrigue, romance and betrayal set against the backdrop of a...
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Deliver Us from Evil
as Ralph SarchieWhen a frightening wave of violence sweeps through New York City, troubled cop Sarchie fails to...
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Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers
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A Sacrifice
as Ben MonroeAmerican social psychologist Ben Monroe investigates a local cult connected to a disturbing...
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Back to the Outback
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The Finest Hours
as Daniel CluffThe Coast Guard makes a daring rescue attempt off the coast of Cape Cod after a pair of oil...
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Force of Nature: The Dry 2
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Being James Bond
as Self (archive footage)Daniel Craig candidly reflects on his 15 year adventure as James Bond. Including...
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The Dry
as Aaron FalkAaron Falk returns to his drought-stricken hometown to attend a tragic funeral. But his return...
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Closed Circuit
as Martin RoseA high-profile terrorism case unexpectedly binds together two ex-lovers on the defense team -...
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as Dr. William GreneThe hidden memoir of an elderly woman confined to a mental hospital reveals the history of her...
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Deadfall
as AddisonA thriller that follows two siblings who decide to fend for themselves in the wake of a botched...
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Lucky You
as Huck CheeverA professional poker player whose astounding luck at the table fails to translate into his...
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Chopper
as Mark Brandon 'Chopper' ReadThe true and infamous story of Australia's notorious criminal Mark 'Chopper' Read and his years...
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Special Correspondents
as Frank BonnevilleA radio journalist and his technician get in over their heads when they hatch a scheme to fake...
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The Forgiven
as Piet BlomfeldAfter the end of Apartheid, Archbishop Desmond Tutu meets with a brutal murderer seeking redemption.
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The Castle
as Con PetropoulousA Melbourne family is very happy living near the Melbourne airport. However, they are forced to...
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Spielberg
as SelfA documentary on the life and career of one of the most influential film directors of all time,...
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Romulus, My Father
as RomulusThe story of Romulus, his beautiful wife, Christina, and their struggle in the face of great...
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Blueback
as Mad MackaBased on the best-selling novel by Tim Winton, Blueback is a timely tale about the ocean, a...
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Envoy: Shark Cull
as Narrator (voice)Envoy: Shark Cull is a fascinating, deeply moving documentary narrated by Eric Bana, which sheds...
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The Nugget
as Lotto'The Nugget' looks at how instant wealth suddenly changes the lives of three working class men -...
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Finke: There & Back
as Narrator (voice)The iconic Finke Desert Race, the largest off-road motorsport event in the southern hemisphere...
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Making Mary and Max
as SelfComedic behind-the-scenes film for the production of Mary and Max, originally released as webisodes.
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Great Barrier Reef 3D
as Narrator (voice)What comes to mind when you think of the largest structure built by living creatures? China's...
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The Graham Norton Show
as SelfEach week celebrity guests join Irish comedian Graham Norton to discuss what's being going on...
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Top Gear
as Self - Star in a Reasonably-Priced CarThis fast-paced and stunt-filled motor show tests whether cars, both mundane and extraordinary,...
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Late Night with Conan O'Brien
as Self - GuestLate Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that...
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Something in the Air
as Joe SabatiniSomething in the Air was an Australian television soap opera transmitted by the Australian...
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Dirty John
as John MeehanAnthology series in which each season is based on a true crime story featuring an epic tale of...
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The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
as uncreditedJay Leno hosts some of the biggest celebrities in the world.
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All Saints
as Rob BiletskyMedical drama focusing on the working and personal lives of the doctors and nurses working on...
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Kath & Kim
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The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale
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Rove
as SelfRove, formerly Rove Live, was an Australian television variety show which premiered on the Nine...
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Full Frontal
as uncreditedFull Frontal was an Australian sketch comedy series which debuted in 1993. The show first aired...
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Today
as SelfToday is a daily American morning television show that airs on NBC. The program debuted on...
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Stop Laughing... this is serious
as Self - Narrator (voice)Documentary series charting a course through the story of Australian comedy, featuring...
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