# Anthony Hayes (actor)

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 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.
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 Briggs | Post-production |
| 2022 | Gold | Keith | with Zac Efron, Susie Porter |
| 2019 | Danger 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 |
| 2010 | Beneath 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 | Notes |
| 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 | Notes |
| 2024 | The Twelve (Australian TV series) | Liam Bevan | TV series: 3 episodes |
| 2023 | Warnie | TJ Jenner | Miniseries: 2 episodes |
| 2019-24 | Total Control | Damien Bauer | TV series |
| 2018 | Mystery Road | Ryan Muller | TV miniseries, 6 episodes |
| 2018 | Strangers | Michael Cohen | Miniseries |
| 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 | Nominated |
| 1999 | Best Supporting Actor – Male | FCCA Awards | The Boys | Nominated |
| 2002 | Best Short Film Over 15 Minutes | Sydney Film Festival | New Skin | Won |
| 2002 | Audience Award – Best Film | St Kilda Short Film Festival | Sweet Dreams | Won |
| 2002 | Best Rising Talent | IF Awards | | Won |
| 2005 | Best Supporting Actor | AFI Awards | Look Both Ways | Won |
| 2006 | Best Supporting Actor | AFI Awards | Suburban Mayhem | Won |
| 2008 | Best Supporting Actor | AFI Awards | The Square | Nominated |
| 2009 | Best Supporting Actor | FCCA Awards | The Square | Nominated |
| 2012 | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Television Movie or Miniseries | Equity Ensemble Awards | The Slap | Won |
| 2012 | Best Actor in a Television Drama | Golden Nymph Awards (Monte Carlo TV Awards) | The Slap | Nominated |
| 2013 | Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Television Movie or Miniseries | Equity Ensemble Awards | Devil's Dust | Won |
| 2013 | Best Actor in a Television Drama or Miniseries | AACTA Awards | Devil's Dust | Nominated |
| 2013 | Best Actor in a Television Drama | Seoul International Drama Awards | Devil's Dust | Nominated |
| 2013 | Silver Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Logie Awards | Devil's Dust | Won |
| 2015 | Best Actor in a Television Drama | Golden Nymph Awards (Monte Carlo TV Awards) | Secrets & Lies | Won |
| 2018 | Silver Logie for Best Supporting Actor | Logie Awards | Seven Types of Ambiguity | Nominated |
| 2022 | Best Independent Film | Saturn Awards | Gold | Nominated |
| 2022 | Director's Debut | Camerimage International Festival | Gold | Nominated |