Eric Bana Eric Banadinovich , better known as Eric Bana , is an award - winning actor who portrayed Nero , the Romulan villain in . He is known for starring in such films as " Black Hawk Down " , " Hulk " , " Troy " , and " Munich " . Early life and comedy career . Eric Bana was born in Melbourne , Australia , to a Croatian father and a German - born mother . His affinity for performing surfaced when he was six or seven years old , when he began to imitate members of his family . He even mimicked his teachers at school in order to get out of trouble . Bana decided he wanted to become an actor after watching the 1979 film " Mad Max " as a teenager , but it was not until 1991 when he began doing stand - up comedy that he started to seriously consider a career in performing . After performing on the late night talk show " Tonight Live " , Bana was invited by the producers of the sketch comedy program " Full Frontal " to join their show as a writer and performer . One sketch Bana did on this show was a parody of , in which he portrayed Worf , with a crab in place of the character ' s signature ridges . In 1996 , after three years on " Full Frontal " , Bana created his own television special , called " Eric " , which was followed by a sketch comedy series of his own , " The Eric Bana Show " . Although this show was canceled after only eight episodes due to low ratings , it earned him a Logie Award as Most Popular Comedy Personality . Having become a successful film actor , Bana currently has no interest in returning to comedy . Bana stated that , by the time he made the transition to film , he was " kind of burnt out " from his comic performances and that he " had had enough of it . " Film career . 1997 – 2008 . Bana made his film debut in the 1997 Australian comedy " The Castle " , but first earned wide recognition as an actor for his starring role as legendary criminal Mark Brandon " Chopper " Read in the 2000 film " Chopper " . Bana ' s performance in this film earned him critical acclaim and several awards , including the 2000 Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor . Impressed with Bana ' s performance in " Chopper " , director cast Bana as " Hoot " in the war film " Black Hawk Down " without an audition . Also starring in " Black Hawk Down " was Tom Hardy , who played Shinzon in ( the film immediately preceding Bana ' s " Trek " film ) , as well as Glenn Morshower and Enrique Murciano . Afterward , Bana starred as Dr . Bruce Banner in " Hulk " , the 2003 film adaptation for the Marvel Comics character . Although the film was not a critical or financial success , Bana ' s performance was lauded and earned him a nomination from the Academy of Science Fiction , Fantasy & Horror Films as " Cinescape Genre Face of the Future Award " . Bana ' s voice can be heard as the hammerhead shark named Anchor in Disney / Pixar ' s 2003 CG - animated hit " Finding Nemo " ; TNG guest star Stephen Root also had a voice - over role in the film . In 2004 , Bana played Prince Hector in ' s big - budget epic , " Troy " . The following year , he starred in ' s Academy Award - nominated film " Munich " . For his performance in " Munich " , Bana received a nomination from the Australian Film Institute , again for Best Actor . Bana then starred with in the 2007 romantic comedy " Lucky You " . Coincidentally , before donning the role of a Romulan , Bana played the title role of the 2007 drama " Romulus , My Father " . He received his second Best Actor Award from the Australian Film Institute for his performance in this film . In 2006 and 2007 , he played the role of Henry VIII of England in " The Other Boleyn Girl " opposite Benedict Cumberbatch , an historical drama released in February 2009 . Bana ' s participation in " Star Trek " led to a delay in another project , the film adaptation of with David Cowgill , a romantic science fiction story in which he played a man who suffers from uncontrollable jumps in time . Although principal photography for the film occurred before " Star Trek " , determined they needed to shoot a new scene . By that time , Bana had shaved his head for the role of Nero . They needed to wait not only for him to regrow his hair , but for seasons to change again for the desired environment . This pushed the film ' s release back from Fall 2008 to August 2009 . " Star Trek " . Bana has stated he was a fan of when he was a child , but his appreciation for the show was not the reason he signed on to do the movie . Bana said he accepted the role after reading the script ( written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman ) , which he called " awesome " and said he could not resist being a part of the movie . Another factor was his friendship with the film ' s director and producer , J . J . Abrams . He and Abrams have the same agent , which allowed them to meet several times before the film was in production . His casting in " Star Trek " was announced on . He was filming " The Time Traveler ' s Wife " when the announcement was made . Before Bana ' s casting , it was reported that Paramount Pictures were seeking Academy Award - winning actor to play the role of Nero . Bana was the first of three " Star Trek " cast members with a strong connection to comedy ; his co - stars John Cho ( Sulu ) and especially Simon Pegg ( Scotty ) are also known for their comedic works . Despite being the film ' s primary villain , Bana described his role as a " cameo , " stating Nero to be " a great character " and that he " couldn ' t say no . " However , sources revealed to TrekMovie . com that Bana ' s characterization of the role as being a " cameo " was an understatement , and that Nero was much more than that . Bana later clarified his statements in an interview with " Cinematical " : Bana began filming his part on " Star Trek " sometime between 20 February and 28 February 2008 . He had to miss the New York premiere of " The Other Boleyn Girl " due to his work on " Trek " . For the role of Nero , Bana was required to shave his head bald , as were all other actors portraying Romulans . His work on the film was completed by , when principal photography wrapped . Reflecting on the role in 2013 , Bana noted most people did not realize he played Nero . " I still get people today who just saw " Star Trek " and had no idea . Someone just told me yesterday , ' You ' re in " Star Trek " , and when it came out I had no idea it was you . ' That ' s a huge kick . No , I love that . " He added he did not receive any backlash for destroying . The virtual collectible card battle game " " is using his picture for card # 104 " Romulan Captain Nero " . Post - " Trek " films . After finishing his work on " Star Trek " , Bana played the supporting role of Clarke in " Funny People " , a comic drama set in the world of stand - up comedy . This film also featured Andy Dick and Sarah Silverman , who appeared as themselves . In 2009 Bana produced , directed , and starred in the documentary film " Love the Beast " , a " biopic " of his 1974 Ford XB Falcon , which he purchased at age 15 and has kept ever since . The film became the second - highest grossing documentary film in Australia ' s history . A 1973 Falcon is the signature vehicle of " Mad " Max Rockatansky , the franchise character recently played by Tom Hardy . He then co - starred in the 2011 film " Hanna " as an ex - CIA operative who raises and trains his daughter to be a skilled assassin . This film ' s action designer , fight choreographer and stunt coordinator was stuntman Jeff Imada . In 2012 , Bana starred in the crime thriller " Deadfall " , followed by another crime thriller , " Closed Circuit " the next year . His most recent films include the Navy SEAL action - thriller " Lone Survivor " ( produced by Akiva Goldsman ) and the action / horror - thriller " Deliver Us from Evil " ( co - starring Édgar Ramírez , who was considered for the role of the villain in ) . He co - stars in the 2016 film " The Finest Hours " , reappearing alongside Chris Pine . Personal life . Bana has been married to publicist Rebecca Gleeson since 2 August 1997 . They have two children together , Klaus ( born August 1999 ) and Sophia ( born April 2002 ) . Bana is a motor racing enthusiast and once even considered dropping out of high school to become a full - time mechanic . He participates in various motor racing competitions in Australia . He is also a fan of and is an advocate for the .