Eric Bana is an Australian film and television actor who rose to prominence with the film Chopper, and achieved international fame through major productions such as Black Hawk Down, Hulk, and Troy. Regarded as one of Australia’s most significant actors, Bana has worked across a wide range of genres—from romantic comedy and drama to thriller and science fiction—and has also built a substantial career as a voice actor.

Eric Bana was born on 9 August 1968 in Melbourne, Australia, under the name Eric Banadinovich. The youngest child of a Croatian–German family, he grew up in the suburb of Tullamarine, near Melbourne. Known for entertaining those around him with jokes during his childhood and teenage years, Bana never imagined at the time that humor would become his profession.

After graduating, Bana moved to Sydney and began taking acting classes. Shortly thereafter, on the advice of one of his instructors, he auditioned for the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney and was accepted, marking a decisive step toward a professional acting career.

“I always wanted to be a mechanical engineer, or to do something related to it. When I was just fourteen, I dreamed of quitting school and working on cars. Back then my father told me, ‘Son, you must give up these dreams, finish your education, and never turn your hobby into your profession.’”

In 1991, while working as a bartender at the Castle Hotel in Melbourne, Eric Bana began performing in comedy sketches. He soon appeared in popular television programs such as Full Frontal, where his sharp wit and comedic timing earned him a large audience. This success led him to create his own show, The Eric Bana Show Live, in 1997.

Within two years, Bana had become a familiar face on Australian television. Although best known for comedy at the time, his talent was not confined to a single genre. In 1997, he made his feature film debut in The Castle, and in the same year appeared in the Australian television series Something in the Air.

Bana’s international breakthrough came with the 2000 crime drama Chopper, directed by Andrew Dominik. Portraying the notorious Australian criminal Mark “Chopper” Read, Bana gained fifteen kilograms, studied Read’s mannerisms closely, and endured daily five-hour makeup sessions to apply extensive fake tattoos. Although the film had limited theatrical release outside Australia, it attracted Hollywood’s attention. Renowned critic Roger Ebert praised Bana as an actor with “a natural talent that no school could teach.” The role earned Bana the 2001 Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor.

The acclaim surrounding Chopper, opened the doors of Hollywood. Bana was cast by director Ridley Scott in Black Hawk Down (2001), where he portrayed an American soldier trapped in the chaos of the Somali civil war. For the role, he trained with former Delta Force instructors from Fort Bragg and reshaped his physique, shedding the weight gained for Chopper. The film dominated the U.S. box office for weeks and firmly established Bana’s international reputation.

Following this success, Bana appeared in the Australian comedy The Nugget, and then starred in the Marvel adaptation Hulk (2003). Despite the global popularity of the comic book character, the film suffered from mixed reviews due to its direction and screenplay. That same year, Bana joined the voice cast of the animated hit Finding Nemo.

In 2004, Bana starred alongside Brad Pitt in the epic historical film Troy. To prepare for his role, he learned horseback riding and underwent extensive close-combat training. Although the film earned approximately $370 million in the United States and around $500 million worldwide, it fell short of studio expectations and was considered a commercial disappointment.

Bana’s next major project was Munich, directed by Steven Spielberg. In the film, he portrayed an intelligence agent seeking revenge for the murder of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. His performance was widely praised, and the film received five Academy Award nominations.

After Munich, Bana appeared in films such as Romulus, My Father and Lucky You. In 2008, he portrayed Henry VIII of England in the historical drama The Other Boleyn Girl. His later projects include Star Trek, Love the Beast, and The Time Traveler’s Wife. He also contributed voice work to the animated film Mary and Max (2009).

Eric Bana married Rebecca Gleeson in 1995, whom he met while working on Full Frontal. The couple has two children. Outside of acting, Bana competes professionally in Australian motor racing and is an avid football supporter. He is also actively involved in charitable work, supporting organizations such as Mental Illness Fellowship, Australian Childhood Foundation, and the Bone Marrow Donor Institute.

In 2009, Bana appeared in J. J. Abrams’s science fiction reboot Star Trek, alongside Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Leonard Nimoy, Winona Ryder, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Ben Cross, and Bruce Greenwood. The film depicts the first meeting of Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Scotty at Starfleet Academy and their inaugural voyage aboard the USS Enterprise.

Over the course of his career, Eric Bana has received numerous accolades, including multiple Australian Film Institute Awards and critics’ honors, solidifying his status as one of Australia’s most respected and versatile actors.

Source: Biyografiler.com