Rhys Wakefield
Encyclopedia
Rhys Wakefield is an Australian actor. He is best known for portraying the main character Thomas in the 2008 film The Black Balloon
., for the 2011 film Sanctum
, and portraying Lucas Holden
in the long-running TV series Home and Away
.
and the Australian Ballet. In addition to attending the McDonald College he also attended an acting course at the Zenith Theatre in 2003. Wakefield finished Year 12 at McDonald College of Performing Arts in 2006.
His first professional acting role was an uncredited appearance in the film Bootmen
in 2000. This was later followed by a television appearance playing Brad, a guest star in the 2001 series Don't Blame Me
for which he appeared in two episodes, Best Foot Forward and The Dingo Made Me Do It. Wakefield played his first leading role in a feature film in The Black Balloon
as Thomas Mollison, which opened 6 March 2008 in Australian cinemas. Its world premiere was at the Berlin International Film Festival
in Germany in February 2008, where the film received a Crystal Bear as the best feature-length film in the Generation 14plus category.
in the long running Australian Soap opera Home and Away. His character was the youngest child of the Holden family until his dad Tony and stepmother Rachel had his baby brother Harry. His performance in series led to a Logie
Nomination for the Best New Talent in 2006. During his time on the show he was involved in a controversial storyline which led the Australian broadcasting regulator (ACMA) to conclude that scenes had breached the Australian broadcasting code, a finding which was responsible for the series being re-classified as PG.
The Black Balloon (film)
The Black Balloon is a 2008 Australian|British AFI award-winning dramedy feature film which stars Toni Collette, Rhys Wakefield, Luke Ford, Erik Thomson, Gemma Ward as well as a cast of newcomers. It is directed by first time feature film director, Elissa Down.The film was released in Australian...
., for the 2011 film Sanctum
Sanctum (film)
Sanctum is a 2011 Australian 3D adventure drama film directed by Alister Grierson from a screenplay by John Garvin and Andrew Wight, and story by Wight...
, and portraying Lucas Holden
Lucas Holden
Lucas Anthony Holden is a fictional character in the Australian soap opera Home and Away, first introduced in 2005 and portrayed by actor Rhys Wakefield. Lucas was the youngest of the Holden family. He left the Bay in 2008.- Background :...
in the long-running TV series Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
.
Biography
Before appearing as Lucas in Home and Away, Wakefield had been acting for more than six years. He attended classes at The McDonald College of Performing Arts where he won an acting scholarship in 2003. As well as performing in a number of school productions he appeared in numerous Shakespeare festivals and has worked with Opera AustraliaOpera Australia
Opera Australia is the principal opera company in Australia. Based in Sydney, its performance season at the Sydney Opera House runs for approximately eight months of the year, with the remainder of its time spent in the The Arts Centre in Melbourne...
and the Australian Ballet. In addition to attending the McDonald College he also attended an acting course at the Zenith Theatre in 2003. Wakefield finished Year 12 at McDonald College of Performing Arts in 2006.
His first professional acting role was an uncredited appearance in the film Bootmen
Bootmen
Bootmen is a 2000 Australian comedy-drama film, directed by Dein Perry. It was distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures in Canada and USA and 20th Century Fox Distribution in Australia and funded by the Australian Film Finance Corporation...
in 2000. This was later followed by a television appearance playing Brad, a guest star in the 2001 series Don't Blame Me
Don't Blame Me (TV series)
Don't Blame Me is an Australian children's television program currently shown on the ABC3.In the United Kingdom the show is known as Don't Blame the Koalas....
for which he appeared in two episodes, Best Foot Forward and The Dingo Made Me Do It. Wakefield played his first leading role in a feature film in The Black Balloon
The Black Balloon (film)
The Black Balloon is a 2008 Australian|British AFI award-winning dramedy feature film which stars Toni Collette, Rhys Wakefield, Luke Ford, Erik Thomson, Gemma Ward as well as a cast of newcomers. It is directed by first time feature film director, Elissa Down.The film was released in Australian...
as Thomas Mollison, which opened 6 March 2008 in Australian cinemas. Its world premiere was at the Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
in Germany in February 2008, where the film received a Crystal Bear as the best feature-length film in the Generation 14plus category.
Home and Away
In August 2005, Wakefield secured his first regular TV role playing Lucas HoldenLucas Holden
Lucas Anthony Holden is a fictional character in the Australian soap opera Home and Away, first introduced in 2005 and portrayed by actor Rhys Wakefield. Lucas was the youngest of the Holden family. He left the Bay in 2008.- Background :...
in the long running Australian Soap opera Home and Away. His character was the youngest child of the Holden family until his dad Tony and stepmother Rachel had his baby brother Harry. His performance in series led to a Logie
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
Nomination for the Best New Talent in 2006. During his time on the show he was involved in a controversial storyline which led the Australian broadcasting regulator (ACMA) to conclude that scenes had breached the Australian broadcasting code, a finding which was responsible for the series being re-classified as PG.
Films
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bootmen Bootmen Bootmen is a 2000 Australian comedy-drama film, directed by Dein Perry. It was distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures in Canada and USA and 20th Century Fox Distribution in Australia and funded by the Australian Film Finance Corporation... |
2000 | Dancing kid | Uncredited |
| 2008 | Thomas Mollison | ||
| Broken Hill Broken Hill (film) Broken Hill is a 2009 drama film directed and written by Dagen Merrill and starring Alexa Vega and Timothy Hutton.-Plot:A gifted teenage composer , dreams of being accepted into the famous Sydney Conservatorium of Music... |
2009 | Scott Price | |
| Sanctum Sanctum (film) Sanctum is a 2011 Australian 3D adventure drama film directed by Alister Grierson from a screenplay by John Garvin and Andrew Wight, and story by Wight... |
2011 | Josh McGuire | |
| Nobody Walks | 2012 | David | |
| The Philosophers | 2012 | James | |
Television
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don't Blame Me Don't Blame Me (TV series) Don't Blame Me is an Australian children's television program currently shown on the ABC3.In the United Kingdom the show is known as Don't Blame the Koalas.... |
2002 | Brad | Episodes 11 & 12 |
| Home and Away Home and Away Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television... |
2005–08 | Lucas Holden Lucas Holden Lucas Anthony Holden is a fictional character in the Australian soap opera Home and Away, first introduced in 2005 and portrayed by actor Rhys Wakefield. Lucas was the youngest of the Holden family. He left the Bay in 2008.- Background :... |
Short films
| Title | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|
| "" | 2006 | Himself |
| "" | 2008 | |
| "Clearing the Air" | 2008 | David |
| "Scent" | 2009 | Dan |